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Handyman's basics

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Handyman’s basics

When no one in the family is “handy,” maybe it’s time you learn a thing or two about basic home repairs. “Marie’s Home Improvement Guide” by Marie L. Leonard (Seal Press, $16.95) is an easy-to-follow paperback that won’t overwhelm the beginner do-it-yourselfer.

Leonard is the owner of Marie’s Home Improvement ( www.marieshomeimprovement.com) in Westford, Mass., and she teaches home improvement classes to women.

The resource presents a variety of projects, from one-saw challenges (the easiest) to five-saw challenges (the most difficult). Leonard covers the basics: introduction to tools, safety precautions, prep-work and shopping for the right materials.

Subsequent chapters contain directions for patching walls and hanging things, such as pictures, mirrors, shelves, rods and blinds. The book also covers painting, basic but vital plumbing tips, minor carpentry jobs and scary electric work.

Who’ll like this book: Fix-it novices and first-time homeowners.

Who won’t: Power tool-wielding pros.

Best piece of advice: “Before you go to buy your new handle, take note of where exactly it is located on the toilet. It may be on the right or left side, or it may be on the front of the toilet. If you don’t know where it is, you can’t buy the correct replacement, which is very frustrating.”

Style in a nutshell: Straightforward tool-time guide.

| Jocelyn Jacobson, jjacobson@kcstar.com

Posted on Sat, Nov. 07, 2009 10:15 PM

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