My son, age 30, just bought his first house located in Connecticut. I
would like to buy him a General Repair, DIY book.

Any recommendation for a book title that would show how to do some
typical home repairs - ala routine house wiring tasks, plumbing
repairs (replace hot water heater or its thermocouple) and maybe
SIMPLE appliance repair (complicated repairs would be of no use).

Thanks for all advise -dave

On 5/29/2017 1:01 PM, Dave C wrote:
My son, age 30, just bought his first house located in Connecticut. I
would like to buy him a General Repair, DIY book.

Any recommendation for a book title that would show how to do some
typical home repairs - ala routine house wiring tasks, plumbing
repairs (replace hot water heater or its thermocouple) and maybe
SIMPLE appliance repair (complicated repairs would be of no use).

Thanks for all advise -dave

Don't really have any useful books as mine are outdated.
With today's internet you can google up anything you want to do and get
literature and maybe even a you tube video showing how to do the repair.

On Mon, 29 May 2017 13:20:02 -0400, Frank "frank wrote:

On 5/29/2017 1:01 PM, Dave C wrote:
My son, age 30, just bought his first house located in Connecticut. I
would like to buy him a General Repair, DIY book.

Any recommendation for a book title that would show how to do some
typical home repairs - ala routine house wiring tasks, plumbing
repairs (replace hot water heater or its thermocouple) and maybe
SIMPLE appliance repair (complicated repairs would be of no use).

Thanks for all advise -dave

Don't really have any useful books as mine are outdated.
With today's internet you can google up anything you want to do and get
literature and maybe even a you tube video showing how to do the repair.

"InspectAPedia.com - free online encyclopedia of building &
environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem
prevention advice, including all residential & light commercial
building components, materials, & mechanical systems."

Easily searchable:

http://www.inspectapedia.com/

On Mon, 29 May 2017 13:20:02 -0400, Frank "frank wrote:

On 5/29/2017 1:01 PM, Dave C wrote:
My son, age 30, just bought his first house located in Connecticut. I
would like to buy him a General Repair, DIY book.

Any recommendation for a book title that would show how to do some
typical home repairs - ala routine house wiring tasks, plumbing
repairs (replace hot water heater or its thermocouple) and maybe
SIMPLE appliance repair (complicated repairs would be of no use).

Thanks for all advise -dave

Don't really have any useful books as mine are outdated.
With today's internet you can google up anything you want to do and get
literature and maybe even a you tube video showing how to do the repair.


Frank

So obvious, to the Younger Generation - LOL

On 5/29/2017 2:02 PM, Dave C wrote:
On Mon, 29 May 2017 13:20:02 -0400, Frank "frank wrote:

On 5/29/2017 1:01 PM, Dave C wrote:
My son, age 30, just bought his first house located in Connecticut. I
would like to buy him a General Repair, DIY book.

Any recommendation for a book title that would show how to do some
typical home repairs - ala routine house wiring tasks, plumbing
repairs (replace hot water heater or its thermocouple) and maybe
SIMPLE appliance repair (complicated repairs would be of no use).

Thanks for all advise -dave

Don't really have any useful books as mine are outdated.
With today's internet you can google up anything you want to do and get
literature and maybe even a you tube video showing how to do the repair.


Frank

So obvious, to the Younger Generation - LOL

Probably. I had just finished talking to my son about shop wanting to
replace a taillight for his car when in for service. They wanted $100
and he was paying for a lot of other stuff and wanted it free. They
would not do it so he googled up how to do it and did it himself for a
few bucks.

I've got a whole 45 year old set of DYI encyclopedias bought when I
bought this house and today they are only useful as a den shelf filler.

On 2017-05-29, Dave C wrote:
On Mon, 29 May 2017 13:20:02 -0400, Frank "frank wrote:

On 5/29/2017 1:01 PM, Dave C wrote:
My son, age 30, just bought his first house located in Connecticut. I
would like to buy him a General Repair, DIY book.

Any recommendation for a book title that would show how to do some
typical home repairs - ala routine house wiring tasks, plumbing
repairs (replace hot water heater or its thermocouple) and maybe
SIMPLE appliance repair (complicated repairs would be of no use).

Thanks for all advise -dave

Don't really have any useful books as mine are outdated.
With today's internet you can google up anything you want to do and get
literature and maybe even a you tube video showing how to do the repair.


Frank

So obvious, to the Younger Generation - LOL

Hey, fer dumbass me, it's one of the few reason I follow this group.
Of all the groups that seem to know WTF they're talking about and are
still kind and helpful souls, this group is one of the last few (lil'
bit o' hubris, here-and-there, but at least you ppl pretty much stay
on topic.

