If the opportunity to reflect and reconsider the move did present itself in those early weeks of planning, I certainly ignored it. I steamrollered my way through preparations for the move to Tasmania, happy in my favourite role of problem solver. It wasn't until I walked into the strange kitchen, located the pantry, and stored the few bits I had picked up at the supermarket near the airport that I understood the enormity of my decision.

And I'd forgotten to buy milk.

The property in Tasmania was beautiful, isolated and I was alone. This was sink or swim stuff. It would last a year; a year in which I would be resentful, defiant and sometimes content.

GO WITH THE PROS FOR THE BEST REMODELING TECHNIQUES

There's simply no better place to get instruction in home remodeling techniques. Clear directions, along with 375 photographs and illustrations, help you with each stage of every job, from small to large. The authors help you diagnose problems and needs, plan the work, obtain permits, work safely and effectively, and achieve professional results.

EVERY STEP OF EVERY PROJECT
This complete how-to guide covers the gamut of home remodeling projects, from alterations to existing spaces, to additions, to building new, freestanding structures. It also covers minor repairs such as painting on old surfaces, putting in paneling, installing new countertops, and replacing gutters. You'll even find detailed help with tasks such as furniture refinishing and creating special effects with paint.

WHY THIS BOOK IS BETTER
Whether you're a do-it-yourselfer, building professional, or contractor, you'll find that "Miller's Guide to Home Remodeling" has what it takes to make your projects go smoothly. Only "Miller's Guide to Home Remodeling" offers you: An inside-out guide to home remodeling so clear and complete it enables you to solve problems unique to each home Expert guidance on the latest tools, materials, and safety techniques Confidence-building guidance on meeting building code and permitting requirements, with full details on current building codes 375 illustrations that show you every stage of every jo >Comprehensive help with planning, managing, and finishing every remodeling job, of any size

This is the guide to maximizing the value of your most valuable asset. Millions of Americans are investing in home improvements, hoping to increase the long-term value of their most valuable asset. But do you know which home improvements will make your home's value jump, and those that won't? This practical guide covers all of the topics every homeowner must consider before getting started - improvements that add the most value, which should be undertaken first, and how to do it right from the very start. From remodeling the kitchen to landscaping the front yard and everything in between, you'll learn which improvements you should undertake, and which are a waste of your time and money."How to Improve the Value of Your Home" will help you get the most bang for your home-improvement buck - with handy tips on lowering the cost of home maintenance and home improvement projects. If you aren't sure whether now is the right time to remodel, a simple quiz helps you to determine what you can afford to do and what to expect as a long-term payoff. And there's more. Calculate the cost versus the value of improvements. This title shows you: what homework you need to do before tackling additions; how to find the resources and information you need; where to find the right contractor to do the work; how to set a home-improvement budget; and, ways to improve home energy efficiency. It offers tips on saving on home insurance; and, simple ways to create curb appeal.

"Guide to New Custom Home Ownership" is a complete and insightful publication on residential construction. designed for the person wishing to own a new custom home. It walks the reader through the process of finding how to decide on custom plans, finding your builder as well as property. It helps the reader understand zoning boards and financing the project. This book helps prevent problems and issues with your builder as well as tradesmen and shows you how to keep your project site safe from injuries while also maintaining the quality and design choices you have in mind for your new dream home. This book is not only for people wishing to be a new homeowner. Real estate agents, material supply reps, sub-contractors and fellow builders will all walk away with a new understanding toward custom residential homes. This book makes for a great gift for anyone considering a new home anywhere and/or anytime in the future.

So you have decided to build an addition. Have you gotten a loan and your permits? Have you purchased your materials? Before you even begin, you should read this hilarious guide, filled with humorous stories as well as helpful advice on what NOT to do when you undertake a major house renovation.

For many people, buying a home is the largest financial commitment they will ever make. This concise book, written in an easy-to-follow question-and-answer format and fully indexed, helps readers answer tough questions. The book also provides prospective buyers with essential information in a useful Q&A format and features a wealth of helpful information on types of loans and mortgages, the pros and cons of homeowners? associations, advice on buying fixer-uppers, constructing a new home, and more.

Lou Manfredini, aka Mr. Fix-It, is the trusted friend every homeowner wishes he or she had--someone who "knows" houses. In his fun, friendly, fully illustrated guide for both inexperienced and seasoned homeowners, he takes you through your entire house and around the yard, showing you how it all works and what to do when it doesn't. The result: You'll have a clear understanding of the systems that make up your house and gain the expert knowledge to proceed with any job, big or small--whether you're hiring a contractor or doing it yourself. Discover
- How your house works: an anatomy lesson
- The wonders of water--where it comes from and where it goes
- Getting wired--the magic of electricity
- Windows--ways to bring in the sunshine and keep out the drafts
- The joys of being floored--good floor construction and maintenance
- Wall power--it's not what's "on" them but what's "in" them that counts
- Decorating secrets the pros don't like to share
"Plus" Lou Manfredini's sixty-minute home inspection, an essential tool list, and an ABC glossary of terms: from "air duct" to "weather stripping"

Foreword by Richard Carlson, Ph.D.

