100 Things You Don't Need a Man for

It's all too easy to rely on coaxing, bribing or blackmailing one of the men in your life to perform those awkward practical tasks around the home. But what happens when there's no one around to help out? This book provides the answers.

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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.