Thank you all.

nb

On 2017-05-29, notbob wrote:

Hey, fer dumbass me, it's one of the few reason I follow this group.
Of all the groups that seem to know WTF they're talking about and are
still kind and helpful souls, this group is one of the last few (lil'
bit o' hubris, here-and-there, but at least you ppl pretty much stay
on topic.

Thank you all.

nb

Holy crap!! Boy, did I ever post to the wrong group!!

nb

On Mon, 29 May 2017 13:01:42 -0400, Dave C wrote:

My son, age 30, just bought his first house located in Connecticut. I
would like to buy him a General Repair, DIY book.
Any recommendation for a book title that would show how to do some
typical home repairs - ala routine house wiring tasks, plumbing
repairs (replace hot water heater or its thermocouple) and maybe
SIMPLE appliance repair (complicated repairs would be of no use).
Thanks for all advise -dave


As others have said - the internet might be a better option for a
30 year old.. Household plumbing is one example of a DIY job
that has changed quite a bit - with the advent of the plastic
piping and press-fit connections - I need to take a crash course
myself - with a water softener replacement imminent ..
Perhaps you could get him a few simple but useful tools ?
1. stud finder
2. GFCI tester
3. fire extinguisher
4. smoke / CO detectors
5. escape ladder
6. map to local Habitat Re-Store
etc etc

Make it a top ten list !

John T.

On 5/29/2017 12:01 PM, Dave C wrote:
My son, age 30, just bought his first house located in Connecticut. I
would like to buy him a General Repair, DIY book.

Any recommendation for a book title that would show how to do some
typical home repairs - ala routine house wiring tasks, plumbing
repairs (replace hot water heater or its thermocouple) and maybe
SIMPLE appliance repair (complicated repairs would be of no use).

Thanks for all advise -dave



I gave each of my sons-in-law a copy of this:

https://www.amazon.com/Things-Every-.../dp/1621452204

Decent book for the neophyte homeowner that explains things simply and,
I think, give just enough info to either let them take a shot at solving
the problem or backing up, picking up the phone and calling a pro.

$15 in hard cover and it's from the publishers of "Family Handyman"

I wouldn't look for a "one book tells all" solution though. Start him
with this and teach him how to effectively Google for "how to do it" videos.

Dave C wrote in :

My son, age 30, just bought his first house located in Connecticut. I
would like to buy him a General Repair, DIY book.

Any recommendation for a book title that would show how to do some
typical home repairs - ala routine house wiring tasks, plumbing
repairs (replace hot water heater or its thermocouple) and maybe
SIMPLE appliance repair (complicated repairs would be of no use).

Sadly, this book

https://www.amazon.com/Readers-Diges.../dp/0895770105

is out of print, but I think it's just the ticket. Used copies are still available, obviously.

On Mon, 29 May 2017 13:01:42 -0400, Dave C wrote:

My son, age 30, just bought his first house located in Connecticut. I
would like to buy him a General Repair, DIY book.

Any recommendation for a book title that would show how to do some
typical home repairs - ala routine house wiring tasks, plumbing
repairs (replace hot water heater or its thermocouple) and maybe
SIMPLE appliance repair (complicated repairs would be of no use).

Thanks for all advise -dave

The most valuable resource, IMHO, when it comes to building or fixing
almost anything, is Youtube. I am not a member of the younger
generation by any means, but I am an information junkie.

With Youtube, one can have a choice of 20 different videos just for
learning how to install a shower mixing valve using pex pipe. The
selection of videos for learning how do install or repair sheet rock
is almost overwhelming.

I understand you want to give him something, how about some really
nice tools? A set of high quality screw drivers with a card pointing
him to Youtube might fill the bill.

As an example, here is a really great video on repairing a damaged
drywall ceiling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btkt0F7O-O8

On 5/29/2017 7:37 PM, Stormin' Norman wrote:


The most valuable resource, IMHO, when it comes to building or fixing
almost anything, is Youtube. I am not a member of the younger
generation by any means, but I am an information junkie.


YouTube and Google cover pretty much everything you ever want to know.
We have a pretty good collection of cookbooks, but rarely refer to them
as you can Google an ingredient and find a hundred ways to use it

Any appliance we buy has been check out specs and compared on line. My
last car purchase took 10 minutes as I had the information about the
vehicle and the price i was willing to pay. TrueCar was very helpful.

The internet has changed the way we do a lot of things.

