Tired of relying on a man to deal with your home repair problems? This book covers all that you need to know for home improvement and repair. This practical, easy-to-follow and unpatronizing guide takes you step-by-step through the difficult jobs, and offers careful advice to troubleshoot all the problems you are likely to encounter. Anyone can fit a plug, change a washer, hang a picture or unblock a toilet - it's just a matter of knowing how. Alison Jenkins guides readers gently from real beginner skills (changing a fuse) to middle-range competence (tiling a floor). Step-by-step instructions, clearly illustrated, demonstrate the more difficult techniques, while careful advice covers what might go wrong - and how to fix it if it does. Finally, the author explains when not to do it yourself: when to call in the experts, how to talk their language, negotiating a fair rate for a good job, and when to pay. Subjects covered include: getting a basic toolkit together; odd jobs around the home; laying flooring, basic construction, including putting up pictures and shelves; creating storage space; and painting and wallpapering.