Popular Mechanics Complete Home How-To Book

1	Planning Ahead
	Forward planning	2
	Assessing potential	4
	Using professionals	7
	Employing a builder	8
	Seeking approval	9
	Do-it-yourself	12
	A basis for selecting colour	14
	Using tone for subtlety	16
	Taking texture into account	18
	Using pattern for effect	19
	Manipulating space	20
	Interior schemes	22
	Planning your lighting	27
2	Decorating
	Means of access	30
	Preparation and priming	33
	Primers and sealers	33
	Masonry	34
	Plasterwork	40
	Wallcoverings	42
	Woodwork	43
	Metalwork	50
	Tiled surfaces	52
	Applying finishes	53
	Paints	53
	Exterior masonry	54
	Walls and ceilings	57
	Decorative paint effects	60
	Textured coatings	69
	Woodwork	70
	Painting doors	73
	Painting window frames	74
	Graining	75
	Staining wood	78
	Varnishing	80
	French polishing	81
	Cold-cure lacquer	82
	Finishing metalwork	83
	Panelling	85
	Wallcoverings	88
	Choosing tiles	97
	Wall tiling	100
	Ceiling tiles	104
	Floor tiling	105
	Wood flooring	110
	Carpets	112
	Sheet vinyl	115
3	Repairs & Improvements
	House construction	118
	Walls	120
	External	120
	Internal	121
	Removing walls	122
	Constructing walls	127
	Ceilings	132
	Suspended ceilings	132
	Loft access	133
	Plasterwork	134
	Types of plaster	135
	Surfaces	136
	Mixing plaster	137
	Plastering techniques	138
	Repairing plasterwork	139
	Plastering a wall	143
	Plasterboard	144
	Exterior rendering	151
	Floors	154
	Suspended floors	154
	Solid floors	155
	Flooring	156
	Maintenance	157
	Doors	160
	Types and construction	160
	Fitting and hanging doors	162
	Dividing doors	164
	Sliding and folding doors	165
	Garage doors	170
	Windows	172
	Types and construction	172
	Types of glass	175
	Repairing glass	176
	Double glazing	180
	Repairing windows	181
	Replacing windows	185
	Roof windows	187
	Curtains and blinds	188
	Shutters	190
	Staircases	195
	Types and construction	195
	Maintenance	197
	Balusters and balustrades	200
	Roofs	203
	Construction	204
	Roof maintenance	208
	Sheet roofing	209
	Flashings	211
	Guttering	213
4	Home Security
	How a burglar gains entry	216
	Guarding against intruders	217
	Securing doors	218
	Securing windows	240
	Burglar alarms	241
	Protection against fire	242
5	Infestation, Rot & Damp
	Infestation	224
	Insect infestation	224
	Animal infestation	228
	Rot	229
	Wet rot and dry rot	229
	Preventative treatment	230
	Damp	231
	Penetrating damp	231
	Rising damp	231
	Condensation	234
	Basements and cellars	236
6	Insulation & Ventilation
	Insulation	238
	Insulating plumbing	239
	Draughtproofing	240
	Insulating roofs	243
	Insulating walls	247
	Insulating floors	248
	Double glazing	249
	Ventilation	253
	Ventilating floors	254
	Ventilating the roof space	255
	Extractor fans	257
	Range hoods	259
	Heat-recovery ventilation	260
7	Electricity
	Economics	264
	Basics	266
	Safety	267
	Zones for bathrooms	269
	Replacements	270
	Flex	270
	Plugs and lampholders	273
	Main switch equipment	274
	Earthing systems	275
	Consumer units	276
	Fuses and MCBs	277
	Circuits	279
	Cables	280
	Running cable	281
	Assessing your installation	284
	Power circuits	286
	Socket outlets	286
	Mounting sockets	286
	Replacing socket outlets	288
	Adding spurs	289
	Adapting circuits	290
	Fixed appliances	292
	Fused connection units	292
	Wiring heaters	293
	Wiring small appliances	294
	Cookers	295
	Immersion heaters	296
	Storage heaters	298
	Doorbells and chimes	300
	TV aerials	301
	Telephone extensions	302
	Home office	303
	Wiring showers	305
	Lighting circuits	305
	Light fittings	307
	Light switches	309
	Installing wall lights	313
	Low-voltage lighting	314
	Electricity outdoors	316
	Security lighting	317
	Closed-circuit television	319
	Garden lighting and pumps	321
	Wiring outbuildings	322
	Complete rewiring	324
8	Plumbing
	Repairs and maintenance	326
	Emergency repairs	327
	Repairing taps	328
	Maintaining cisterns and tanks	330
	Drainage systems	333
	Maintenance	334
	Pipework	337
	Metal pipes	337
	Plastic plumbing	342
	Plumbing installations	346
	WCs	346
	Washbasins	349
	Baths	353
	Showers	355
	Bidets	361
	Sinks	362
	Waste-disposal units	363
	Dishwashers & washing machines	364
	Water softeners	366
	Storage tanks	367
	Hot-water heaters	368
	Solar heating	370
9	Heating
	Open fires	374
	Fireplaces	375
	Room heaters and stoves	379
	Central heating	382
	Boilers	384
	Radiators	385
	Controls	387
	Fault finding	388
	Maintenance	389
	Underfloor heating	396
	Storage heaters	398
10	Working Outdoors
	Planning a garden	400
	Fences	404
	Choosing fences	404
	Fence posts	406
	Erecting fences	408
	Gates	412
	Gate styles	412
	Hardware	413
	Gateposts	413
	Walls	414
	Bricks	415
	Concrete blocks	417
	Stone	418
	Mortar	419
	Brickwork	420
	Blockwork	428
	Building with stone	430
	Retaining walls	431
	Paths, drives and patios	432
	Working with concrete	432
	Paving slabs	440
	Crazy paving	442
	Paving with bricks	443
	Cobblestones and gravel	446
	Tarmac	447
	Garden steps	448
	Concrete steps	449
	Log steps	449
	Building curved steps	449
	Water gardens	450
	Pond liners	451
	Constructing ponds	452
	Pumps and fountains	454
	Rockeries and cascades	455
	Pebble pools	456
	Conservatories	457
11	Tools and Skills
	Woodworking tools	460
	Woodworking joints	473
	Building tools	476
	Decorating tools	479
	Plumbing tools	484
	Electrical tools	490
12	Reference & Index
	Timber and boards	492
	Adhesives	494
	Fixings	496
	Glossary of terms	500
	Index	504