DIY (Do it yourself): house maintenance manuals Books

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Book SynopsisAmerica has hundreds of thousands of log homes, and every one of them presents unique maintenance issues that differ from homes of traditional stick-frame construction. Lack of knowledge about the unique characteristics of a log home all too often results in owners inadvertently doing damage when they try to make repairs. Owners of log homes have long relied on the expertise of log home builder and specialist Gary Schroeder and his Schroeder Log Home Supply company, a trusted source of information and guidance. From dry rot to carpenter ants, Schroeder has seen it all. Now he shares his wisdom on how to preserve and protect your beautiful log home. This newly revised edition takes advantage of all the recent techniques and products—it’s a state-of-the-art guide to identifying, diagnosing, and solving problems so you’ll enjoy many trouble-free years in your log home. Gary Schroeder, a former forester and consultant, has also been a custom log home builder and restoration contractor. He and his wife, Kathy, started Schroeder Log Home Supply, Inc., now a leader in the field, in 1986.

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Book SynopsisJunk has become ubiquitous in America today. Who doesn’t have a basement, attic, closet, or storage unit filled with stuff too good to throw away? Or, more accurately, stuff you think is too good to throw away.When journalist and author Alison Stewart was confronted with emptying her late parents’ overloaded basement, a job that dragged on for months, it got her thinking: How did it come to this? Why do smart, successful people hold on to old Christmas bows, chipped knick-knacks, VHS tapes, and books they would likely never reread? She discovered she was not alone.Junk details Stewart’s three-year investigation into America’s stuff, lots and lots and lots of stuff. Stewart rides along with junk removal teams from around the country such as Trash Daddy, Annie Haul, and Junk Vets. She goes backstage to a taping of Antiques Roadshow, and learns what makes for compelling junk-based television with the executive producer of Pawn Stars. And she even investigates the growing problem of space junk—23,000 pieces of manmade debris orbiting the planet at 17,500 mph, threatening both satellites and human space exploration.But it’s not all dire. There are creative solutions to America’s overburdened consumer culture. Stewart visits with Deron Beal, founder of FreeCycle, an online community of people who would rather give away than throw away their no-longer-needed possessions. She spends a day at a Repair CafÉ, where volunteer tinkerers bring new life to broken appliances, toys, and just about anything. Stewart also explores communities of “tiny houses” without attics and basements in which to stash the owners’ trash. Junk is a delightful journey through 250-mile-long yard sales, and packrat dens, both human and rodent, that for most readers will look surprisingly familiar.Trade Review"Finally, a book that explains my lava lamp, boxes of cassette tapes, and three pairs of clogs. Thank you, Alison Stewart! This book is overdue, and I promise not to put it on one of my piles." Hoda Kotb , cohost of the Today Show"To my dear beloved survivors: when you one day clean out my basement, you'll find a copy of Alison Stewart's Junk . Sit down on the pile of New Yorkers , turn on that halogen floor lamp I used in college, crack open a can of Jolt Cola (you'll find about three cases), and read about why all the stuff around you isn't necessarily junkexcept for that stack of VHS tapes. That's just crap." Mo Rocca , correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning and host of My Grandmother's Ravioli"Somebody's going to say it, so let me be the first: Junk is a treasure. It's an enlightening look into our modern world featuring space garbage, spam, and chicken-shaped table lamps. Buy it, read it, and store it in the attic." A. J. Jacobs , author of The Know-It-All and The Year of Living Biblically"If you suspect that you are holding onto things that hold you back in your life, you want to read Junk by Alison Stewart. Whether they are the physical items stuck in a drawer or ideas stuck in your head, Junk will make you think about what you keep and why." Cheryl Hunter , Life Coach and author of Lose It: Turn Setbacks into Success"absorbing and enjoyably compelling research on the packrat conundrum in our society." Kirkus Reviews"[A]n engaging narrative." Booklist"Stewart's compelling and readable book is for those who are fascinated by stuff and are in search of something other than decluttering or organization manuals." Library Journal"Lively, well-researched, and wincingly relatable, Junk is a jaunty ride through our national trash habit." Chronogram Magazine

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Book SynopsisA real, no-holds-barred take on making smart, healthy choices for you and your family.In Green Enough, Mamavation blogger Leah Segedie uncovers the truth behind the food and household products that are misleadingly labeled "all-natural" and healthy but are actually filled with chemicals and toxins. From furniture to packaged food, Leah guides you through detoxifying your home, diet, and lifestyle, showing you how to make the best choices possible. She exposes the brands and products that contain toxic and hormone-disrupting ingredients and gives guidelines on choosing safer products and organic produce that are free from toxic and persistent pesticides. She instructs you on making the move to meat, dairy, and eggs that are free of antibiotics, GMOs, growth hormones, and dangerous pathogens. She explains at what phases of childhood children are the most vulnerable and need more protection. And she includes delicious and kid-approved recipes to help you detoxify your cooking routine. It?s not about being perfect or 100% clean?none of us are?it?s about being green enough.

