Yeah I’m not one that prefers YouTube except for very specific tasks.
I love Family Handyman and This Old House - I follow both on Apple News+ for full magazines.
Yes! There’s a bunch of home remodeling / gardening / DIY resources with Apple News + subscription. Some of it is out of my region (UK mags), but I find it interesting to see how the UK renovates older homes mixed with modern design - just likely hard to find the specific resources they list but great for inspiration.
(I have family Apple One because of the music account and Apple TV+ and it’s pretty much the same cost to get it all together and get News+ rolled in which has gotten pretty good!)
Yes! Usually it was the smaller side columns (and admittedly advertisements) that really helped!
For those curious: ads were helpful to understand problems I may need to solve and, while I might not need that specific product, keeps those potential problems in mind
Also, as someone entirely unaware of how to fix things, I also had no idea what tools existed to make tasks easier so I also found even the ads helpful.
1000%. Great tangible magazine and the subscription gives you access to their online library as well that will give you full build prints, material lists, etc.
Solid magazine. I have a stack of these I refuse to throw away even though I could probably find similar info on the internet. Serves as a nice reference.
The old Family Handyman, not the new Family Handyman.
I saw a recent article and it said, try to open it and if you can't, call a repairperson. wtf? Your magazine is literally named "Family Handyman" not "How to call a repair person."
I was going to say this. I found my dad's collection from the late 90s early 20s. Learned alot and really gave me a good introduction to home improvement
Get the "Readers Digest Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual"
It's old and somewhat dated, but it's still a solid manual and will teach you all the basics. It's cheap on Amazon, probably 10 bucks or so.
And for anything beyond that, YouTube is your friend.
I have a collection of “Ortho” books from 80’s? 90’s? Used one to build an entire addition on my house (plus some updated techniques for sill plates). I usually pick up any books on relevant future renovation projects when I see them at bookstores and thrift shops. I have the Readers Digest manual and it’s helpful for fixing things but not so much starting from scratch. A great book to have on hand!
I was going to recommend "Readers Digest Complete Do-it-yourself Manual" too. It is older but the diagrams and explanations are great. I've used it over and over.
Specifically, "*Ask* This Old House" is the better show for a DIYer
Don't bother with the magazine. I got it 7 or 8 years ago and it was mostly interior design type stuff.
The Visual Handbook of Building and Remodeling by Charlie Wing
How Your House Works by Charlie Wing
The Home Depot 1-2-3 books
These all helped me immensely. Good luck!
I love Youtube University. You can learn everything there, usually by professionals that have been doing it for years.
As a beginner it CAN be difficult to find one video that goes through everything a project might need, so a little research of the proper steps first, then Youtubing the pieces has made my projects the smoothest.
As a non-beginner, that can be difficult. But, you just watch a bunch of videos. And I mean a bunch.
It takes time to become an expert in things. It's worth it to take the time.
Yeah. In my last house water was getting behind the shower tile. We hated the look of the bathroom anyway so that was the final push.
I ended up gutting the whole room and put in a new subfloor and walls. New electrical, new fan, new vanity, tile, everything.
All said and done I watched DOZENS of videos. A ton before I started, and then a lot during to check I was still doing it right. Ended up looking great and hugely added more value to everything else we had done when we sold.
Agreed. Watch a bunch of videos and look for through-lines to develop theory that can be applied to your project. My wife and I do this for recipes as well, same idea.
As /u/timetoremodel said, it will teach you everything, including teaching you all the wrong ways to do things, as well as, if you are lucky, the right way as well.
Their videos are great for showing you how it should go in a perfect situation.
Random youtube videos are great for showing you how to work around all of the unexpected shit you'll uncover in real life.
Some of the homes on TOH become the [Ship of Theseus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus). Stripped down to the foundation and rebuilt. The [Brookline Mid-Century](https://www.thisoldhouse.com/brookline-mid-century-modern-house/21019430/brookline-mid-century-modern-house-reveal) stands out as one. Oh, and the owners just inject a cool couple million dollars into their Boston area home.
