My Favorite Home Improvement Resources

Here are some of the places I go most often to get advice and inspiration for my own home improvement work. I hope to add more soon! I don’t receive any compensation for these endorsements.

Websites

Family Handyman
https://www.familyhandyman.com/
This is the site I visit more than any other for answers to home improvement questions. As the name implies, it does have a somewhat old-fashioned “Dad” aesthetic (even more so in the print magazine). But whether you are a father or not, the site provides detailed, step-by-step instructions and practical tips for every kind of project, large and small. 

Sample post: How to Install Baseboard Molding, Even on Crooked Walls
https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-install-baseboard-molding-even-on-crooked-walls/

Bob Vila
https://www.bobvila.com/
Everyone knows Bob Vila! This site provides solid expert advice on all aspects of home improvement. Most posts are short overviews that give a general understanding of the topic.

Sample post: How to Kill a Tree Stump
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-kill-tree-stumps/

Young House Love
https://www.younghouselove.com/
This blog is run by a couple and focuses on their renovations of specific houses. It has more Instagram-friendly interior decorating content than Bob Vila or Family Handyman. But it does get down in the weeds with all different kinds of projects. The site also has an enlightening series of posts on how to get started blogging.

Sample post: How Our Fireplace Makeover Plan Got Squashed (and How We Pivoted)
https://www.younghouselove.com/crystal-fireplace-logs/

Ugly Duckling House
https://www.uglyducklinghouse.com/
Like Young House Love, this site focuses on the blog owner’s specific projects — though she produces a lot of content for one person! The posts play up the humor in her missteps and failures, but at the same time I find her process to be very educational if I’m working on a similar problem myself.

Sample post: How to Fix a Leaking Outdoor Faucet
https://www.uglyducklinghouse.com/how-to-fix-leaking-outdoor-faucet/

Books

Black and Decker Complete Guide to Wiring, updated 7th edition
For some DIY projects, it’s okay to wing it a little. And if the advice online isn’t quite right, you can make the best of it. Electrical work isn’t like that! With wiring you need to be cautious, and you need to have reliable sources. That’s why I bought this book, which gives wiring instructions based on the latest National Electrical Code. It has general sections like “How Electricity Works” but mainly I use it as a reference guide, reading up on whatever specific knowledge I need. The circuit diagrams are particularly helpful for understanding what may be hidden in your walls.

How Your House Works: A Visual Guide to Understanding and Maintaining Your Home, 3rd edition
“While school has taught us mathematics, foreign languages, and computer sciences,” writes author Charlie Wing, “most of us have no idea how our furnace, refrigerator, or even kitchen faucet works.” This book provides an introduction to the hidden dimensions of our homes, from plumbing and electrical to HVAC and framing. The extensive diagrams show you what’s underground, behind the walls, or otherwise out of sight. For each element of the house, Wing also includes a “Before Calling for Help” section that lists basic checks and simple repairs that a homeowner can try before summoning the professionals.