The most complete home improvement manual available, with more than 2,300 photos, 800 drawings, and clear, practical text.Over 600 pages, the ultimate home improvement manual325 step-by-step projects with how-to photos and materials listsEssential information on tools, materials, and basic skillsComprehensive sections on wiring, plumbing, roofing, siding, heating, cooling, flooring, cabinets, and moreIncludes a remodeling guide, a special photo-illustrated section on contracts, contractors, and managing your remodeling projectsTech-reviewed by more than 20 industry expertsUpdated with information on the latest code changes, USB outlets, AFCI/GFCI breakers, and moreInside this information-packed 608-page book, you will find easy-to-follow instruction on everything you need to know about a wide range of subjects including plumbing and electrical repairs, heating and cooling, roofing and siding, cabinets and countertops, remodeling, walls and ceilings, trimwork, floors, stairs, masonry, insulation, ventilation, and much more.Along with more than 325 home projects and repairs that will add value to your house and property, information is provided on tools, materials, and basic skills, plus how-to photo sequences. With this must-have resource, you'll find plenty of direct DIY wisdom on how to make the most of your home!Ultimate Guide to Home Repair and Improvement also includes a remodeling guide, a resource guide, and a thorough index and glossary. This third updated edition includes information on recent code updates and changes, as well as information on USB outlets, AFCI/GFCI breakers, and tankless water heaters.Top to bottom, inside and out, Ultimate Guide to Home Repair and Improvement is the single most comprehensive and most trusted resource book for DIY projects and repairs to save you money when remodeling, renovating, repairing, and maintaining your home!"The definitive 'how to' reference and instructional guide for anyone seeking to remodel, renovate, repair, or maintain any aspect of their residence. Plenty of direct do it yourself wisdom. Highly useful and very much highly recommended"—Midwest Book Review Read more

Get all the ideas and how-to information you need to integrate hardscape designs into your home landscape!Dozens of design ideas you can use to enhance your backyard and outdoor spaces with walkways, garden walls, and patiosOver 500 photographs and how-to illustrations to help you visualize your improved landscapeEasy-to-follow, step-by-step sequences on the most popular landscape projects with a complete list of tools and materials for each project, plus detailed how-to illustrationsProjects include hard and soft walks, ceramic and stone tile walks, how to build steps with brick, wood, or concrete, building a wall with a stucco finish, mortar-bed patios, and moreUpdated edition includes new information on the most current home hardscaping interests and needs, new design content, tips on how to combat climate change through your landscape choices, and moreDesigning the outside of the home adds to curb-side appeal, creates ambiance, and increases the value of your home. This complete DIY guide for homeowners provides all the information you need to integrate popular hardscape designs into your overall home landscape!Included are dozens of design ideas with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for a variety of landscape projects, including brick, mortar, and concrete walks and patios, flagstone and tile patios, brick and mortared stone walls, and more. Lavish color photographs provide design inspiration, while the extensive how-to section provides easy-to-follow information.With hundreds of building tips and construction drawings for projects, Ultimate Guide to Walks, Patios & Walls contains all the design and technical information you need to enhance your landscape and outdoor living areas with walkways, patios, and garden walls. Also included in this updated edition is new content on hardscaping design and materials, choices to consider that combat climate change, pervious versus impervious surfaces, terracing, and other elements that influence stormwater runoff and site planning, and more.Learn how to set pavers in a sand-and-gravel base, create a new patio with tile or stone atop a mortar base, build a wall that will stand the test of time, and so much more, with Ultimate Guide to Walks, Patios & Walls, Updated 2nd Edition! Read more

Learn how to incorporate the stunning beauty of natural stone into your home landscape!Over 290 beautiful photos of the latest stone designsMore than 40 illustrations to guide the do-it-yourselferSurprisingly easy stone projects you can include in your landscapeHelpful tips and instruction on some of the most popular stone projects, including patios, walls, and rock gardensLandscaping with Stone, 2nd Edition is a combination landscape design and project book in one, and this Second Edition has been updated with all new photographs.The first section of the book will provide you with a framework for incorporating stone in your landscape designs, including a look at the different types of stone used in landscapes, sources of inspiration, and ways to think about stone in relation to other landscape elements.The second part will provide you with tips on working with stone, from transporting to cutting and setting. There is also step-by-step instruction on some of the most popular stone projects, including patios, walls, and rock gardens.With over 300 photographs and illustrations, this guide for the DIYer with teach you the basics of designing and working with different types of stone in walkways, patios, retaining walls, rock gardens, steps, and much more!Chapters include:Designing with StonePlanning Your ProjectStone as a Building MaterialPaths & WalkwaysStone PatiosLandscape StepsStone & Water FeaturesSetting Large StonesRock GardensFreestanding WallsRetaining Walls Read more

