Customer Reviews
Useful - By: Neil Bumford, 21 Aug 2008 
This book will give handy hints & tips when undertaking any domestic DIY project.
It is not the most comprehensive manual but is great for simple reference, enabling those with a view to further investigation to seek answers elsewhere - hence 4/5
How to do everything ... in two paragraphs - By: J. Brand, 07 Dec 2007 There is no denying the scope of this book is, to say the least, comprehensive. It covers almost every topic imaginablein DIY from dry lining your basement to capping the chimney & covers it at every range whether you just want to change a fuse or rewire the entire building.
That scope though is both its virtue & its problem. Yes I can pick this up & be fairly confident that it will tell me how to go about building a stud wall but I know that it is also likely to be something of an overview of the subject rattled offin a few paragraphs. Often that is enough. There are a lot of jobs where a grasp of the basics & a willingness to have a go are good enough & if I'm laying new paving slabs I'll read this & go for it. Alternatively there are some jobs where I'd like a little more expertise than this can provide. Yes this book will tell me how to change the main fuse box but I'm not going to do that when it means working on the live side of a 100 amp line! In those cases though at least it lets me know roughly how difficult the job is so that I don't sound like a complete numpty when I call an electrician & ask if they could replace the 'thingummy by the front door with the fusesin it'.
The new (2007) edition has some changes most are improvements, some are not, but the improvements could be sufficient to make it getting the new edition. On the downside the binding is not as good as previous issues so this is a book which could sufferin use. On the upside there is more detail about building regulations & approval. Notin so much detail that it getsin the way of what you want to do but enough to give an overview of the process &in a nod to the way the world moves there are now sections on 'communications' & the 'office at home'.
I'd say to anyone that they should buy this book even if you don't ever intend to do the DIY yourself. If you do the DIY this is a good first reference to find out what to do. If it's not comprehensive enough then it will give enough of an overview that you will know what to look for when searching for more detail & if you do get someone else to do the job you've a better chance of knowing if they're doing the right thing.
