Remodeling On the Money: 15 Innovative Projects Designed ... (ISBN 1427754802)

I loved this book...:
I bought this book to find out how best to remodel a house to add value. This book definitely tells you that. But it really helped me because it has basic information that is really useful. For instance, I have on order one of the new tankless hot water heaters. Heavens said you need "modulating temperature control" for consistent temperature. I had no idea if the model I ordered had that. Now I can make sure that it does! Heavens is very thorough about having all the basics without making reading tedious. I need new toilets and I am confused about all the energy-saving alternatives. I found one for $1200!!! installed. Heavens described the alternatives....with prices! Remodeling to help the value of your home is all about not spending too much. This book really helps with pricing of specific projects. It is too easy to "over improve" your house. This book tells you how to do it yourself and keep prices down. It has an extensive website that has lots of helpful in-depth how to's. For people like me who need to hire contractors, it is especially helpful too. For instance, I am about to have a new floor installed. Heavens' book gives a ballpark price for the installation. That is really useful for me. In the back of my mind is a plan to replace my bathtub. Heavens' bathroom chapter told me everything I need to consider!

Poorly organized compilation from a knowledgeable author:
First, the positives. The book is divided into fifteen chapters each describing a room or area to be remodeled. Most chapters give real-life examples of a family's project mixed with the author's professional knowledge about trends, products, and working with a contractor. The author is clearly knowledgeable and experienced but the organization of the book prohibits it from being a truly useful reference tool for homeowners considering a residential overhaul. The book was most effective where it included good rules of thumb for homeowners to either undertake their own improvements or achieve better results working with a contractor. The first three chapters (bathrooms, kitchens, master bedrooms) contain many more guidelines and product comparisons than the following 12 chapters, which seemed disorganized and hastily-assembled. For example, paragraphs were used to describe the chemical process by which a radon test works and the the actual process of finishing off a basement space to add living area where radon may be a concern was glossed over. There are eight glossy pages of pictures in the center of the book showing different stages of renovations and factory scenes not corresponding to any topic in the book; it almost seems like the publisher mistakenly inserted another books' pictures! The black/white pictures throughout the text were a grab bag: sometimes helpful views of cited products, sometimes random carpenters operating a Sawzall showing nothing specific, chapters such as insulation topic should have been accompanied by blueprint-type charts demonstrating the cited concepts. The author could have improved the book tremendously with a summary of general guidelines, best practices, and cost/benefit chart for renovations at the end of each chapter. The anecdotal information was good but needs to be much better planned and organized.