A new Don't Sweat guidebook, based on the bestselling Don't Sweat series by Richard Carlson, Ph.D.

There are millions of details to oversee when getting settled into a new house or apartment. This book reveals ways to prevent stress and move in with ease.

Who needs the movies? Now, you can achieve stunning audio and top quality video results through your PC. This book shows you how to build your own home entertainment center using an ordinary PC. Watch and record TV shows and movies, put your entire CD collection on hard drive, and listen to radio stations from around the world.

Regardless of whether your taste is heavy metal, hip-hop, or classical, this book will show you how to set up, operate, and maintain a working home recording studio. Learn to choose the right equipment for your music, produce audio for the Internet or a CD, and even get construction tips for building an optimal recording environment.

Bright work, Hull Finishes, Interior Finishes, Design, Layout, "Floor & Wall" CoveringsBright work: Stripping old finishes, Surface preparation, Proper application of clear finishes. Hull Finishes: Surface preparation, Fairing compounds and usage, Filler compounds and usage, Sealants above the waterline, Sealants below the water line, One part paints for wood, Two part paints for fiberglass and wood, Paint preparation, Brush selection.Interior: Finishes: "Walls", Trims, Hardware, Coverings, Paints, Clear coats. "Floor" Coverings: Types available and their usage, preparation and installation. Using plastic laminates and veneers. Appendixes: Addresses and phone numbers for Manufacturers, Distributors and Retailers; Tools and supplies needed; Thorough glossary of boating terms.

AC Electrical, DC Electrical, Water Supply and Waste Removal, Air Conditioning and Heating, RefrigerationAC Electrical: Calculating shore power requirements, Calculating genset power requirements, Panel sizing, Running the wire, Installing the devices. DC Electrical/House Power: Calculating power requirements, Panel sizing, Type and quantity of batteries, Battery charging, Running the wiring, Installing the devices.Water Supply & Waste Removal: Supply: Tankage, pumps and filters; Types of tubing and fittings; Running the tubing; Installing the fixtures at the point of use. Waste: Types of systems, Types of hoses and fittings, Placing the components, Running the hoses, Points of discharge.Appendixes: Addresses and phone numbers for Manufacturers, Distributors and Retailers; Tools and supplies needed; Thorough glossary of boating terms.

Best-seller gets you the car stereo sound system you want!

Why pay high prices for a shop to install or maintain your car stereo when you can have the satisfaction of doing it better yourself?

Auto Audio: Choosing, Installing, and Maintaining Car Stereo Systems, Second Edition, by Andrew Yoder, provides all the information you need to supercharge your ride with top-quality speakers, amplifiers, head units, equalizers, signal processors, changers and antennas — not to mention filters and crossovers, wire, cabling, connectors and transmitters. And once your system is in, you’ll see how to troubleshoot spot problems and service your components so they deliver pristine highs and heart-stopping lows for years to come. This new edition also shows you how to make seamless fiberglass speaker enclosures and panels for your car...protect your audio investment with a good security system...check out custom installations...and more.

Practical, informative, and great fun to read, Shoes in the Freezer, Beer in the Flower Bed offers hundreds of time- and money-saving tips for preparing, cleaning, organizing, and maintaining your house and garden. And interspersed throughout the pages are folk beliefs and suggestions from every culture: for example, if you eat chocolate right before bed, you'll have romantic dreams; and if a cat appears at your wedding, your union will be blessed.

**** New edition fully revised and updated, including new material on the most popular questions and household problems **** Master Basic DIY explains all the basic tasks and gives you all the information you need to undertake essential decorating and maintenance in an informed and sensible manner. It offers insight into complex options and methods, and is full of practical information and indispensable tips to enable you to quickly see the results reflected in your DIY projects. Master Basic DIY includes: Part one - The basics Chapter 1: Tools Chapter 2: Top ten DIY jobs for homeowners Chapter 3: Sequence of work Chapter 4: From foundations to the ground floor slab Chapter 5: Brickwork and blockwork Chapter 6: Roofs, roof coverings and loft conversions Chapter 7: Home electrics Chapter 8: Plumbing, central heating and drainage Chapter 9: Plastering, plasterboard and partition walls Part two - Projects Chapter 10: Basics Chapter 11: Outside Chapter 12: Inside Chapter 13: Electrical Chapter 14: Plumbing Chapter 15: Decorating

