Once you have decided what types of renovations you want to make to your home, you need careful planning to make sure that your weekend project doesn't turn into a year-long nightmare. Fortunately, you now have a trusted resource available to help you with Weekend Home Projects.
The public television HomeTime Series has an excellent reputation in the building industry, and Dean Johnson definitely lives up to this reputation in Weekend Home Projects. The program is accurate, informative and navigable.
Assuming a basic knowledge of home renovation, Weekend Home Projects is designed to let users with various levels of expertise move quickly between topics. And no matter what type of job you are planning, Weekend Home Projects should help you. The range of projects covered is extensive, and includes:
Ceramic Tiling
Hand and Power Tools
Cabinets/Counters
Paints and Stains
Plumbing
Windows, Doors and Trim
Wallpaper
Drywall
Framing
Wiring and Lighting
Flooring
and Building a Deck
You can learn a lot or add to your knowledge by choosing to watch concise videos that are enhanced by text about the materials and tools you will need for a job.
Finding Products and Companies
Each project covered in the CD includes a useful lists of sources for specific products and companies. The lists include addresses and phone numbers of various manufacturers you can contact to request literature, as well as find out who distributes a particular product in your area. For example, if you lived in Columbus, Ohio and were interested in framing a house, you might review the list of resources and call Louisiana-Pacific Corporation in Portland, Oregon. You would then be directed to North Santiam Lumber Company of Ohio, which is located in Columbus.
Buy Your Materials With Confidence
Once you know where to purchase a product, you need to know how much of a product to buy. Weekend Home Projects helps you determine this for many of the projects included. The calculator function provides easy estimation of your needs for materials such as paint and lumber and eliminates guessing and product waste.
Taking Notes
The right materials won't get the job done unless you have the right tools, and this is another area where Weekend Home Projects hits the nail on the head. A special notes feature allows you to make quick notes while you watch the videos and read the text, and print the notes to refer to while you're completing your project. Each topic gives details about the various tools you need to complete a job and explains how to use them. You can even follow the checklist included with each subject to make sure that you have all the tools you need to complete the job.
Even if you are not planning to actually complete the renovation yourself, Weekend Home Projects is an excellent way to become familiar with a project so that you can appropriately express your needs to a prospective contractor. By the knowledge you gain, you will also be a better evaluator of a contractor's work.
I appreciate the opportunity to recommend such a concise and useful program. I'm sure the next time I embark on a home project, I'll consult WEEKEND HOME PROJECTS first.
David Zammit, a licensed architect in the States of Ohio and Kentucky, has actively participated in various fields of architecture since he graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1978. Mr. Zammit also maintains NCARB certification. His extensive knowledge of residential construction has been enhanced by his involvement in the Engineered Wood Products Industry since 1990. As a member of the Columbus, Ohio BIA, he currently serves on the Builders Council and as the Chair of the New Technology Research Committee.
