Remodeling On the Money: 15 Innovative Projects Designed to Add Value to Your Home Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this book to find out how best to remodel a house to add value. This book definitely tells you that. But it really helped me because it has basic information that is really useful. For instance, I have on order one of the new tankless hot water heaters. Heavens said you need "modulating temperature control" for consistent temperature. I had no idea if the model I ordered had that. Now I can make sure that it does! Heavens is very thorough about having all the basics without making reading tedious. I need new toilets and I am confused about all the energy-saving alternatives. I found one for $1200!!! installed. Heavens described the alternatives....with prices! Remodeling to help the value of your home is all about not spending too much. This book really helps with pricing of specific projects. It is too easy to "over improve" your house. This book tells you how to do it yourself and keep prices down. It has an extensive website that has lots of helpful in-depth how to's. For people like me who need to hire contractors, it is especially helpful too. For instance, I am about to have a new floor installed. Heavens' book gives a ballpark price for the installation. That is really useful for me. In the back of my mind is a plan to replace my bathtub. Heavens' bathroom chapter told me everything I need to consider!

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Habitat Post & Beam: Quality Homes and Additions Since 1972 Review

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(More customer reviews)Since I'm in the process of searching for someone to design and engineer
my future timber frame house, this was just the kind of catalog I was
looking for. Like the description says, it's for someone who is
researching companies and shopping, because it is more of a sales
catalog then a comprehensive guide to post and beam in general. It gave
me lots of plans and ideas to thing about and described Habitat's
construction methods and its features and benefits. If you're in the
market for this type of construction, this is a good place to start.

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The Habitat Post & Beam catalog showcases over 30 home designs, detailing Habitat's unique post and beam building systems and options.There are also sections featuring additions and commercial buildings.Although this is not a "how-to" book, rather a book about Habitat Post & Beam and the post and beam homes we sell, its hundreds of incredible pictures are bound to spark your design creativity.The designs in the catalog can be customized, or we can create a design for you from scratch.The designs are part of the Habitat Post & Beam building system, and detailed plans are not available apart from Habitat's weather-tight shell material package kit.

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Building Decks (Black & Decker Home Improvement Library) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book provides complete, concise, clear, step-by-step instructions for deck building. Great photos clarify text and make the project seem exciting. I bought two books on decks and returned the other...this one had everything I needed.

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This practical reference illustrates the fundamentals of deck design and building. It provides advice on ordering lumber and materials and features a variety of deck styles. Deck maintenance and repair is also covered.

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How to Build Chevy Small-Block Circle-Track Racing Engines (Performance How-To) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this book for ideas for building an ultimate street big block. It provides a very thorough tour of professional engine building. Like any race engine build, you have to pay exceptional attention to the details. All the small details in this book made it a very informative read.

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When your pride is on the line at the track, it's good to know that you have the best engine possible in your racecar. Whether you're racing on dirt or pavement, whatever class you run, you know that it takes power and reliability to make it to victory circle. Tapping into the knowledge and expertise of some of racing's top engine builders, the author delivers the information you need to put your engine at the front of the field. This book is chock full of tips and tricks that will have your engine making more power--reliably--than the competition. It covers parts selection, block prep, short block assembly, advice on how to get the best results from your machine work, port work, camshaft and valvetrain parts and prep, oiling system recommendations, final assembly, and more. Readers will also benefit from the advice of top engine builder Keith Dorton, and will follow the builds ofan all-aluminum 800-hp dirt-track motor by Clements Racing Engines, a NASCAR Late Model Stock-style restricted motor from Charlie's Automotive, and a Street-Stock engine by KT Engines.

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The Deck Book: Inspirational Design Ideas Review

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(More customer reviews)Other deck books show how to design or maintain a deck: The Deck Book: Inspiration Design Ideas by Melissa Cardona and Hickory Dickory Decks goes beyond most in covering literally hundreds of custom-built decks; not just a few designs. Over 300 color photos show wood and composite decks from small to huge; from traditional to innovative, and plain decks versus those with built-ins and railings, gazebos and more. Plenty of homeowners consider adding a deck to enhance a home: few books provide a range of design and material options as does The Deck Book.


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Ideas For Great Patios & Decks Review

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(More customer reviews)This book has great picture to inspire. Mostly upscale patios, swimming pools, and a few decks. There is some practical information in the front and back on construction but this is NOT a do it yourself manual. The desing credits are 2 pages. A good book to decide what you want so that you can hire the job(s) out. This book is for the person with good taste and the money to go for it.