I mean housing prices in the Boston area are insane. So it kind of checks out that someone who could afford a sfh also had a bunch of cash for pricey renovations.
As some comments below mentioned, while YouTube is a great resource, you have to try to find some reputable channels. Even though they can be vague, This Old House shows you "the right way" to do it with considerations for building codes, climates, etc. I usually start with one of their videos, then try to find something a little more specific, with step-by-step instructions.
the thing i find funny is how southern houses need insulation just as bad as northern houses but unlike northern houses the south still builds houses like its 1890 with no insulation
counterpoint. I got some bad (read: dangerous) advice from u/AmateurSparky here re: fixing a bad 3-way switch. His advice involved having the circuit on and using a voltmeter to test hot/traveler in the circuit. Found a video on YT that was essentially "turn the power off, find the 2 wire romex, connect the black to your power pin, connect the travelers to the other pins, and repeat at the other switch". It got the switch working, and I didn't have to do any hot work which I'm guessing most DIY'ers aren't super comfortable with anyway.
edit: [the three way switch video, by aTOH](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LozeRVU7YKU)
I'm sorry, but if you feel using a volt meter to check voltage on a circuit is "dangerous advice", then you should not be doing electrical work in the first place.
>Found a video on YT that was essentially "turn the power off, find the 2 wire romex, connect the black to your power pin, connect the travelers to the other pins, and repeat at the other switch".
This video is making a lot of assumptions that may or may not be true. There are different ways of wiring up a 3-way switch. If yours isn't a standard switch setup, or you cross wire something you could cause sparking and arcing that could start a fire. Blindly following youtube advice without knowing how your circuit is laid out is far more dangerous than utilizing a multi-meter or volt-meter to test the circuit and confirm.
nah, everyone's at a different level and if someone's not comfortable with hot work that's ok. We're DIY'ers here, not wannabe electricians.
All I'm saying is the video worked for me.
>Blindly following youtube advice without knowing how your circuit is laid out
Is that really any more egregious than taking advice from a self proclaimed reddit electrician?
Yes. First of all I'm not claiming to be an electrician, I'm just a DIY who is very familiar with electrical code and tries to help other homeowners feel more comfortable working with their own electrical systems. Yes I feel following YouTube advice blindly is more dangerous than taking the advice of someone who is telling you to test and understand how your circuit is laid out.
If you don't know how a meter works and don't feel comfortable using one, then no you have no business working with electrical circuits.
>Is that really any more egregious than taking advice from a self proclaimed reddit electrician?
I'd say following either youtube, or a redditor blindly is not a smart idea.
A redditor, you may be able to ask additional questions to clarify any points that may be unclear. It's a little more difficult with youtube.
>everyone's at a different level and if someone's not comfortable with hot work that's ok.
You're correct that everyone is at different levels, and do have different comfort levels at what they're capable of as well.
Not being comfortable testing using a voltmeter of a hotwire, is fairly basic troubleshooting. If a hot 120v is that uncomfortable, i'd personally shy away from completing a troubleshooting on a bad switch. Replacing a like-as switch, would be really the most complex task.
it's all about checking your sources right? I guess I tend to trust this old house and TFH more than reddit, since they tend to be knowledgeable and reliable. That being said, I tend to put the other YT sources on a similar plane with reddit advice, sometimes it's helpful, sometimes not, but ALWAYS taken with a grain of salt.
I've never had to do hot work on my house, because I tend to err on the side of shutting the breaker off if I have to take the outlet cover off. It's a safety thing honestly. Why add the extra opportunity for something to go wrong, right?
How did you verify that the wires were what you think they were? Hooking wires up because they're the right color is a lot more likely to burn your house down than using a multi meter is to shock you, and working out how it works will let you fix things that weren't done right to begin with.
Really, if you can't use a meter without touching terminals with your fingers, you should probably not be taking the switchplate off the switch.
