Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part I: 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: Putting Together Your Home Maintenance Plan 31

Part II: The Energy Envelope 49

Chapter 4: Foundation and Floor Frame Fundamentals 51

Chapter 5: Roofing and Siding 77

Chapter 6: Windows, Exterior Doors, and Insulation 99

Part III: Key Systems: Plumbing and HVAC 123

Chapter 7: Plumbing, Part I: Pipes, Water Heaters, Water Softeners, and More 125

Chapter 8: Plumbing, Part II: Fixtures 149

Chapter 9: Plumbing, Part III: Sewer and Septic Systems 171

Chapter 10: Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems 185

Part IV: Inside Home Sweet Home 207

Chapter 11: Walls and Ceilings 209

Chapter 12: Floors and Interior Doors 229

Chapter 13: Cabinets and Countertops 249

Chapter 14: Appliances 267

Chapter 15: Don’t Get Burned: Fireplaces 287

Chapter 16: Maintaining Your Home-Safety Systems 299

Part V: Out in the Great Wide Open 313

Chapter 17: Walkways, Patios, and Driveways 315

Chapter 18: Decks, Fences, and Retaining Walls 335

Chapter 19: And Then There Was Rust 347

Part VI: The Part of Tens 355

Chapter 20: Ten Cleaning Solutions You Can Make at Home 357

Chapter 21: Ten Maintenance Skills You Need 363

Index 371

About the Author

James Carey and Morris Carey Jr. share their 55+ years of experience as award-winning, licensed contractors with millions of people nationwide through a weekly radio program and syndicated newspaper column, both titled On The House. They also appear regularly on CBS News Saturday Morning.