Master the essential skills for building strong and durable foundations with Foundations & Concrete Work, a comprehensive guide from the experts at Fine Homebuilding. Whether you're a professional contractor or a DIY enthusiast, this invaluable resource covers every aspect of foundation and concrete work with step-by-step instructions, expert tips, and detailed illustrations. Whether you're pouring a simple slab or constructing a full basement, Foundations & Concrete Work is your ultimate guide to strong, durable, and expertly built foundations.Key Features:Comprehensive foundation guide: Learn how to plan, pour, and finish concrete foundations, footings, slabs, and retaining walls, ensuring long-lasting stability for any structure. Step-by-step instructions: Clear and detailed guidance on pouring concrete, laying block foundations, waterproofing, and handling drainage, allowing you to tackle projects with confidence. Expert advice: The experienced editors of Fine Homebuilding provide insider tips and proven techniques for avoiding common mistakes and achieving professional results. Visual illustrations and photos: Hundreds of diagrams, photos, and charts break down complex processes into easy-to-understand steps, making it ideal for both beginners and seasoned builders. Up-to-date methods and materials: Stay current with the latest inconcrete technology, from mixing methods to the newest innovations in concrete reinforcement and waterproofing. Read more

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Author Ian Cramb was a fifth-generation stonemason who relied on traditional methods to create and restore beautiful stone structures. In this do-it-yourself manual for homeowners, masonry contractors, and restoration specialists, Cramb drew on his fifty years of life experience in the craft to cover restoration techniques for historic structures in the U.S. and Britain. The book covers various types of stone, stone-cutting, and traditional mortar mixes for walls, foundations, and buildings. Read more

Plan an epic new patio, redo a current problem space, or design and install a path for any area of the yard—with up-to-date advice and photo-illustrated step-by-step instructions from a trusted brand.In BLACK+DECKER The Complete Guide to Patios Updated 4th Edition, you’ll find a deep dive into various projects that will help you make the most of your outdoors areas:  Effective Patio EdgingBrick and Cobblestone Paver PatiosMortared Patios with Lasting AppealDurable Concrete Slab PatiosLoose Fill Patio with a Fire PitAttractive Sandset Brick, Poured Concrete, Mortared Brick, and Flagstone WalkwaysRubber Tile PatiosA Comprehensive Guide to Permeable Subbases and Composite Permeable PaversIn addition to the hardworking patio and path projects that made the original edition a top-seller in the category, this new edition includes:  Illuminating your outdoor space with Hardwired Landscape Lighting to define various areas, from cozy conversation spots to poolside surroundings.Installing a Shade Sail to provide ample shade, ensuring you’re always comfortable, even when standard umbrellas fall short.A versatile Custom Wooden Bar, adaptable to your preferred style, whether it’s tiki or traditional.A DIY-friendly Stacked Stone Outdoor Kitchen for those who prefer crafting their own culinary oasis.A Privacy Screen Planter to create a buffer from neighbors or carve out a secluded area within your space.Fresh galleries for endless inspiration when you need it the most.If you’re seeking inspiration and guidance to kick-start your patio project or you’re looking for the perfect path or patio makeover to elevate your space from good to great, BLACK+DECKER has it covered. Read more

Rustic and charming or stately and proud, a well-built stone wall can add personality and beauty to your property. John Vivian’s lively approach and step-by-step instructions encourage you to transform a pile of rocks into an enduring landscape feature with gates, retaining walls, or stiles to suit your needs. Whatever unique challenges come with your site — poor drainage, sloping ground, or low-quality rubble material — Vivian offers innovative designs and reproducible methods to help you build a beautiful, long-lasting wall.  Read more

Modern Masonry: Brick, Block, Stone provides a broad understanding of the properties and applications of masonry materials. It begins with coverage on careers to help students learn about the industry. It then progresses to teaching safe and proper procedures for working with brick, block, and stone. Coverage of concrete form construction and flatwork is also included. Green features address specific topics relating to masonry’s impact on the environment. Read more

