'No one knows sheds like Joel Bird. The creativity and knowledge which won him shed of the year is echoed throughout this brilliant book.' - George Clarke Have you ever wanted to design your very own garden shed? The Book of Shed will show you how: traditional or contemporary, large or small, private rooms to entertaining spaces, guest houses to beach huts - this book is here to teach you how to make your vision a reality, from the very first design brief, to costing your new venture, to sourcing builders and suppliers, to how to structure and maintain your garden shed. Written by designer-builder, TV personality and all-round shed-progressive Joel Bird, The Book of Shed combines imaginative ideas and beautiful design with practical thinking and building knowledge. This wonderful tome is split into four comprehensive sections - on the history and basics of the shed; shed inspiration and style; the shed build; and some of Joel's most distinctive shed case studies - and is the perfect fireside read whether you're a seasoned shed-head or completely new to the joys of your own purpose-built haven, wherever and whatever that may be.

Here is all the information you need to set up a home winery and build all of the basic equipment -- for just a fraction of the cost of store-bought. Steve Hughes includes building plans and step-by-step instructions for more than 30 winemaking essentials, including a crusher, a de-stemmer, presses, pumps, and a bottle filler. He even offers a range of options for cellar racking. Along the way, Hughes leads readers through the entire process of winemaking--how to use the equipment, how to set up a winery, the best ways to store and analyze wine, and the best ways to filter, bottle, cork, and label. With this guide, you'll have everything you need to affordably enjoy delicious, high-quality, homemade wine.

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 is the manual for anyone who wants to become a skilled upholsterer. The book, now made available again in paperback, contains a total of 15 step-by-step projects. The first eight are basic skills projects and collectively these explain the key skills needed to complete any upholstery task.The projects include a drop-in-bottom chair, an overstuffed seat, caning, a box cushion and recovering a modern chair. The remaining seven projects involve the application of skills learnt in the first chapter. Pieces featured are an Art Deco armchair, a wing chair, a chaise longue and a leather chesterfield. A basic techniques section is included, but the aim of this book is to get straight in to the projects, getting hands-on experience of upholstery. There is information on the tools and materials needed, where to look for furniture that you can upholster and advice on choosing fabric. No other book on the market takes such a clear, progressive approach to teaching upholstery.

There is nothing quite like a hot, crackling fire on a cold, snowy night. Use this new book as a reference guide to create your dream fireplace, be it contemporary or a more conservative, classic design. Step-by-step instructions will walk you through the process from start to finish, from choosing the best location and installing the fireplace and venting to finishing your home's new centerpiece. Construction techniques are demonstrated in more than 290 color photos and 20 detailed diagrams.

There is something about antique homes and their hard-working barns that captures the imagination. Maybe it's their pleasing proportions, maybe they remind us of a simpler time, or maybe we sense that these venerable old survivors that were built when our country was young have seen it all. But how many of us have bothered to listen to the stories they tell or tried to understand what makes them tick? This book reveals the essence of antique New England homes and barns-their history, the people who built them, why they were built that way, and how to restore them, piece by piece, without losing their character. Learn to identify architectural styles from different periods, how to strategize a restoration, and how to approach it systematically, from the timber frame to the floors, walls, and ceilings, windows and doors, wiring, finishes, and landscaping.

Now completely revised and updated, B. Allan This classic is still considered the best book ever written on making a full sized log home. This enlarged eighth edition, revised in 1997, is filled with numerous major construction improvements, and clearly shows the novice and experienced log builder how to select logs, plan both the site and financing, and then build a handsome log structure from the foundation to the ridge cap.

The concept of modern log building was born 25 years ago with the first edition of Building with Logs. All who loved log homes could, for the first time, learn how to build one. With over 100,000 copies sold, this book inspired thousands of owner-built homes.

Building with Logs covers: financing, the site, planning a good home, acquisition of logs, how to fall a tree and trim it, storage of logs, safety, foundations and basements, first logs and floor joists, hewing and the broad axe, cutting a round notch, sealing between the logs, setting allowance, gable ends, electrical wiring, finishing touches and much more.

