Customer Reviews

Dare To Repair: A Do-it-Herself Guide to Fixing (Almost) Anything in the Home

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A quick trip to the Internet will be more useful than this book. It is missing a lot of practical things. Plus, to understand the book, you would already have the rudimentary knowledge it provides. Pass on this one and go to your local home store for help.

This book paid for itself the first week I had it! I'm a pretty handy person with tools, but some home repair jobs are intimidating for women (and men) who have never tried before. I gambled on this book right before I called a plumber, and I'm glad I did! With the diagrams and step-by-step process, explanations of parts and tools needed, anyone can do these repairs. Leaky faucet, no problem. Clogged water intake on the washing machine, fixed in a jiffy. Simple re-wiring project, done without danger! The authors don't talk down to the reader, but they explain the repairs in a way anyone can understand. A good reference book for any homeowner who needs a little encouragement to tackle new jobs.

The authors make it all look so easy! Very thorough explanations and instructions. Inspires me to try even electrical repairs that I never would have thought to do.

But the authors are honest enough to admit when it's time to call in the experts. Only thing I found bothersome (hence 4 not 5 stars) was that, while there is a table of contents for the general categories of repairs, there are no page numbers or table of contents for the specific repair jobs. SO you can't just go to the page you want. I've made my own table of contents so I don't have to use the index all the time.

Of no consequence but interesting: One of the authors is apparently the wife of CIA's George Tenet, which I don't know why but it felt kinda weird to read it on the back cover. On the other hand, makes Tenet seem OK (even if one does not like the current administration) if he has a wife like this, who support Habitat for Humanity and women's empowerment...

I have to say that this is a great book for anyone who has just purchased their first home. If you are in a position where you have noone to depend on but yourself, get a copy. Although, a reviewer did pan the book, stating that it gave instructions on how to change a bulb, this is not the whole truth-the bulb that they are referring to in the book, is in your gas or electric oven-big difference. It gives details on how to ignite a pilot light on a water heater safely-( which, unfortunately, I have had to do twice )- and several other things that you may not even think about until it is too late. Better to buy the book, and familiarize yourself. Do you know how to shut off your gas supply in an emergency, or repair a leaking water tank on a Sunday, or worse, in the middle of the night? Where is your toolbox? Do you even have a tool box? I admit, I did'nt even consider these things before. Buying a house for the first time, most of us are knee deep in carpet samples, decorating books, and paint chips-and most of us don't focus on gas leaks, frozen pipes, broken toilets, clogged showers, or loss of hot water. Like a good scout, BE PREPARED!

I was severely let down by this book. The types of "repairs" covered in this book include things like changing lightbulbs and washing window screens. Okay, there are some things more advanced than this, but it's a very limited range of things. Anybody looking to repair their home should find a more comprehensive book.

This work is an important reference for anyone attempting
to do basic home repair work. A strength of the presentation
is that the many diagrams are simple to read and interpret.
Practically every imaginable plumbing and electrical job
is described in sufficient detail to enable ease of
replication by the household novice. Today, most repairs
are costly. This work describes difficult repair jobs in
simple english with uncluttered diagrams of the basic steps.
I would purchase this book if your intent is to attempt
some simple to intermediate home repairs.

If you were new to basic home repair, then this book would be for you. I was disappointed because I thought this book would a lot better. I couldn't find anything in the book that I didn't already know. Shutting off the water supply to the toilet, removing a broken lightbulb and installing a new showerhead are all very, very basic things. If you're "handy" around the house, don't bother with this book.

Although this book is aimed at women (what with the title and the inspiring classic "Rosie the Riveter" cover -- she was invented to have women join the workforce in typically male industries of welding, mechanics, etc), it really is for everyone. After all, does a broken doorknob/water heater/ lightswitch know if a man or woman is fixing it? Of course not!!!

The book clearly illustrates each potential problem in a house and guides the reader in identifying WHAT, exactly, needs fixing, safety precautions to take during each project, and then the how-to of the actual fixing. It is a very handy book to have on your shelf, whether you are renting or own your own home. The cost of the book is very low, and you should consider it an investment as you will no doubt save a lot of money doing your own minor repairs (and of course calling in an expert on what you really SHOULD NOT do yourself for health and safety reasons!! i.e. asbestos cleaning)

Fabulous book full of wonderful tips on how to do anything. I have yet to come up with a problem the book doesn't have a solution to. Although the title may appear to be aimed at women, I have caught my husband more than once flipping through the pages.
A must have for anyone. Great house-warming gift for a person/couple just starting out.

Who says girls can't do house repairs? This is a good starter's guide.