Library can help you do it yourself
Remodeling a whole house may be too much for most people to handle but smaller projects, one at a time, may help the homeowner keep a house in relatively good condition. The Hastings Public Library has books available that explain and show how to do many small home repair jobs.
Need to fix a screen? No excuses ladies - Martha Stewart repaired a screen on national TV. Black & Decker’s book “Everyday Home Repairs” demonstrates the process step-by-step starting with what tools and materials you will need. The instructions progress from prying up the old screen and stretching the new to nailing or using a spline roller to press vinyl spine in the grove and cutting away the excess screen with a utility knife. The photos make it look easy and Martha did too!
Along with Reader’s Digest books “Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual” and “New Fix-It-Yourself Manual,” theJanuary 25, 2010es common and useful tasks such as installing a home satellite dish, clearing a clogged drain and replacing a deck. Keep safe as you work by using the laundry list of “Safe and Smart” tips section.
Don’t have much time? Review ideas from “52 Weekend Makeovers: Easy Projects to Transform Your Home Inside and Out.” Make a mantelpiece, organize the kitchen storage areas and install a wainscot wall using visual instructions. Tune up your lawnmower, garage door or gas grill with tips from Black and Decker’s “Outdoor Fix-It 101: Projects You Really Can Do Yourself” by Steve Willson. Learn how to fix a concrete walk or do basic siding repairs correctly. What one book doesn’t have in it, another will cover the topic. Black & Decker’s “The Complete Photo Guide To Outdoor Home Improvement: More Than 150 Projects” thoroughly covers pathways and patios, fences and walls, decks and porches and much more.
Whether you are handy with tools or not, the Library has books to help the inexperienced as well as the skilled homeowners’ needs.