The author has continued to teach, design and build. His schools have trained thousands of good craftsmen, some of whom formed companies to build internationally, with the result that the world-wide standard for excellence in log building is now a "Mackie" log house.

The Renewable Energy Home Handbook is biased towards the practical, and covers the installation of all leading types of alternative domestic energy sources - from ground- and air-source heat pumps, PV solar electricity generation and solar water heating, to bio-mass domestic heating systems and wind turbines. Discussing the pros and cons of each technology, it also provides you with a clear overview of what's genuinely required and the benefits to be gained from each system. The author, Lindsay Porter, is best known for his books on motor vehicle technology, making car mechanics and body repairs easy to understand and carry out. But alternative energy and conservation have long been a passion for him and his wife, Shan, so this manual is very much a labour of love. Here, Lindsay applies his commitment to making difficult subjects easy for everyone to understand to the money-saving - planet-saving - systems we can apply to our homes.

Praise for the first edition:
" "B. Allan Mackie demonstrates to anyone who has ever dreamed of having a log home that ownership is within reach." "
-- Log Home Design

A decade ago, B. Allan Mackie was nearing completion of Ardea, the log house he built on Shanty Lake. He shared these experiences in the original edition of "The Owner-Built Log House." In this new edition he continues his personal journey, which led him to complete Ardea and realize he had yet to build the perfect log house. This book is a testament to Mackie's most treasured desire -- to reproduce the life and style of the pioneers.

In this unique book, Mackie provides a thorough, expert and practical guide to building a log house. He demonstrates that, with the will to learn, the average person is more than capable of building a log house that will serve for years to come.

This profusely illustrated book is both a technical manual and a photo essay. Mackie, renowned for his skill, recounts each step day by day. The chapters cover: The purpose of building a log house The building tree Making a set of plans How long it will take and how much it will cost Choosing a site and tools Log walls Notches Roofs Windows, doors and stairs Interior and finishing touches

Mackie also carefully addresses such issues as building ecologically and harvesting trees.

This new edition of "The Owner-Built Log House" includes a new chapter that covers the building and finishing of two additional log houses, which were only in the planning stage when the original book was published. Over 30 photographs take the reader carefully through the process of building the author's main house at Shanty Lake as well as a new and smaller retirement home in which the author currently lives.

In just three years, Instructables.com has become one of the hottest destinations for makers and DIY enthusiasts of all stripes. Known as 'the world's biggest show & tell', makers from around the globe post how-to articles on a staggering variety of topics - from collecting rainwater for lawn care to hacking toy robots to extracting squid ink. Now, with more than 10,000 articles, the Instructables staff and editors of "Make Magazine" - with help from the Instructables community - have put together a collection of solid, time- and user-tested technology projects from the site."The Best of Instructables Volume 1" includes plenty of clear, full-color photographs, complete step-by-step instructions, as well as tips, tricks, and new build techniques you won't find anywhere else - even material never seen before on Instructables. Some of the more popular how-to articles include: the LED Throwie - magnetized electronic graffiti that's become a phenomenon; how to make a cheap CNC milling machine out of plumbing parts, printer motors, and a rotary tool; innovative gaming hacks, such as how to add LED lights and custom-molded buttons to a video game controller; and, new twists on personal items, such as the Paper Wallet and Electric Umbrella.While the book focuses on technology, it also includes articles on creating cool furniture from cheap components, and ways of making your own toys. Anything but a reference book, "The Best of Instructables Volume I" embodies the inspirational fun, creativity, and sense of community that has attracted more than 200,000 registered members in just 3 years. Many of the articles include sidebars that show how other builders have realized or improved upon the same project. Making things is cool again: everyone wants to be a creator, not just a consumer. This is the spirit of the 'new handy heyday', fostered by Instructables.com, "Make Magazine", and others, and celebrated by this incredible book - "The Best of Instructables Volume 1".

