The best book ideas for Fathers' Day—Round 6

Fathers' Day is Sunday June 21. If you need gift ideas, try matching what your dad likes to do with a book. I'll be doing a series of articles about books for dad for Fathers' Day.

Here are some of the great books about HOME IMPROVEMENT AND REPAIRS.

Jacket art from Taunton Press

From the publisher:

Learn how to get tight miters and crisp details when casing doors and windows, running baseboard, and putting up crown molding. Trim Carpentry and Built-Ins shows you how to get professional results with all of your common trim projects. Among the latest in Taunton's Build Like a Pro series, Trim Carpentry and Built-Ins is filled with trade secrets and tried-and-true methods from carpenter and author Clayton DeKorne's 25 years in the industry. Detailed instructions with hundreds of photos and drawings can help you overcome challenges like out-of-square walls, floors, and ceilings. You'll also learn how to design and build custom built-in bookcases and cabinets to enhance any room in the house.

This book brings you:

• professional tips and trade secrets for installing trim with precision
• advice on common trim projects, including window and door casing, baseboards, crown molding, and wainscoting
• detailed instructions for built-in bookcases and cabinets

About the author:

Clayton DeKorne worked alongside his tradesman father until he became a full carpenter at age 17. Over the next decade, he advanced from lead carpenter to trim contractor before taking a position as senior editor at the Journal of Light Construction and later as founding editor of Tools of the Trade. He lives in Burlington, Vermont.
 

 Building a Deck (Build Like A Pro) by Scott Schuttner
 

Jacket art from Taunton Press

The definitive guide to building the most popular exterior construction project there is, Building a Deck walks you through the entire process of creating a quality, custom deck: from the planning stages, through construction, to the custom details that can make your deck one of a kind. This is pro-level information carefully explained and presented so that a serious do-it-yourself can tackle building a deck with confidence. In this edition of Taunton's Build Like a Pro series, home builder and carpenter Scott Schuttner shares his tried-and-true techniques as well as a host of alternative methods, all in step-by-step detail, to create a clear and thorough resource for serious do-it-yourselfers and professionals alike.

This book will bring you:

• valuable advice on the practical side of building and design issues that will save you time and money
• in-depth information on the trickier parts of the construction process, such as building foundations in severe climates, special structural considerations, and customizing the deck
• professional tips and trade secrets for nearly every step of the process

About the author:

Scott Schuttner is a home builder and carpenter in Fairbanks, Alaska. He is a frequent contributor to Fine Homebuilding magazine and is the author of Basic Stairbuilding and Building and Designing Decks, both published by The Taunton Press.
 

Jacket art from Taunton Press

The definitive book on how to bring an old house back to life -- without destroying its spirit -- is now updated with all new color photography.

Experienced contractor George Nash covers everything -- from replacing foundation walls to repairing old windows, including how to save what's irreplaceable, where to use the best materials, when it's necessary to update (and when it's not), and how to make repairs that will endure. This revised edition also contains a new chapter on preventive maintenance plus a resource guide.

Throughout the book, Nash balances an abiding love of old houses with a common-sense understanding of modern-day needs. Whether you already live in an older home or are contemplating buying one, this hearty book gives you detailed, professional-level information you can't find elsewhere.

Jacket art from Creative Publishing International

From the publisher:

This new deluxe edition of the classic Complete Photo Guide to Home Improvement now includes a durable washable flex cover that makes the book ideal for use on the homeowners work site.
With nearly 300 projects, this book is indispensable for DIYers who have moved beyond basic home repair and are ready to tackle projects that make a big difference in quality of life -- and in their savings accounts. DIYers who tackle their own major remodeling projects achieve exactly the results they want, and can easily save thousands of dollars over the cost of hiring contractors to do the work.

Studio photography and the most detailed step-by-step information available make this book unique among books on remodeling.
Added to this edition is a homeowners convenience kit, including peel-and-stick reminder stickers and labels to help you tag your calendar with home maintenance reminders, keep track of furnace and appliance maintenance, index your circuit-breaker box, organize your tool collection, and more.

Jacket art from Reader's Digest

New Fix-It-Yourself Manual: How to Repair, Clean, and Maintain Anything and Everything In and Around Your Home by Reader's Digest

From the publisher:

The New Fix-It-Yourself Manual is the ultimate do-it-yourselfer's guide. This book shows you how to repair, clean and maintain anything and everything in and around your home. This homeowner's essential shares how to repair, clean, and maintain everything in and around the house.

Jackie art from Better Homes and Gardens

Big Book of Home How-To by Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens Big Book of Home How-To clearly explains basic home improvement skills. Then, step-by-step, it shows you how to do hundreds of popular do-it-yourself projects. From the rooftop to the yard, you'll save time and money while making your home better. 

     When buying for your family or your friends,
spend your Michigan dollars in Michigan.

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