Updated on Nov. 01, 2024
These 10 expert-approved picks are great for new and seasoned homeowners who are looking to avoid costly repairs or increase their home's value.
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Family Handyman has been providing accessible home improvement tips since 1951, so we know a thing or two about homeownership. Our experts show you how to patch drywall, fix leaky pipes, sharpen a lawn mower blade, and everything in between. While we’re admittedly biased toward this book, the more than 1,200 5-star Amazon reviews aren’t—so it’s not just us recommending it.
We recommend this logbook for every homeowner, not just first-time buyers. It allows you to keep important information such as drain types, circuit breaker maps, and phone numbers of local utilities and emergency services all in one place.
You’ll find dozens of illustrations of sink drains, septic tanks, and every type of wiring in this handy book illustrated by Charlie Wing, a world-renowned home remodeling expert and founder of two house-building schools. You’ll never have to think, “What’s this and what does it do?” when working on your home, and you’ll get tips on how to keep everything working.
If you think building shelves or installing lockers is beyond your skill set, think again. This book has helped thousands of DIY novices complete crafting projects in less than two days with simple tools and materials. Seriously, you’ll be amazed at what you can do with your own two hands.
This book will help you realize how many plumbing services you’ve wasted money on and how to ensure that never happens again. The authors go into painstaking detail about how showers, toilets, sinks, water heaters, and more work to help you identify problems and know how to fix them with ease.
Chip Harley and Mike Litchfield have been renovating homes for more than 40 years, so it’s safe to call them experts. The fifth edition of their home improvement book contains insider secrets willingly provided by contractors to help you double the value of your home. The photos were taken at more than 1,000 renovation sites around the country.
Charlie Wing illustrates precise schematics and illustrations for bathroom renovations, building stairs and even advises on how to ensure your home is accessible to those with disabilities. As with his other books, Wing leaves no stone unturned in educating homeowners on how to build a home that works for them in this handbook.
Yes, we’re serious. In this book, brothers James Carey and Morris Carey Jr. break down complicated matters so even the most inexperienced homeowner can understand how to fix problems around their house. The two authors had a home improvement media empire for 35 years before retiring in 2021, so if anyone can turn a “dummy” into a pro, it’s them.
Black & Decker makes some of the best cordless tools for home improvement projects, so it makes sense a how-to book by them would be on this list. You’ll be able to work on everything from your floors to the roof with their expert-backed tips. It can also help with weekend projects like installing medicine cabinets, replacing gutters and more.
Our experts show you how to complete any project, whether that’s unclogging a toilet or installing a USB outlet, with step-by-step instructions and photos. Although it’s a repair guide, it also has tips on removing stains from just about any surface.
