How long is an ell? What is the largest size of champagne bottle? How do you measure the heat of a chilli pepper? Why is the depth of water measured in fathoms? And what is a cubit? The Curious History of Weights & Measures tells the story of how we have come to quantify the world around us. Looking at everything from carats, pecks and pennyweights to firkins and baker's dozens through to modern science-based standards such as kilograms and kilometres, this book considers both what sparked the creation of myriad measures and why there were so many efforts to usher in standardisation. Full of handy conversion charts and beautiful illustrations The Curious History of Weights & Measures is a treasure trove of fun facts and intriguing stories about the calculations we use every day.

Learn how to create a home you'll love with this illustrated full-colour practical guide from the Sunday Times bestselling author and star of the hit primetime show The Repair Shop, Jay Blades. Even if you've never put up a shelf, repainted a room or fixed a dripping tap, you'll soon have the confidence and skills to tackle these DIY jobs and many more with Jay's help! With tales of his own do-it-yourself escapades and plenty of inspiration from his favourite home fixes, this accessible and entertaining guide will give you all the knowledge you need to choose the right wall plugs, revamp those old dining chairs and give your bathroom a whole new lease of life without breaking the bank. DIY with Jay is a room-by-room guide to doing it yourself: from laying new kitchen flooring and building your own BBQ to making new sofa covers and choosing the right bedroom vibe for the best night's sleep. Based on his own many years of experience as a furniture restorer, this manual provides tips and problem solvers for anyone hoping to embark on a new DIY journey. With tools, terms and expert advice, you'll be able to give new life to your home for years to come.

Written by seasoned builders from across the country, this revised edition of Foundations & Concrete Work features 17 new articles from Fine Homebuilding magazine, all focused on helping builders form and pour the absolute highest-quality foundations. more than 375 on-the-job photos and drawings 272 pages chock-full of advice, tips, and tricks from the world's most foremost home building experts from Fine Homebuilding magazine, the most respected residential construction magazine in the country. Foundations & Concrete Work, is the only book on the subject that builders will ever need!

Take a journey through your home from top to bottom. You'll be surprised by all the dirt you discover

Richard A. Slinde, a longtime domestic cleaner, has seen how messy homes can become during his more than thirty years of cleaning houses and apartments, both big and small. In "Domestic Olympics: The Ultimate Housecleaning Guide," Slinde provides step-by-step, room-by-room guidance for cleaning your home in fun and easy ways.

Each room is fair game for cleaning-your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and every nook and cranny in between. You'll learn time-saving cleaning routines specifically created for each room in your house. Along the way, you'll also discover how to evaluate cleaning products, wash your walls, shampoo your furniture, eliminate roaches and other pests, and engage in a top-to-bottom spring cleaning that will ensure you haven't missed a thing.

It doesn't matter whether you rent or own, whether you have a big family or live by yourself, "Domestic Olympics" provides practical tools and strategies that can make your life easier and your living quarters cleaner.