How to Build Dry-Stacked Stone Walls shows how to build a wall using the traditional method of dry stone masonry in which carefully selected stones are properly stacked and held together without mortar. As well as being beautiful, a dry stone wall is stronger, more stable, and more resistant to climate than a mortared wall. The book features more than 100 full color photographs of walls, bridges and decorative garden elements in various steps of construction as well as illustrations that show the steps and cross sections that illustrate the building methods. Author John Shaw-Rimmington explains how to build a dry stacked stone wall, coursed walling, bridges, follies and more. He explains the important principles that contribute to the structural integrity of each. He covers all of the essential elements of dry stone building: Design The foundation Packing or backfilling within the wall Slope of a wall face, an "A" profile provides stability Bridge stones that span the width of the wall Coping, the top stones of a wall Weight-bearing stones in an arch, bridge, dome, etc. Shaw-Rimmington then guides the reader through the building process. With dedication to the task and the author's experienced guidance, the only limit is imagination. Read more

There once may have been 250,000 miles of stone walls in America's Northeast, stretching farther than the distance to the moon. They took three billion man-hours to build. And even though most are crumbling today, they contain a magnificent scientific and cultural story―about the geothermal forces that formed their stones, the tectonic movements that brought them to the surface, the glacial tide that broke them apart, the earth that held them for so long, and about the humans who built them.Stone walls tell nothing less than the story of how New England was formed, and in Robert Thorson's hands they live and breathe. "The stone wall is the key that links the natural history and human history of New England," Thorson writes. Millions of years ago, New England's stones belonged to ancient mountains thrust up by prehistoric collisions between continents. During the Ice Age, pieces were cleaved off by glaciers and deposited―often hundreds of miles away―when the glaciers melted. Buried again over centuries by forest and soil buildup, the stones gradually worked their way back to the surface, only to become impediments to the farmers cultivating the land in the eighteenth century, who piled them into "linear landfills," a place to hold the stones. Usually the biggest investment on a farm, often exceeding that of the land and buildings combined, stone walls became a defining element of the Northeast's landscape, and a symbol of the shift to an agricultural economy. Stone walls layer time like Russian dolls, their smallest elements reflecting the longest spans, and Thorson urges us to study them, for each stone has its own story. Linking geological history to the early American experience, Stone by Stone presents a fascinating picture of the land the Pilgrims settled, allowing us to see and understand it with new eyes. Read more

Craving authentic, wood-fired pizza in your own backyard? How to Build a Backyard Pizza Oven is your ultimate guide to crafting a culinary masterpiece. From design to construction, this book empowers you to build your dream oven and savor the taste of homemade pizza perfection.Transform your outdoor space! This book unveils:Pizza Oven Design and Planning: Discover the perfect pizza oven design for your backyard, considering size, materials, and style.Step-by-Step Construction: Learn the art of building a pizza oven from the ground up, with clear instructions and expert tips.Essential Materials and Tools: Gather the necessary materials and tools for a successful build.Achieving Optimal Heat: Master the science of fire management and heat distribution for perfect pizza crust.Pizza Perfection: Explore the secrets to crafting delicious, authentic wood-fired pizzas.Beyond the basics: This book offers in-depth knowledge:Outdoor Kitchen Integration: Design your pizza oven as part of a larger outdoor kitchen for versatile cooking options.Insulation and Ventilation: Ensure optimal performance and safety with proper insulation and ventilation.Maintenance and Care: Keep your oven in top condition for years of pizza-making enjoyment.Pizza Recipes and Cooking Techniques: Expand your culinary repertoire with a variety of pizza recipes and cooking tips.Outdoor Living and Entertaining: Create a welcoming outdoor space centered around your pizza oven.This book is an investment in your culinary adventures! Discover:The joy of DIY: Experience the satisfaction of building your own pizza oven.Delicious homemade pizza: Enjoy the taste of authentic, wood-fired pizza anytime.Enhanced outdoor living: Create a gathering place for friends and family.Culinary exploration: Experiment with different pizza toppings and cooking techniques.Ignite your passion for pizza! Order How to Build a Backyard Pizza Oven today and embark on a culinary journey that will transform your outdoor living. Savor the taste of homemade perfection from your very own backyard oven. Read more

Sherri Hunter, author of the best-selling Creating with Concrete, proves once again that concrete isn't just for sidewalks anymore; it's perfect for the garden too. A selection of 30 beautiful designs suggests the range of this increasingly popular material, and the illustrated instructions make the craft's fundamentals easy to learn. Because the simplest projects come first, beginners can work their way through the book progressively, building on their skills. Novices will have fun making the carved trough, sandcast bowl, and elegant relief panel. More sophisticated projects, including a decorative walkway and polished table, come next, and they'll bring charm to any outdoor space. More adventurous artists can unleash their creativity on a "Garden Guardian" sculpture or water feature. A Selection of the Crafters Choice and Homestyle Book Clubs. Read more

