All home improvements don t require a contractor. Installing a smoke detector, painting a room, and unclogging a sink are all home improvements. In fact, doing the job yourself is often cheaper and always more rewarding. There s no mystery to home repair. The most important tool you need to make home repairs is know-how to fix the problem at hand and to buy the other tools and hardware you ll need! Home Improvement For Dummies is a whole-house repair manual for everyone from fledgling do-it-yourselfers to seasoned handymen and women. This anybody-can-do-it approach will help you with a repair that needs fixing right away or get you started on a project you ve been planning. This book is for you if you need advice on these topics and more: Painting and decorating Carpentry Plumbing and electrical Outside repairs Building shelves Tiling Insulating Calculate how much a repair will cost you, and know when to hire a pro. With clear illustrations that walk you, step by step, through projects, Home Improvement For Dummies helps you: Refinish and stain wood Repair squeaky stairs Install floor tiles Improve your home s energy efficiency Maintain and upgrade plumbing Install an outdoor sprinkler system Install a ceiling fan Maintain central air conditioning and heating Whether you just have a few pesky projects you want to fix quickly or you want to become a home-improvement expert, this easy-to-follow guide gives you everything you will ever need to know. A helpful appendix is packed with online resources that let you network with other do-it-yourselfers.