Do It Yourself

Every collection needs good, basic books on home plumbing. This new edition of a standard title covers modern materials and codes and offers a new section on gas pipes but otherwise contains the same text and same illustrations as previous editions. In addition, the book lacks an overview of municipal water systems. Though it covers familiar territory, it does so quite well. The illustrations are clear and nicely placed, and the text as a whole compares favorably with other plumbing guides, such as Merle Henkenius's The Ultimate Guide to Plumbing. However, if you have the 2005 edition, keep it and don't buy the new edition—there's not enough to justify purchase. Recommended where needed. (Appendix on codes and index not seen.)

This revision of Logs, Wind and Sun is coming out when interest in renewable energy is keen. Rex, author of other books on alternative energy, and wife LaVonne recount their log-home construction odyssey. While their story does contain useful tips and insight based on their experience and mistakes, there are better construction manuals out there, such as Charles McRaven's The Classic Hewn-Log House and Robert Wood Chambers's The Log Construction Manual. Still, this is a pretty good read. The best section is tucked at the end—there are definitions and descriptions of different energy sources, with pros and cons clearly listed, along with the associated costs and equipment required. This alone makes the book valuable, even if you are not inspired to tromp out to the wilderness to build a log cabin. Recommended for public libraries or where there is demand.

Where do you start to reduce your energy waste and lower your home's carbon footprint? These first-time authors pull from personal experience to offer conservation projects for concerned homeowners. While some projects are silly (Solar ovens, really?), the rain water, insulation, and other conservation projects are good. Each project cites completion time, cost, and the materials and skills needed, but they lack good instructions or illustrations. The text tends to ramble, despite all the great statistical information offered. Some projects can be accomplished by a confident and experienced homeowner, but most are above the reach of a beginner. This book suffers from poor organization, despite its good intentions. For larger collections only.

Does your bedroom smell funny? Do your eyes water every time the air conditioning comes on? May, author of numerous indoor environmental books, notably, My House Is Killing Me, returns to the topic with his wife as coauthor. Arranged generally, this workbook aims to help you figure out what's making you sick around the home, offering checklists and space for personal notation. The lists of dos and don'ts are simple and to the point, with some references to additional resources given. This book is not intended to walk you through how to do repairs, though there are instructions on cleaning up issues. Covering mold, pets, and other toxicity problems, the advice and tips are excellent. This information should be in every public library. Strongly recommended.

Expert handyman and DIY author Peters takes on trim and molding for the home. Projects include baseboards, wainscoting, rails, and other wall and door treatments. Peters provides good coverage of ceiling treatments, including ceiling paneling and medallions, and outdoor touches like railings and gingerbread are detailed as well. A section on the use of air tools is also unique to this book. The book as a whole lacks the glamour shots and more detailed section on style and molding profiles found in Neal Barrett's Ultimate Guide to Trim Carpentry but otherwise features similar coverage and techniques. Recommended for most public libraries.

Storage is beautiful in this inspirational book. In keeping with the "Country Living" series, this book is populated mainly with the beautiful photos of chic rooms and furnishings, with captions pointing out the clever creation of storage space. First-time author Porcelli offers pointers and recommendations for achieving the style. Moving room by room, the text uses delightful photos that illustrate the possibilities of attractive arrangement and creative concealment. There are no how-to's for construction of shelves, wardrobes, or other fixtures—you need go elsewhere for that. If this book is any measure, storage can indeed look stylish. Recommended for most collections.

Snappy and upbeat, radio celeb and remodeling expert Ridout offers some simple repair projects mixed with advice on cleaning, restoring, and redesigning. The no-nonsense tips and instruction are really quite good, conversational and simple. All aspects of the home are covered, including appliances, fixtures, surfaces, systems, and more. Many of these projects are easily found in larger DIY manuals, but the gems here are the great ideas—time-saving techniques, specific product recommendations, advice on when to call in professionals, etc. Ridout knows her stuff. Sadly, the lack of useful illustrations is a major detraction. Recommended for larger collections.

Outdoor living spaces are the new trend. Skinner, the author of numerous design and decorating titles, e.g., Wine Cellars, Fire Outdoors, here presents a photo gallery of completed outdoor projects. There's no meat here at all, just an awful lot of photos, generally grouped by feature. Some of the really amazing details are not highlighted nearly enough, e.g., the glass-inlaid concrete countertops, certain types of appliances and accessories, and other construction and installation features. While this is a showcase of many different stylish outdoor areas, it is not a construction book or how-to—only eye candy. The projects shown are rather upper end, generally requiring professional installation. Homeowners can dream, but then they'd have to get out their wallets. This half-baked book is not recommended.

Are you ready to ditch your car and pedal your way around high gas prices? Tracy, a bike mechanic and the author of a couple of other books on bicycle repair, wants bikers to be prepared. This little book is meant to be carried along on bike trips to handle typical problems, like loose seats or flat tires. While there is detailed text on troubleshooting common problems, the selection of illustrations to assist is small indeed. In the end, the book falls short and is too abbreviated to assist a novice. There are a number of good bike repair books available, such as Todd Downs's The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair and Chris Sidwells's Bicycle Repair Manual. A marginal purchase.

For a fund-raiser to benefit Katrina victims, first-time author Van Dooren and fellow artists completely renovated a 1940s home with faux treatments and original artwork. The result is a showcase, from a Moroccan parlor to fairies in the nursery. While perhaps a bit fanciful, the finished work is truly stunning, with astonishing faux treatments and trompe l'oeil. Each part of the house is covered, with each reflecting a different style and the talents of different artists accompanied by insights into technique. Beautiful photo spreads make you look twice to see what's real and what's faux. Instead of aiming at instruction, this book successfully presents a range of possibilities meant to inspire. Recommended for larger libraries or well-rounded interior design and decorating collections.