cover image 50 Simple Ways to Save Your House

50 Simple Ways to Save Your House

Bruce Johnson. Ballantine Books, $12 (309pp) ISBN 978-0-345-38504-8

Johnson (The Weekend Refinisher) takes a novel, practical approach to do-it-yourself home repair and improvement. Not one to enjoy jacking up his house on a Saturday morning to rebuild the foundation, he offers what many DIY books don't--information on small, relatively inexpensive jobs that can help the homeowner avoid major, more costly repairs later on. He details the basic contents of a home inspection and repair kit, explains how to run a safety inspection and then works his way from roof to foundation, indoors and out, to explain how to secure loose floorboards, keep doors and windows functioning, prevent decay in porch columns, cure wet basements, avoid ice dams and more. His style is both engaging and encouraging; step-by-step instructions, the accompanying tool and materials lists and illustrations are refreshingly clear and logical. Author tour. (Apr.)