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Book SynopsisThe decluttering craze meets a passion for sustainable living and interior design in this gorgeous new book for readers of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying UpThis book promises an opportunity for self-reflection and lasting change, by getting to the bottom of why we've accumulated too much stuff in the first place, therefore allowing us to transform our lives. Professional decluttering and design team Cary and Kyle of New Minimalism will take you through every step, from assessing your emotional relationship to your stuff to decluttering your home to then turning it into a beautifully designed space that feels clean and tidy without feeling sparse or prescriptive. And all of this without filling up a landfill—you'll find resources and strategies to donate and reuse your stuff so you don't have to feel guilty about getting rid of it!Trade Review"Part therapy and part interior design, it’s just the thing to dive into as we seek inspiration for calm and order in the new year."—San Francisco Chronicle“This is minimalism for the rest of us…[a] more practical take on the less-is-more lifestyle [that is] more about ending the cycle of “busy” than creating a perfect house.”—The Washington Post"Fortin, who holds a degree in psychology, and Quilici, who studied interior design, have developed a system based on self-examination that is designed to aid those endeavoring to eliminate too many possessions. ... Using these guidelines may finally provide the means necessary for those struggling to live a clutter-free life."—Library Journal"Cary Telander Fortin and Kyle Louise Quilici—decluttering professionals with backgrounds in psychology and interior design—delve into why we accumulate so many things, and they offer practical, easy-to-adapt strategies for decluttering and changing habits."—Houzz"The authors of New Minimalism reveal how your emotional style relates to the possessions you keep—and how you can finally get past it."—Oprah"With an emphasis on conservation and meaningful reuse, Quilici and Fortin share their fuss-free tips for a stylish, streamlined home."—Sunset Magazine"Clean up your act in your home’s trickiest spots with these smart strategies."—Rachael Ray Every Day"Authors Cary Telander Fortin and Kyle Louise Quilici can help you get your house in streamlined, stylish order."—The Florida Times-Union

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Book SynopsisPreviously published in hardcover as Work Clean, this organizational book is inspired by the culinary world: how to take the principles of mise-en-place out of your kitchen and into your life.Every day, chefs across the globe churn out enormous amounts of high-quality work with efficiency using a system called mise-en-place—a French culinary term that means “putting in place” and signifies an entire lifestyle of readiness and engagement. In Everything in Its Place, Dan Charnas reveals how to apply mise-en-place outside the kitchen, in any kind of work. Culled from dozens of interviews with culinary professionals and executives, including world-renowned chefs like Thomas Keller and Alfred Portale, this essential guide offers a simple system to focus your actions and accomplish your work. Charnas spells out the 10 major principles of mise-en-place for chefs and non-chefs alike: (1) planning is prime; (2) arranging spaces and perfecting movements; (3) cleaning as you go; (4) making first moves; (5) finishing actions; (6) slowing down to speed up; (7) call and callback; (8) open ears and eyes; (9) inspect and correct; (10) total utilization. This journey into the world of chefs and cooks shows you how each principle works in the kitchen, office, home, and virtually any other setting.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this lovely, easy-to-use illustrated guide to decluttering, the beloved author of The Happiness Project shows us how to take control of our stuff—and, by extension, our lives.   Gretchen Rubin knows firsthand that creating order can make our lives happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative. But for most of us, a rigid, one-size-fits-all solution doesn''t work. When we tailor our approach to suit our own particular challenges and habits, we can find inner calm.   With a sense of fun, and a clear idea of what’s realistic for most people, Rubin suggests dozens of manageable tips and tricks for creating a more serene, orderly environment, including:   • Never label anything “miscellaneous.” • Ask yourself, “Do I need more than one?” • Don’t aim for minimalism. • Remember: If you can’t retrieve it, you won’t use it. • Stay current with a child’s interests. • Beware the urge to “procrasticlear.”   By getting rid of things we don’t use, don’t need, or don’t love, we free our minds (and our shelves) for what we truly value.

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