50 Simple Ways to Save Your House [Paperback]

Bruce E. Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 1995

50 WAYS TO KEEP THE PLUMBER, THE CARPENTER, AND THE BILLS AWAY
A small investment in knowledge, time, and tools today can save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars in the years to come. The key is to catch minor, easy-to-fix problems before they turn into major, costly headaches. Bruce Johnson, America's #1 do-it-yourself expert, takes you step-by-step through every area and aspect of your home, telling you exactly how to spot trouble and how to repair it--easily, quickly, and safely. You can't afford not to learn these fifty simple projects that any homeowner can do:
#1 Assemble a basic home inspection and repair kit
#7 Patch and replace damaged shingles on your roof
#18 Tuckpoint brick walls to keep them sound and attractive
#22 Check the lay of your land to keep the basement dry
#28 Protect your home's deck against rot and decay
#33 Prevent ice dams and rotting rafters
#41 Map out your electrical system
#45 Stop squeaky floors and stairs
It sounds simple...and it is!
50 SIMPLE WAYS TO SAVE YOUR HOUSE.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Johnson (The Weekend Refinisher) takes a novel, practical approach to do-it-yourself home repair and improvement. Not one to enjoy jacking up his house on a Saturday morning to rebuild the foundation, he offers what many DIY books don't?information on small, relatively inexpensive jobs that can help the homeowner avoid major, more costly repairs later on. He details the basic contents of a home inspection and repair kit, explains how to run a safety inspection and then works his way from roof to foundation, indoors and out, to explain how to secure loose floorboards, keep doors and windows functioning, prevent decay in porch columns, cure wet basements, avoid ice dams and more. His style is both engaging and encouraging; step-by-step instructions, the accompanying tool and materials lists and illustrations are refreshingly clear and logical. Author tour.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

See a title like this, and the paranoid possibilities proliferate. Save my house? From what? Fire? Mud slides? Bogeypersons? Well, none of the above. This is another home-improvement guide, but one focused not so much on sprucing up the old homestead as on heading off serious damage that can occur largely unseen and unnoted until things (like porches) start to fall off, necessitating big-money repairs and indicating that perhaps an ounce of prevention was in order. Johnson recommends and describes home inspection for diagnosing developing trouble as well as ways to repair things before they become serious. On problems ranging from dampness accumulating under the porch to pesky and intrusive tree branches, he gives cogent advice clearly and accompanies it with instructive illustrations and a handy glossary. His most salient points are indicated by the last three chapter titles: "Don't Burn Down What You Just Fixed Up," "Think like a Burglar," and "Learn How to Choose a Contractor." Words to live by, indeed. Mike Tribby

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Product Details

• Paperback: 309 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1 edition (February 28, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345385047
• ISBN-13: 978-0345385048
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,085,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful, practical, do-able, great for New Years' resolutions, October 27, 1997

By 

R. Kelly Wagner "[e-mail]" (MD, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 50 Simple Ways to Save Your House (Paperback)

I bought this book a few days after buying an old house in need of much work. We have decided to adopt at least one item each year from the book as a New Years resolution. They range from the very easy (Clean your roof! Check for leaks!) to the advanced-skill or hire-a-contractor level. But all are detailed, and explain why they are included. Some do not apply to every house, such as the basement hints, but everyone will find something that applies to their house. The book is written in language that you don't have to be a builder to understand; you don't even have to be an experienced do-it-yourselfer to get started. Warning: after starting this book, you will become very paranoid about what could go wrong in your house! However, this is a good thing, as paranoia is the first step toward preservation.