[.ca] Home Improvement 1-2-3: Expert Advice from the Home Depot (ISBN 0696213273)

Not What I'd Hoped It Would Be:
Very disappointed with the almost complete abscence of "expert advice" being offered by the "Editors at Home Depot" in this purported reference book, so I'm returning it the next time I'm in the store. Almost every subject area I looked at was as far from "expert advice" as it's possible to get -- unless you consider "drill a hole in the wall and drag your \ocable, wire, pipe, etc.\c through it" to be a revelation of cosmic proportions. The "editors" seemed to be more concerned with how many flashy pictures and other garbage they could squeeze onto every page, instead of focusing on the technical aspects of the job. Take "Telephone Wiring" on pages 213 and 214 for example, which in essence says nothing more than "Connect your phone to the wires." Well, yeah, no duh! How about tell us which wires, and how we can tell if they're "live" or "dead", and what the voltages should normally be, and how to hook a voltmeter to the wires to tell which ones go to what post, and how to connect the wires so they'll pass through to other phones in the house, and what to do if they don't work after you've connected them, and... well, the list of what you REALLY need to know is why you'd buy a book like this in the first place, isn't it? And their advice for "Thermostat" on pages 219-220 is just as bad, if not worse -- "Contact a dealer for repairs." Sheesh! Save your money. Look elsewhere for a home maintenance and repair guide, because these guys are operating without a clue.

not good enough:
I have used this book to help with tiling, door hanging and trim work. I find that there are many gaps in the information that it contains. Some of these gaps in knowledge lead to big mistakes in projects.

Recommended:
I found the book very informative. I didn't know much about home improvement or being a handyman when we bought an older home about six months ago. I mean, I had hardly done anything more than tighten the odd loose screw and certainly had never used a power tool. The numerous pictures in the book were exactly what I needed and I found its humorous style appealing. I recently wired a telephone extension to another bedroom in my house following the instructions, and the phone worked immediately I plugged it in. This book hasn't turned me into an expert, but I don't think that is the audience this book addresses. If you already have some technical knowledge and are looking for in-depth stuff, skip this one. However if like me you're a complete novice with an older home and looking for some basic information then get this book.

Perfect for beginners:
I am a first time homeowner who has tinkered with small projects around the house. I found this book to be very helpful for me to develop a basic understanding of how the major systems in my home are put together (ie: plumbing, heating/cooling, electric, wall structure.) I believe it is designed to be a "starter" book for people like me who are just getting their feet wet and need knowledge to build their confidence in order to tackle a larger project. I would recommend it if you want to learn about how your house is put together.

Excellent reference - only some minor problems:
This book has been indispensable for many of my home projects. It helps alleviate those fears that you just wouldn't be able to do a certain project. An average person really can replace a sink, change out a light fixture, or even get adventurous - why not put a whole new sink or light fixture in! You can see from amazon.com's "look inside the book" feature what the table of contents is like, but you can't see one of the chapters. Each chapter starts with a "Basics" section, which gives an overview of working with that type of project. For instance, the plumbing chapter starts with "Plumbing Basics," which has a big chart of a house's plumbing system, some general advice on starting a plumbing project, and two pages of tools and materials you will need, with pictures. The rest of each chapter is dedicated to instructions for individual projects. For instance, the first project in plumbing is "Working with rigid plastic pipe." It has a "skill scale," an estimate of time for the project, and several series of pictures and instructions, leading you in various tasks. All this is interspersed with various tips, tricks, warnings, etc. Overall, this format is very useful, and it is easy to lay the book open near you while you work, if you want the instructions. I do have a few minor negative points about this book. Sometimes the time estimates can be misleading. For instance, it says framing in a wall should take a beginner 2.5 hours, while putting in the drywall should take 10 hours with help, not including finishing and sanding. In my experience (I don't think there is anything in this book that I haven't done), it can take even an experienced person 2.5 hours to get a wall framed in, but putting in drywall in for a whole room is a 5 hour job for two or three people. So the time estimates are helpful, but don't bank on them! My other complaint has nothing to do with the advice, and everything to do with the pictures. This book is extremely well-illustrated, but all the projects in the book are shown being done by men! I have found three places where there is a woman in the book - wallpapering, working on a vacuum system, and helping the man. Hmmm... Give me a break. In spite of these complaints, this book really is a worthwhile buy for anyone doing some home improvement - man or woman. Recap: Good points - great instructions for almost any project, great inspiration. Bad points - unrealistic time estimates, and misleading sexism.