Books about Renovators from Amazon.com

More people than ever before are buying new homes or renovating existing homes. Confronted with hundreds of decisions that range from the deceptively simple to the complex and costly, most homeowners find themselves overwhelmed and bewildered: What sort of profile should the kitchen cabinets have–bullnose, cove, flute, ogee, reverse ogee, roundover or straight? How much would it cost to add electrical outlets or move the bathroom sink? Endlessly useful, beautifully illustrated, practical in organization and portable in size, this invaluable companion to The Pocket Decorator picks up where the first volume left off, exploring in depth the most complex issues facing most home buyers and renovators: construction and renovation, kitchens and bathrooms, space and stair configurations, and vital systems in the home, and well as appendices covering “green” design, mortgage terminology, and real estate terminology. From structural basics to hardware finishes, from adding or removing walls to installing a pressed tin ceiling, from choosing appliances and countertop materials to lighting, heating and cooling systems and floorplans, The Pocket Renovator is the perfect gift for anyone buying or renovating a home..
Price: $11.76 [Notify me when price goes down.]

A new home should be a financial investment, not a financial drain. Homeowners often realize too late that the property they’ve purchased is in need of costly repairs. Now you can protect yourself before you make a purchase by conducting a thorough home inspection. Seasoned real estate inspectors Alan Carson and Robert Dunlop will help you master the techniques of professional home inspection. This all-inclusive guide, filled with clear and detailed illustrations, will show you:

 

•  What to inspect yourself and what to leave to the experts

•  Which materials are the most durable when it comes to gutters, exterior walls, and roof

•  How to check the fuse box or circuit breaker panel for trouble spots

•  How to identify pipe materials used in plumbing systems and evaluate a septic system

•  What you need to know about floors, doors, windows, walls, and much more

 

For those who want to perform their own renovations, this book features such useful resources as a breakdown of typical renovation costs and a sample construction contract to help do-it-yourselfers avoid common construction pitfalls. Inspecting a House is a valuable resource that will save you time, money, and the endless frustrations of unforeseen home repairs.   .
Price: $1.88 [Notify me when price goes down.]

This essential dictionary and phrase book provides every term you need to know when buying, maintaining, renovating or building a home in France. Accessible and comprehensive, it includes the technical words you won't find in an ordinary dictionary for tools and equipment and every aspect of painting, carpentry, roofing, plumbing and drainage. It also equips you with terminology for planning structural changes such as extensions and determining boundaries. An appendix of emergency phrases will make this a book you'll want to keep by the phone at all times. Whether you own a home or work in France, this book will help you talk to French tradesmen with authority and avoid costly misunderstandings as you pull down the language barrier brick by brick..
Price: $15.11 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Restoring a home is a gratifying and pleasurable experience, especially when the renovations maintain the original character of the building Whether you long for a traditional marble fireplace or solid brass doorknobs, colorful stained glass for the front door or tiles for the hallway, installing these original features will bring character to your home and add thousands of dollars to its value.

In More Period Details,  best-selling author Judith Miller guides you through every type of interior fixture and fitting, from large elements such as doors, windows, and stairs to small details such as locks, hinges, and grates. Exterior details, such as front doors and porches, are also featured. The book focuses on both town and country homes from the seventeenth through the twentieth centuries, with the greatest emphasis on the styles and dwellings from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, including American Colonial, Victorian, Art Deco, and Georgian. Miller offers advice on how to date a house; how to buy and restore original items; and how to identify which interior and exterior features should be replaced or added. And with the growing number of quality reproductions available, period details are not limited to rare, expensive antique pieces.

With more than 800 full-color examples of original and reproduction period fixtures and fittings, plus a comprehensive directory of manufacturers and craftsmen, More Period Details is an essential purchase for anyone planning to restore or renovate a period property.

This completely new book by Judith Miller, author of the classic best-seller Period Details, will enable you to successfully restore or renovate a house using details that match the building's original design. With 800 color photographs of original and reproduction pieces, More Period Details is an authoritative, practical guide to re-creating an authentic period look in your home..
Price: $32.20 [Notify me when price goes down.]