In this work, over 800 colour photographs and diagrams show you how to do every decorating task and project around the house with complete confidence. It offers expert advice on essential home improvements tasks, including painting, wallpapering, tiling, laying new floors, carpentry skills, security, repairs and maintaining your home. It also offers advice on how to choose and use the right tools for the job effectively and safely. Step-by-step visual instructions and tips from the experts make the information easy to follow. This book describes how to plan your work, the tools and materials you will need, how to maintain your home, basic carpentry and decorating. Over 800 step-by-step photographs and diagrams show the best way to tackle walls, ceilings, windows, doors, drains, gutters, roofs, paths and drives, insulation and ventilation. Security is an ever-increasing concern and this book shows how to fit window and door locks and bolts. All the basic woodworking skills are also covered. A detailed section on decorating gives instruction on choosing colours, painting and wallpapering. Laying all types of flooring is made easy and tiling walls and surfaces is covered in depth.This handy, easy-to-use manual is an invaluable practical reference book as well as a source of inspiration, and it will help you tackle jobs around the home with confidence while ensuring you achieve professional-looking results every time.

John McGowan, the contributing editor, has written about home improvement throughout his career. He is an author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and partworks. Mike Collins was Assistant Editor and Feature Writer on Practical Woodworking magazine and does product testing for home improvement stores. David Holloway was Editor of the Consumer Association's Handyman Which? and who contributes regularly to a wide range of magazines and publications. Brenda Legge is former Features Editor of Do It Yourself magazine and a regular contributor to Practical Householder. Diane Carr, a former Editor of Practical Householder, writes for a range of consumer publications on the subject of home improvements.