Introduction 1

Part1: Home Maintenance and You 7

Chapter 1: Home Maintenance: What It Is and Why It Matters 9

Chapter 2: Getting to Know Your House and Its Systems 17

Chapter 3: Creating Your Home Maintenance Plan 33


Part2: The Energy Envelope 51

Chapter 4: Foundation and Floor Frame Fundamentals 53

Chapter 5: Roofing and Siding 85

Chapter 6: Windows, Exterior Doors, and Insulation 109


Part3: Key Systems - Plumbing and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) 135

Chapter 7: Plumbing, Part I: Pipes, Water Heaters, Water Softeners, and More 137

Chapter 8: Plumbing, Part II: Fixtures 161

Chapter 9: Plumbing, Part III: Sewer and Septic Systems 189

Chapter 10: Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems 203


Part4: Inside Home Sweet Home 227

Chapter 11: Walls and Ceilings 229

Chapter 12: Floors and Interior Doors 251

Chapter 13: Cabinets and Countertops 269

Chapter 14: Appliances 279

Chapter 15: Don’t Get Burned: Fireplaces 299

Chapter 16: Maintaining Your Home-Safety Systems 311


Part5: Out in the Great Wide Open 323

Chapter 17: Walkways, Patios, and Driveways 325

Chapter 18: Decks, Fences, and Retaining Walls 343

Chapter 19: And Then There Was Rust 359


Part6: The Part of Tens 367

Chapter 20: Ten Cleaning Solutions You Can Make at Home 369

Chapter 21: Ten (or so) Maintenance Skills You Need 377

Chapter 22: Ten Smart Home Products to Revolutionize Your Living Space 387

Index 393