BETWEEN THE COVERS
Find renovation inspiration in this fall’s DIY guides
Fall means a fresh crop of home renovation guides, some of them brand new, others fresh editions of popular sellers and many of them aimed at the do-it-yourselfer. We’ve assessed some of the latest releases. Prices quoted are in-store or online at Chapters.
The Complete Guide to Finishing Basements: Projects and Practical Solutions for Converting Basements into Livable Space From Black & Decker, second edition, Cool Springs Press, $27.99 A no-nonsense guide to basement basics from remedying moisture issues and installing laminate flooring to building a sound-deadening furnace enclosure. Don’t expect any jaw-dropping design ideas, but the illustrations are clear, the text straightforward and the content helpful for the novice or even experienced DIYer.
Note: This is an American publication so always check local building codes and permit requirements. From Renos to Riches: The Canadian Real Estate Investor’s Guide to Practical and Profitable Renovations
By Ian Szabo, Wiley, $27.95 He’s wordy, but Ian Szabo does tell you what you need to know about buying and renovating homes with the goal of either flipping or renting them. Drawing on his own experience, he provides guidance, checklists and case studies for the entire process starting with pre-purchase inspections and including the hiring of contractors. Szabo also shows how to fund a reno and save on materials. Links lead to his own website, where projects such as kitchen cabinet installation are detailed. Plumbing: Install & Repair Your Own Toilets, Faucets, Sinks, Tubs, Showers, Drains
By the editors of Cool Springs Press, $16.99 Plumbing can be a messy and frustrating DIY endeavour, but this guide to the basics should get you through the worst of it. Big, bright photographs and clear prose lead you through projects such as cutting and soldering copper pipe, replacing or troubleshooting toilets and faucets, and installing dishwashers. Specialty projects like retrofitting a fridge with an icemaker.
Bonus: Included are a handy guide to plumbing materials and their uses as well as tips such as keeping drains clear by periodically pouring boiling water down them (the water breaks up gross clogs of hair and soap).
Farrow & Ball Decorating with Colour
By Ros Byam Shaw, Ryland Peters & Small, $55 (hardcover) It’s a showcase for Farrow & Ball paints and wallpapers, but this coffee table-style book features a slew of gorgeous photographs showing how colours can join forces to create drama, serenity and a sense of well-being in the places we live. The book trawls through houses in Paris, Amsterdam and elsewhere, showing how to use colour to highlight architectural detail, bring visual warmth into a north-facing room and achieve other results applicable to even humble homes. No-Regrets Remodeling: How to Create a Comfortable, Healthy Home that Saves Energy By the editors at Home Energy Magazine, $22.77 (online) This book aims at nothing less than ensuring your renovation is attractive, energy-efficient, durable, costeffective and provides a healthy living environment. Unlike many books, it treats a house as a system where tinkering with one element can impact other elements — as when a tighter building envelope leads to excess interior moisture and mould. That means renovations have to be approached in a “holistic” fashion. Fortunately the contents, while exhaustive, are logically organized and complemented by charts. There are also case studies of energy-saving renovations and a glossary of common renovation and energy terms. All-in-all, a must-have for the DIY renovator.