Library Notes
April Everett
March 17, 2013
Bless this [Un]Happy Home

We had watched our share of house-hunting shows on TV.  We weren’t like those people, always demanding more space, expecting perfect paint colors, paying more attention to the curtains than the HVAC.  No, we weren’t like those people, we were DIYers.  We didn’t want a fixer-upper, but we weren’t afraid to get a little dirt under our nails.

When we closed on our house, we got the keys and jumped right in.  The furnace wouldn’t cut on, one of the walls upstairs crumbled to the ground with a mere thump, and the bathroom floor turned out to be rotting from water damage.  It felt like a scene out of that 80s classic The Money Pit (starring Tom Hanks).
That was almost three years ago, and since then our house has quite marvelously become a very happy home.  We have learned so much as we drywalled, sanded, painted, installed p-traps, and replaced flooring.  This article is not intended to be a laundry list of laudable improvements we have made; rather, my hope is that it will inspire those of you who may find yourselves with a home that’s more fixer than upper.  Spring is only a few short days away and the library has so many wonderful resources to help you patch and perk up your dwelling place:

HOME REPAIR
Help, it's broken! : A Fix-it Bible for the Repair-Impaired by Arianne Cohen is an excellent one-stop shop for anything from fishing your wedding ring out of the sink to installing a garbage disposal.  In addition to the many real-life scenarios, Cohen also shares a yearly maintenance guide to help you avoid repairs.
Wiring 101 : 25 Projects You Really Can Do Yourself by Jodie Carter and Plumbing : Basic, Intermediate & Advanced Projects by Merle Henkenius are packed with detailed, step-by-step instructions.  Projects are arranged in order of complexity, and the authors steer clear of jargon.

HOME IMPROVEMENT
As a home owner, one of the hardest decisions I have made is paint color.  The Art of Exterior Painting : A Step-by-Step Guide to Choosing Colors and Painting your Home by Leslie Harrington and James Martin is an excellent resource for the indecisive painter, with full-color photos and lots of advice on blending in, accenting architecture, and techniques.

Thrifty DIYers will appreciate Budget Makeovers : Give Your Home a New Look edited by Jean Nayar.  Kitchen Makeovers for Any Budget by Chris Gleason is full of advice on when and how to refinish cabinets, and details four complete modeling projects.

LAWN & GARDEN
If you’re looking to spruce up your deck or patio, look no further than Deckscaping: Gardening and Landscaping on and Around Your Deck by Barbara W. Ellis.  This book gives advice on landscaping and planting techniques as well as furniture choices, water features, and ornaments.
If you’re ready to move off the deck and tackle the yard, the New Complete Home Landscaping by Catriona Tudor Erler is a comprehensive guide to landscape design.  Erler explains design elements, offers tips on adding features, and advises readers on what to plant.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS
In addition to our books, DVDs, and databases, the library offers a variety of programming for all ages.  This spring, the library will offer a home organizing workshop on Saturday, April 20th, and a home gardening workshop on Monday, April 23rd.  Visit the library in-person or online at www.rowanpubliclibrary.org for more details.  Best wishes on all your home improvement projects!