Get the satisfaction (and savings) of a well-maintained home. This one-stop resource provides all the information you need to keep up the beauty and convenience of your home and property today - and prevent costly problems down the road. Written by an expert contractor/landscaper with years of experience caring for prestigious homes, "The Ultimate Home Maintenance Manual" gives you efficient, thorough, and professional methods that make every home and garden task as easy, effective, and even enjoyable as possible. It offers systematic directions to a beautiful, well-maintained home. This book covers every step in maintaining the appearance, performance, and value of your home - including how to keep your yard and garden thriving and trouble free! Each project features step-by-step instructions, illustrations, photos, a list of needed tools, and difficulty ratings to help you decide when to hire a professional.You'll also find advice about tools and materials to keep on hand and tips on how to work with professionals. Sidebars, tips, and techniques from the expert author make this an indispensable addition to every homeowner's library. Joe Beck's illustrated instructions show you how to: protect and enhance your most expensive investment; avoid costly and annoying breakdowns, deterioration, and property damage; use professional tips and tricks that make each task as easy, fast, and efficient as possible; avoid neglecting a thing with this complete program for your home and yard; be prepared for emergencies with the right tools; and, feel pride in your well-maintained home!You get a full maintenance program for the house - choosing and using home tools; roof, chimney, and gutters; plumbing system; the electrical system; heating and cooling systems; floors; walls and doors; windows; basements; driveways, walkways, and patios; siding; decks; and, pools. The maintenance program for the property includes: choosing and using yard tools; the lawn; flower beds; bushes and shrubs; fences; trees for natural privacy and wind screening; appendix: climate and geographic considerations; and, appendix - resource listings for special problems (radon, asbestos, floods, etc.)