Do you enjoy experimenting with electronics? Are you concerned about the security and value of your property? If so, "Build Your Own Home Security System" is the book for you. It's packed with all the hands-on instruction you need to construct and install dozens of practical, inexpensive electronic security devices. For each project, you'll find a helpful schematic and a list of the circuits and components required. With Delton Horn's expert how-to guidance and clear instructions, even beginners can easily build:

Burglar alarms

Fire/smoke detectors and alarms

Automobile alarms

Electronic combination locks

Flood alarms

Temperature sensors

Power shut-down/reset timers

Rare architects' catalog includes dozens of authentic designs. Detailed descriptions of special features, dimensions, costs, etc. 231 b/w illus.

The best-selling guide to keeping furniture in the finest and most beautiful condition, with complete information on proper repair and refinishing techniques from the legendary expert on antiques and their restoration.

B & W photographs throughout

The ingenious team at IkeaHackers.net show you how to transform affordable IKEA products into creative new furniture and more! Jules Yap and the contributors to her wildly popular website IkeaHackers.net show you how to transform affordable IKEA (R) products into creative new furniture and more. With clear instructions and easy-to-follow photos, you're sure to have fun building these exciting hacks, including: * Kitchen Island * Dollhouse * Vanity * Built-In Home Office * Mudroom Bench

The classic book on how to remove spots and stains in the household. Re-issued from the original publisher in it's original form. Contents - Preface - Chapter 1. Introduction - 2. Fibers - 3. Fabrics - 4. Dyes - 5. Basic Rules for Stain Removal - 6. Safety Rules to Insure Best Results - 7. Equipment Aids to Stain Removal - 8. Stain Removing Agents - 9. Stains and Methods for Their Removal - Preface - Home care requires the utmost skill and ingenuity of the homemaker. Because of the extremely high standard of dress and personal hygiene in this country, endless care and effort is expended in order to maintain this acute attention to good grooming. For the homemaker, the removal of stains represents a major portion of her expertness in running her home successfully. Each member of her family contributes his and her share of stains not only in the natural use of their surroundings, but more often in their use of wearing apparel. The frequent need for removing stains from clothing bears heavily upon the budget where one is completely dependent upon professional cleaning. To meet this challenge, the thrifty and efficient homemaker seeks information and the means by which she can care for garments, household linen, and household furnishings. The professional cleaner is equally alert in keeping abreast with information that concerns his work and efficiency. Textile fabrics are of the greatest variety and complexity in their chemical and physical composition. Also the stains are often complex in nature since a stain may be composed of several staining substances such as, for example, machine oil which in addition to the oil, may contain particles of metal and carbon. The dry cleaner in the end is sought for his special skill and experience in dealing with complex stains and for the reconditioning of a fabric as near as possible to its original physical condition and appearance. This book is designed to present basic facts and give simple rules and directions for the use of the homemaker who can then remove spots and stains effectively and economically. The book also affords the dry cleaner with a ready reference to the stain removing chemicals and the procedures in applying them. The dry cleaning industry and allied industries where spot and stain removal are of interest, should welcome an up-to-date and simplified treatment of this subject which includes information on the newer fibers, fabrics, and dyes.

This book offers those who may be thinking of building their own own shed practical constructional advice and use of materials; all of the sheds in the book have actually been built, and are not just ideas. It contains interesting stories about the shed owners and how they overcame problems or how they found unusual, cheap solutions (such as the use of old printing plates for roofing). Each shed, and its contents, gives an interesting insight into its owner's character.

In a perfect world you wouldn't need to be living in your home while on the market. However, the list of reasons why someone sells is endless and in many cases forces a homeowner to stay put when selling. The experience can be grueling for sellers when your personal lives become public displays to strangers and their criticisms. If you're going to be living in your home when selling you have to willingly be inconvenienced---not only emotionally, but physically. So what's the best way to get out from under the microscope? Sell fast. In this game-changing book by Tori Toth, founder of the Stage 2 Sell Strategy and Stylish Stagers, Inc. you'll discover: how home staging can change habits and emotions that will benefit your bottom line---and ultimately put a "sold" sign on your property. Preparing your home for sale is more than just cleaning and decluttering, learn insider home staging secrets on how to make your space feel like home to potential buyers. When buyers feel at home, they're more comfortable and can relate to the space, which ultimately gets them to make an offer. How fast can you sell your home? See for yourself. In"Feel at Home", home staging expert Tori Toth pulls back the curtains on the home staging industry and shows you a simple 10-step plan for making an impact on your housing market. The place that you've called home is about to become your greatest asset, I'm here to help you get the best return on your investment.