[.ca] The Black & Decker Complete Guide to Home Plumbing: ... (ISBN 1589232011)

Most projects well covered:
This book is well written and certainly well presented, with excellent pictures to illustrate the task at hand. Its comprehensive on the topic of home plumbing with many tasks covered. I doubt whether there is a better and more up to date publication. However some constructive criticism; I would have appreciated more technical information at times. There was no reason as to why certain pipes or fixtures were used instead of others, whether it was in the code or the author had the experience to know, you had to accept it on blind faith. So I often thought when doing a certain project, "why did they choose these products and methods." Also there is very little on the subject of Gas plumbing except the installation of a Gas hot water tank.

Great book, BUT...:
The Black and Decker line of repair and home improvement books are clearly one, if not, thee best I have ever seen. Their illustrations and attention to detail are far better than the other name brand books. I am actually very surprised to the amount of work they must have gone through to get some of the shots they show. I have both the plumbing and wiring book and find/found them very useful for even the biggest of jobs. My only complaint with this particular book was the lack of detail on sizing and layout of supply and waste pipes for new installations. They have some good tables and cover some issues with code, but there are many fine details involving UPC and IRC standards, as well as many tricks and do's and don'ts in the trade that I would like to see covered. In other words, you'll need more data if you plan on getting a permit and passing inspection. Perhaps a well drawn out 2-story plan, noting why each pipe was placed and sized as such, for optimal service, would make this book outstanding. In either case, it's still one of the best book out there. Check out the "Code Check" flip references by Taunton Press for the fine details to compliment this book. Hope this helps.

An Every Homeowner Plumbing Reference:
This manual is made for existing homes and the homeowner who wishes to understand plumbing and handle his own projects. Jobs which may seem daunting for those without trade skills are made very manageable by excellent text and photographs. The biggest restraint in keeping homeowners from saving money and doing their own work is fear of making mistakes. The book dispells the fear! The book covers simple skills such as replacing faucets to more major jobs like replacing water heaters or adding new plumbing lines and facilities. I compared this book with three others before purchasing and feel the few extra dollars worth it.

Good pick:
I bought this book because Black and Decker's guide to electrical work was excellent. The plumbing version is good too, but would have benefited from more detail and basic information for beginners. This book has excellent pictures, a variety of types of projects and repairs, and generally good descriptions and instructions. I learned quite a bit from reading this book.

Must have!:
Everyone considering home renovations or building needs to have this whole series by Black & Decker. They are all fantastic and easy to follow.