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A new edition of one of Sunset's best sellers, Ideas for Great Patios & Decks is for the do-it-yourselfer or for the homeowner working with contractors. Photo gallery has stunning examples of outdoor living spaces transformed by classic patio and deck additions, as well as new materials, such as concrete and composites. An abundant collection of site-evaluation tips, planning suggestions, and supplies recommendations round out this consistently popular volume.Features:* A best seller in Sunset's popular outdoor building line * Maximize outdoor living space with fresh approaches for entertaining, retreats, outdoor kitchens, and more* Updated photos offer a range of ideas to enhance patios and decks* New sections on amenities, such as water features, lighting & railings* Expanded, updated Shopper's Guides provide useful information on current materials and add-ons

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Black & Decker Here's How...Decks: Build Your Very Own Deck in 12 Easy Steps Review

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(More customer reviews)Each of the 'twelve easy steps' are broken down into massive amounts of sub-steps. The B + D series is pretty descriptive, but thumbing through made me feel a little overwhelmed. Maybe easy for some, but you need some experience to take on this kind of a project!

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Here's How…Decks offers the basics of building an entire deck from start to finish, at a price never before offered. For less than $10.00, readers get complete instructions and illustrations for laying out and building a basic deck. Presenting this challenging project through a series of 12 easy-to-follow steps, the book makes deck construction easy and affordable for the value-conscious consumer. This book features the same quality information and world-class color photography made famous in the best-selling Complete Guide to Decks, but at a new, affordable price.

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The Revolutionary Yardscape: Ideas for Repurposing Local Materials to Create Containers, Pathways, Lighting, and More Review

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(More customer reviews)I was hoping for pages of interesting pictures of re-used materials in creative designs. I hoped the author would have appealed to different design styles in examples of re-used elements - he certainly could have accomplished this. However, this book amounted to pictures from only one garden. The elements were re-used over and over in the book. There were really probably only about 5 or 6 vignettes. Basically, what you see on the cover, is about all of it.
This book is going to get dusty and eventually end up in a garage sale. I will not find much use for it.

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Budget-friendly, environmentally sound, and one-of-a-kind, discovering new uses for what you already have or what you discover in the salvage yard is truly living local. It reduces a garden's environmental impact, saves money, and - most importantly - is fun and creative. From making pathways out of scrap wood and metal to creating garden lights from discarded indoor fixtures, The Revolutionary Yardscape features dozens of garden design projects and inspirational ideas for taking advantage of salvaged materials found in the home, junkyard, or thrift store. A master of using reclaimed items, expert Matthew Levesque covers the basics of hardscaping, garden construction, and outdoor decor using local materials. He includes essential techniques and step-by-step guidance for transforming unconventional salvaged materials into pathways, decking, fences, screens, containers, seating, and more. The Revolutionary Yardscape also shows readers how to see the beauty and possibility in salvaged materials. Levesque gives tips on how to think outside the garden box - from imagining a pile of old keys becoming a rain chain to seeing the infinite possibilities in scrap metal and piping. This new set of skills embraces the idea of finding an object first and letting the design plan follow. Vividly illustrated with photographs of exciting contemporary projects, The Revolutionary Yardscape will make gardeners think outside the box by designing with unexpected materials.

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Black & Decker The Complete Photo Guide to Sheds, Barns & Outbuildings: Includes Garages, Gazebos, Shelters and More (Black & Decker Complete Photo Guide) Review

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(More customer reviews)The book is OK, however I would have gladly traded more detailed picture sizes against less shed plan. Having to use a magnifier to look at some of the picture details was a pain.

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Sailboat Hull and Deck Repair (IM Sailboat Library) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an excellent book for someone who knows nothing about fiberglass boat repair. It starts off with a brief discussion of the three major sealant types (polysulfide, polyurethane and silicone) and when to use each. Other sections cover the different types of resin, epoxy choices, etc. etc. Excellent information when trying to decide which of the gazillion products to purchase in the boating catalogs. Major sections include Leaks (finding and fixing, installing deck hardware), Restoring the Gloss (polishing and scratch repair), Deck Repairs (stress cracks, voids, nonskid surfaces, and teak decks), Laminate Repair (fiberglass layup, types of resins, epoxy), Core Problems (wet core, stiffening), Hull Repairs (gouges, blisters, impact damage), Keel and Rudder Damage (centerboard pivots, weeping keels, etc.) This little book is not afraid to tackle big projects--the Core Problems section for example shows the repair of a huge 2-foot diameter section of rotted core. The book makes it sound easy, but I'd rather not think about that much work. The section on gelcoat--what it is, how it is manufactured, and how to keep it looking good as long as possible--is by itself worth the price of the book.

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Green Remodeling: Your Start toward an Eco-Friendly Home (The Green House) Review

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(More customer reviews)My wife and I are in the midst of two remodeling projects, and were desperately seeking some practical information on being as "green" as possible. This book is a homerun. It's chock full of tips for energy-efficiency (very important for us), plus useful information on choosing greener products. We've done lots of research on green building and green remodeling, and kept running into conflicting definitions and standards. After reading this book, we now understand that going green isn't rocket science. The author does a great job of explaining what makes one product greener than another. A must-read for anyone striving to make their home as eco-friendly as possible.