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

Turn simple shipping pallets into stunning crafts for your home

With "DIY Wood Pallet Projects," you can finally personalize your space without having to spend a fortune on getting that perfect rustic chic look. Featuring 35 creative upcycling ideas, you'll transform old wood pallets into beautiful projects that will help fill your home and yard with style and personality. If you've never picked up a power tool, don't worry. The easy, step-by-step instructions guide you through the entire woodworking process as you recreate all of your favorite designs. Inside, you'll find one-of-a-kind creations like:

• Rustic wood clock
• Herringbone coffee table
• Planter box with mitered corners
• Cut-out silhouette art
• Pallet slat backed bookcase

Complete with stunning photographs and plenty of inspiration, each of the designs in "DIY Wood Pallet Projects" will be the perfect addition to your home."

Use electric fencing to protect your livestock, poultry, beehives, and garden. Portable electric fencing is key to successful rotational grazing, while permanent electric fencing effectively protects gardens and orchards and secures large pastures. Through clear instructions accessible to everyone, you'll learn when to use these methods or a combination of the two, plus how to plan for, build, and maintain your electric fencing. This crucial tool is cost effective and versatile, but veteran farmer and author Ann Larkin Hansen also explains what not to do with an electric fence.

In 265 photos, this book provides all the knowledge you need to make the most of your space outdoors, creating landscape for recreation, gardens, and play that is also a safe, child friendly environment. Whether you choose to design the ideal setting for the neighborhood ping-pong tournament, create an imaginative space to inspire games for kids, or add splash-happy features to your pool, this treasure trove of backyard fun will show you how to do it right. The popularity of outdoor living is growing by leaps and bounds as ever-increasing numbers of homeowners look for ways to enjoy economical backyard environments. From croquet, bocce ball, badminton, and table tennis to horseshoes, corn in the hole, and ladder ball, families everywhere are getting outside to play. Why shouldn't you?

Finally there is a simple book for do-it-yourselfers who want to undertake a small countertop project. Follow several countertops projects step-by-step through the process of molding, pour, and finishing. Projects include cast-in-place, pre-cast, and hand-packed. Doug Bannister demonstrates time-tested techniques and his break-through formulas for countertops that set up fast and stand up to quick finishing, installation, and long-term use. Years of experience can translate into a weekend project, like the kitchen and bathroom vanity projects illustrated in this wonderful, long-awaited book. The text and captions are presented in both Spanish and English.

For the first time, the art and craft of creating concrete countertops is detailed, step-by-step. This invaluable manual will guide craftsmen through each step of creating a cast concrete countertop, from the careful process of measuring for a template, to building a mold, through casting and installation. Moreover, you will be inspired by a gallery of more than 60 color images that explore actual kitchens and baths featuring hand-crafted countertops. With more than 30 years of experience in concrete art and fabrication, artist Buddy Rhodes shares his skills and experience in this tell-all book. Most importantly, he shares the process he pioneered for creating the natural, stone-like pressed surface countertops that have become his hallmark. Additionally, he details techniques for hand-trowelled and polished countertop surfaces. As the popularity of concrete in home decor soars, this book will be an indespensable guide for any craftsman who hopes to make his mark in this expanding market. Amateurs alike will appreciate the intricate detail and the helpful hints that Rhodes includes in this comprehensive guide.

**** 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

If you live in the country or suburbs, you've had, are having, or will have water problems.

What's yours? Not enough water? Too much? Tastes terrible? The pump quits? The water's contaminated?

No matter what it is, author Stu Campbell addresses it in this book, and offers down-to-earth solutions in language understandable to all of us who aren't plumbers.

Campbell had coped with water problems in both the East and the West, from the many-state shortages of the West to a cantankerous pump in Vermont. And he's probed the minds of experts -- dowsers, well diggers, plumbers, electricians, and those who know about the flow of water deep underground.

In a friendly, knowledgeable manner, Campbell discusses your difficulties. He provides concrete and money-saving answers to questions that range from locating water to digging a pond to hooking up the plumbing in your home. You'll know when to try something yourself, when to call a plumber or other expert.

You'll learn

-- How to find water.

-- How to move it.

-- How to purify it.

-- And how to store and distribute it in your home.

Bob Vogel's illustrations take much of the mystery out of things as the underground flow of water and how pumps and other water-linked equipment operate.