On 5/29/17 12:01 PM, Dave C wrote:
My son, age 30, just bought his first house located in Connecticut.
I would like to buy him a General Repair, DIY book.

Any recommendation for a book title that would show how to do some
typical home repairs - ala routine house wiring tasks, plumbing
repairs (replace hot water heater or its thermocouple) and maybe
SIMPLE appliance repair (complicated repairs would be of no use).

Thanks for all advise -dave

A couple guys mentioned certain books, one of which is out of
print. Look on Ebayfor the old books.
A basic wrench and socket set might be good for him to have. Wiring
tools? Maybe not. It's easy to get into problems if one goes much
beyond just replacing things.

On Mon, 29 May 2017 23:16:41 -0000 (UTC), Doug Miller
wrote:

Dave C wrote in :

My son, age 30, just bought his first house located in Connecticut. I
would like to buy him a General Repair, DIY book.

Any recommendation for a book title that would show how to do some
typical home repairs - ala routine house wiring tasks, plumbing
repairs (replace hot water heater or its thermocouple) and maybe
SIMPLE appliance repair (complicated repairs would be of no use).

Sadly, this book

https://www.amazon.com/Readers-Diges.../dp/0895770105

is out of print, but I think it's just the ticket. Used copies are still available, obviously.

That was my go-to book for years. Very well done and fairly
comprehensive.

On Monday, May 29, 2017 at 9:25:38 PM UTC-4, Vic Smith wrote:
On Mon, 29 May 2017 23:16:41 -0000 (UTC), Doug Miller
wrote:

Dave C wrote in :

My son, age 30, just bought his first house located in Connecticut. I
would like to buy him a General Repair, DIY book.

Any recommendation for a book title that would show how to do some
typical home repairs - ala routine house wiring tasks, plumbing
repairs (replace hot water heater or its thermocouple) and maybe
SIMPLE appliance repair (complicated repairs would be of no use).

Sadly, this book

https://www.amazon.com/Readers-Diges.../dp/0895770105

is out of print, but I think it's just the ticket. Used copies are still available, obviously.

That was my go-to book for years. Very well done and fairly
comprehensive.

My go-to book was Renovation: A Complete Guide by Michael Litchfield

I lived by the first edition back in the early 80s. The latest edition (4th) was published
in 2013.

https://www.amazon.com/Renovation-4t.../dp/1600854974

On Mon, 29 May 2017 14:25:31 -1100, Vic Smith
wrote in


On Mon, 29 May 2017 23:16:41 -0000 (UTC), Doug Miller
wrote:

Dave C wrote in :

My son, age 30, just bought his first house located in Connecticut. I
would like to buy him a General Repair, DIY book.

Any recommendation for a book title that would show how to do some
typical home repairs - ala routine house wiring tasks, plumbing
repairs (replace hot water heater or its thermocouple) and maybe
SIMPLE appliance repair (complicated repairs would be of no use).

Sadly, this book

https://www.amazon.com/Readers-Diges.../dp/0895770105

is out of print, but I think it's just the ticket. Used copies are still available, obviously.

That was my go-to book for years. Very well done and fairly
comprehensive.

+1
--
Web based forums are like subscribing to 10 different newspapers
and having to visit 10 different news stands to pickup each one.
Email list-server groups and USENET are like having all of those
newspapers delivered to your door every morning.

DerbyDad03 wrote in news:0ff93616-a32d-4d03-a7f6-
:

On Monday, May 29, 2017 at 9:25:38 PM UTC-4, Vic Smith wrote:
On Mon, 29 May 2017 23:16:41 -0000 (UTC), Doug Miller
wrote:

Dave C wrote in news:u9koic9r1l0j6s37cd9tote74poarsicui
@4ax.com:

My son, age 30, just bought his first house located in Connecticut. I
would like to buy him a General Repair, DIY book.

Any recommendation for a book title that would show how to do some
typical home repairs - ala routine house wiring tasks, plumbing
repairs (replace hot water heater or its thermocouple) and maybe
SIMPLE appliance repair (complicated repairs would be of no use).

Sadly, this book

https://www.amazon.com/Readers-Diges...nual/dp/089577
0105

is out of print, but I think it's just the ticket. Used copies are still
available, obviously.

That was my go-to book for years. Very well done and fairly
comprehensive.

My go-to book was Renovation: A Complete Guide by Michael Litchfield

I have that too! Good book.

I lived by the first edition back in the early 80s. The latest edition (4th) was published
in 2013.

https://www.amazon.com/Renovation-4t.../dp/1600854974