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Ultimate Guide to Green Remodeling shows homeowners how they can take part in the "green" revolution through remodeling. Some of the topics covered include reducing home energy use, selecting nontoxic products, saving water, and supporting the environment through the use of products that support responsible manufacturing and the sustainable harvesting of natural resources.

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Deckscaping: Gardening and Landscaping On and Around Your Deck Review

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(More customer reviews)I love to garden but I don't have a huge budget so I was delighted to discover this book, which covers topics I hadn't seen in similar books. Among other things, it includes:
Full color photos of all sorts of deck gardens, from evening gardens to container gardens, trellis gardens and more
Detailed tips on how to camouflage ugly (but usually inexpensive) containers, allowing readers to spend more on plants and less on containers. She provides instructions for numerous and easy "cover-ups" for those awful plastic pots. I love this!
Tips on planning deckside flower beds, choosing furniture and buying or making trellises and other supports are invaluable. This author knows her stuff and even includes plans for all sorts of items (I love the very easy copper trellis she includes)
She lists the plants by their common and horticultural names and includes photos of nearly every plant - in color.
Plans for the deck gardens are incorporated into the larger landscape theme (assuming you have one) so that your deck fits into your total garden design scheme, a very nice touch.
If you aren't a natural decorator, her chapter on "Decorating with Style" will save you time and frustration. Her examples are never tacky, always tasteful and accomplished with a minimum of time, effort and fuss. Again, something to love!
Finally, this book allows readers to simplify their deck gardening time, which means there should be more time to savor the results of your efforts. Who wouldn't love that?

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Snowshoeing Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an excellent book for someone looking to gain familiarity with the fast growing sport. Steven Griffin gives an excellent overview into many subjects. He discusses how snowshoes have developed over the years and how to pick the right ones. The improtance of bindings is nicely discussed. In addition, Griffin adds that snowshoeing is really quite easy to learn. Also key equipment is discussed in great detail.
Many valuable safety tips are provided as well. The author goes as far as how to rescue someone from an avalanche and key signs of danger to be on the lookout for. Example: Don't walk over partially frozen lakes.
This is a valuable book that can be read quite quickly as I finished it on a roundtrip commuter ride.

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The basic function of the snowshoe has remained unchanged for some five thousand years, a means of transportation over snow and ice. In recent years, however, improvements in snowshoe design and materials, and an increasing interest in recreation and fitness, have made snowshoeing one of the most popular winter activities in North America. Snowshoeing offers a thorough, illustrated introduction to this fast-growing wintertime sport. Equipment selection, care, and repair; Proper snowshoeing technique; Tips and advice from industry professionals; Preparation and safety; The physics of winter weather.

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Sunset Western Landscaping Book Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a very comprehensive book describing all western regions including the low and high desert, the Pacific Northwest and southern California. The book includes many landscape ideas with diagrams and suggested plant types and many plant photos. Ideas for special needs such as privacy, patio & small spaces , desert areas, swimming pools, decks, lots for shade, low water and other requirements are covered. Types of fencing and decking are also covered. If you are starting out with a bare backyard, as I am, this is the book for you!

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Ortho's All About Deck and Patio Upgrades Review

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(More customer reviews)I was very pleased at all the ideas and step by step instructions in this book. I wanted to build a cover for my patio and bought this just based on the front cover (had a picture of the type of cover I'm looking for). With great suggestions on what MY patio might need, I'm going forward with my plans! Before this I had no idea where to start. Now I have a good amount of information to make me feel comfortable with drawing up the plans, figuring out my materials list, and starting the project. The photos in here offer some great ideas and really get the creative juices flowing.

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Shows homeowners who already have decks or patios how to improve them.
Expert guidance for do-it-yourself upgrades, including seating, railings, outdoor kitchens, lighting, fountains, and built-in storage.
Includes color photos, step-by-step illustrations, and clear instructions.
Uses readily available tools and materials.

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Solar Home, The (How-To Guides) Review

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(More customer reviews)As a compliment to other books on the subject this one would suffice to add some detail, but I certainly am glad it's not the only book on solar home building I own. The material seems to be presented from a limited, but technical, scope of understanding. Although some technical and accurate information has found it's way into the pages of this book, I have found it on all levels to be missing what ever mysterious combination of qualities makes a good user friendly how to book. From my reading of other books on the subject what fresh material and/or thought this book brings to the subject seems to be either contrary or obsolete. The methodology in this book seems particularly biased to a very limited way of covering the concerns of anyone interested in passive solar homes. Again this book could potentially supplement a reasonible collection, but I'm glad it's not my only book on the subject, and I'm certainly glad that it wasn't my first book on the subject! I'm not saying that this book is all wrong, but I find it to be far from alright! If you haven't bought a book on this subject yet, keep looking...I reccomend THE PASSIVE SOLAR HOUSE by James Kachadorian instead, it is more complete and more in touch!

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The Complete Photo Guide to Outdoor Home Improvement (Black & Decker Outdoor Home) Review

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(More customer reviews)Great pictures and ideas. Well worth the money even if you only use it for only one of the projects in this book.

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