2024 GOLD MEDAL WINNER for BEST NON-FICTION CATEGORY in the GLOBAL BOOK AWARDS!ARE YOU READY TO AVOID MAKING BAD CRAWL SPACE REPAIR AND MOLD REMOVAL DECISIONS?If you are a homeowner who wants to avoid making mistakes when remediating mold, waterproofing, insulating and encapsulating your crawl space or dirt floor basement, this is the book for you.Most homeowners are unaware of the role the crawl space has on indoor air quality. Many look for quick cheap fixes that can make the problems worse and are a complete waste of time and money.In Crawl Space Repair Myths-Busted author Michael Church (founder of Crawl Space Ninja) will educate and arm you with the knowledge to fix the crawl space yourself or hire a great professional that will do the work properly.Inside, you’ll discover: What the #1 cause of asthma among children isThe role humidity has on indoor air qualityProper mold remediation protocolsHow to control humidityThe things not to do when repairing the crawl spaceThis book is perfect for every homeowner out there…Get Crawl Space Repair Myths-Busted today! Read more

A dry-stack stonewall is a project that almost anyone can build, and it will last well over a century if built correctly. Like most projects, knowing all of the steps involved is critical to ensure a safe and solid job. This book provides thorough, step-by-step procedures for three projects using stones of various sizes from the smallest all the way up to boulders, with a focus on a safe work environment. Learn a system for planning a project, and proceed through all the steps required to completion. A gallery of wall images will inspire you to start stacking. Read more

Modern Masonry: Brick, Block, Stone provides a broad understanding of the properties and applications of masonry materials. Safe and proper procedures for working with brick, block, and stone are included, as is coverage of concrete form construction. New and revised features found in this edition include Green Notes, Code Notes, and step-by-step Procedures. Green Note features highlight information on sustainability, energy efficiency, and other environmental issues. Code Note features reference the Internal Residential Code and International Building Code to familiarize students with a clear explanation of recommended techniques for a variety of masonry jobs. Read more

Keep organized from January to December with the 2024 - 2028 5-Year Monthly Planner. It measures 8.5 x 11 inches, is available in hardcover, and provides: 60 months of planning pagesTwo-page monthly spreads that include past month, current month, and future month calendar blocks for quick referenceEach square measures 1.5 x 1.8 inchesMade in the U.S.A. Read more

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Since its original publication in 1969 by Yankee, Inc.,Vrest Orton's classic book on fireplace design has gone through numerous printings and has brought about a revival of the Rumford fireplace. The basic principles that Count Rumford set forth in 1795 describe the construction of a large shallow fireplace which does not smoke and which throws out much more heat than many of today's fireplaces which send too much of the heat up the chimney. This new edition contains some practical notes by Wally Leeds, a mason in Tunbridge,Vermont who builds Rumford fireplaces today. Read more

Just when you think you know all there is about concrete, many new innovations create faster, more efficient ways to do the work. This comprehensive concrete manual has both the tried-and-tested methods and materials, and more recent innovations. It covers everything you need to know about concrete along with Styrofoam forming systems, fiber reinforcing adjuncts, and some architectural innovations, like architectural foam elements, that can help you offer more in the jobs you bid on. Forming, one of the most important elements of concrete work, gets special attention. Innovative forming systems offer significant benefits, but many contractors steer clear because they're unfamiliar. This book gives you the know-how, so you can take advantage of everything that's out there. Every chapter provides detailed, step-by-step instructions for each task, with hundreds of photographs and drawings that show exactly how the work is done. Here you'll find: How to select the right concrete material for the job Laying out foundations and footings Footing forms, including Form-A-Drain and stepped footings Prefabricated building forms -- plywood, corrugated-paper, and Steel-Ply(r) forming systems Insulated polystyrene concrete forms (ICFs), including ARXX(r) and Outsulation(r) systems Planning the pour and pre-pour inspections Concrete reinforcement Pouring, testing, installing joints, finishing and curing the concrete Hot and cold weather pours Constructing and pouring foundation walls, slabs, sidewalks, driveways, curbs and steps Shotcrete and gunite Special concrete finishes and textures Estimating concrete quantities for large and small projects OSHA requirements for working with concreteTo keep your jobs organized, there are checklists for each stage of the concrete work, from planning, to finishing and protecting your pours. Whether you're doing residential or commercial work, this manual has the instructions, illustrations, charts, estimating data, rules of thumb and examples every contractor can apply on their concrete Read more