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HomeSkills: Landscaping: How to Use Plants, Structures & Surfaces to Transform Your Yard

Publisher: Cool Springs Press
Editors of Cool Springs Press
2013
Editors of Cool Springs Press
PDF
128 pages
89 MB

As part of our comprehensive HomeSkills DIY series, HomeSkills: Landscaping will make your lawn space the envy of your neighborhood.

Take a quick glance outside your window. What do you see? If it’s a sprawling panorama of flawless landscaping design, if it looks uncannily like a postcard, then you’re all set! But if, like most of us, your yard is just a bit lacking, then this is your how-to guide to finally achieving the outdoor space you’ve always wanted. HomeSkills: Landscaping offers a complete look at every aspect of landscaping, from early design to project execution. First, you’ll gain an overview of the many options at your disposal, exclusively featuring popular DIY products that are readily available and affordable. You’ll learn which design effect will best fit your particular home landscape, be it a flagstone patio, a vinyl fence or a healthy row of perfectly situated arbor vitae. And no matter which direction you take, this hardworking book will seamlessly bring you there by covering all the essential landscaping skills, from proper excavation and boulder transportation to planting shrubs and sand-setting interlocking pavers. Patios, walkways, overhead arbors, windbreaks, fences and gates . . . you’ll learn the best techniques for creating all of the beautiful planted and built elements that define any successful home landscape. Best of all, your new space will be cherished by family and friends alike—and the neighbors will quickly forget their jealousy when they’re enjoying it alongside you.

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HomeSkills: Carpentry: An Introduction to Sawing, Drilling, Shaping & Joining Wood

Publisher: Cool Springs Press
Editors of Cool Springs Press
2013
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1591865794
ISBN-13: 978-1591865797
PDF
128 pages
34 MB

As part of our comprehensive HomeSkills DIY series, HomeSkills: Carpentry teaches you the essential skill of woodworking.

At the core of every true handyperson is the ability to work with wood. In the home, the garage, or the backyard, the skill of carpentry will prove useful time and time again—it is the ultimate foundational craft of the do-it-yourselfer. With HomeSkills: Carpentry, we invite you to embark on building your DIY skillset by teaching you the basics of woodworking. You’ll learn how to assemble your starter toolbox and small workshop, and we’ll show you the ropes on using those fundamental tools that will remain staples in your construction arsenal well into the future. Finally, we’ll give you step-by-step instructions for accomplishing some of the most common home carpentry projects: building your own workbench or setup table, hanging a door, building an interior stud wall, working with plywood and sheet goods, and a score of other practical tasks. Accompanied by 350 detailed photographs, purposely set at a bargain price, and backed by the renowned reputation of Cool Springs Press, this one-stop how-to book will have you well on your way to becoming a bona fide home carpenter. And, dare we say it, you just might have a good time getting there.

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HomeSkills: Ceramic Tile: How to Install Ceramic Tile for Your Floors, Walls, Backsplashes & Countertops

Publisher: Cool Springs Press
Editors of Cool Springs Press
2013
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1591865808
ISBN-13: 978-1591865803
PDF
128 pages
25 MB

As part of our comprehensive HomeSkills DIY series, HomeSkills: Ceramic Tile turns each of your bland surfaces into a blank canvas.

To many homeowners, laying tile sounds like a recipe for stress, physical injury, artistic embarrassment, or all of the above. But we’ll let you in on a secret: with some basic knowledge and a little persistence, anyone can do it—and you’ll feel especially proud when you tally up the money you just saved by doing it yourself. With HomeSkills: Ceramic Tile, you’ll receive expert instruction in the fundamentals of tiling your living space. Through user-friendly project descriptions and vivid how-to photography, you’ll learn all the necessary tiling skills in a concise, accessible way: designing your layout and selecting the perfect tiles, handling and cutting them properly, working with grouts and adhesives, and putting the finishing touches on a confident installation. You’ll be able to tackle any surface, from floors and walls to countertops and backsplashes, and at any pace you prefer—take it easy and get it just right over time or blast away and transform an entire room in an afternoon. So set your hesitations aside. HomeSkills: Ceramic Tile is your one-stop DIY guide to the custom tile job you never thought you could pull off.

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HomeSkills: Building Decks: All the Information You Need to Design & Build Your Own Deck

Publisher: Cool Springs Press
Editors of Cool Springs Press
2013
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1591865816
ISBN-13: 978-1591865810
PDF
128 Pages
49.99 MB

As part of our comprehensive HomeSkills DIY series, HomeSkills: Building Decks

takes the fear out of adding the perfect outdoor element to your house. There's a reason that deck building is the most popular do-it-yourself home improvement undertaking today: not only are decks an attractive, customizable component of classic American construction, they also allow for entertainment and relaxation in a way that indoor spaces simply can't. So if your house is already in top working order, and your lawn is looking mighty green this year, chances are there's only one thing missing--a deck. Fortunately, with all the innovative new products and materials coming onto the market, decks are easier to self-design and build than ever before. As it turns out, you're only one how-to book away from creating the deck of your dreams. In HomeSkills: Building Decks, the expert editors of Cool Springs Press join forces to cover every aspect of deck building, providing streamlined project descriptions with crystal-clear photos that leave no room for guesswork. You'll learn how to plan and design, then select materials, dig postholes, hang joists, and install the decking itself. We even cover stairs, railings, overheads, and extra accessories like screens and arbors. With 300 illustrations and 10 supplementary diagrams, one thorough book prevents two things from collapsing: you and your shiny new deck. And that's good for all of us