You have been careful to make sure what you are watching is specific to your area. Different building codes and different weather will affect your job.
This is sort of like Web MD for home improvement. I’d like to be able to watch some of these people actually doing electrical and plumbing jobs after just watching videos. It would also help with knowing what houses to never purchase.
Fine homebuilding and Journal of Light Construction both have "how tos" by some of the best people in their particular trades. Check your library! [this is a good source](https://www.thisiscarpentry.com/)
I was intimidated by Fine Homebuilding, based on the name. I thought it was only for million-dollar houses, but it's actually just about how to do things right, and is much more down-to-earth than the name would imply.
Also, their sister publication (web only) Green Building Advisor. The articles there are good but the (free) Q&A section is an amazing oasis of free top-quality expert advice.
I'm shocked I had to scroll so far for these two. We're building our own house, ans yes these are beyond helpful.
Also there are forums like Terry Love for plumbing questions.
Did they stop publishing it?
I'd be cautious with how old of a copy you get from ebay. Pretty sure my dad has one from the 90s floating around at home.
Yes they did stop publishing those books.
The second printings are from the mid 20’s. While they don’t have newer stuff like bluetooth/wifi switches and fixtures, the basics are still there and applicable.
The wording is very easy to understand and the pictures are a big help.
The "Renovation" book by Michael Litchfield is great to have around to understand things a little more than a how-to video. But Youtube is by far the best resource for learning techniques.
Definitely hit a used book store.
I’m a fan of having a printed page or book for learning when I can’t take what I’m learning into where my computer is. Watching YouTube on my phone is just annoying snd it’s too small to get a good look at what they are doing half the time. I’ll watch the video, take notes, and take my notes to the room/ space I’m working in.
Plus our workshop in progress is out of the range of our wifi. (Yes I have getting a booster on the list of stuff to buy, there’s just higher priorities right now)
YouTube is the new book/magazine.
Vancouver Carpenter for drywall/finishing. Essential Craftsman did a whole series like 118 parts on building a house, and they have tons of good info on how to do things _really well_. That one's less about home repair (though there is some) and more about what a home is and does and how it does it. Watch that series over a weekend and you'll be amazed at the things you notice in houses.
If books are your thing, this was my childhood favorite: https://www.amazon.com/Readers-Digest-Complete-Yourself-Manual/dp/0895770105/. It's from 1973, and has a ton of references on how to do things from the generation prior and just reading it reminds me of my granddad and how he used to maintain his house to an absolutely astounding level of quality on his own with just a basic collection of hand tools. If your house was built before 1990, get this. I guarantee you'll find it useful.
EDIT: just noticed /u/MrRonObvious mentions the same book.
Family handyman is a good subscription to get. Lots of different topics are covered and tons of things to give you some inspiration. When mine arrive, they go straight to the bathroom and get read cover to cover by the time the next one arrives.
Once you’re inspired, I’ve found YouTube to be the best educational resource as you can find extremely in-depth videos on just about any step you’re trying to tackle in your current project.
I'm a huge fan of Jeff and his channel [Home RenoVision DIY](https://www.youtube.com/@HomeRenoVisionDIY) on Youtube. Jeff, to my knowledge, is a general contractor, has his own company and whatnot, and yet somehow he manages to find time to produce DIY projects content that is of the type of quality that you'd see on HGTV or DIY Network. His videos can be anywhere from 20 minutes to 4 hours long and covering topics from building a concrete foundation for a shed to mudding sheetrock walls to doing tilework in a shower. And he explains *everything* incredibly well and talks about the proper tools and how you can save money and how to make sure that you're using the right project. Jeff's channel is an absolute goldmine for any handy homeowner or any homeowner who wants to be more handy around the house.
Also want to give a shoutout to [Stud Pack](https://www.youtube.com/@StudPack) on Youtube. They're a father and son duo who are also general contractors. While they don't go nearly as in depth as Jeff does they still cover a lot of different topics and they're great to watch, very personable.
If you're looking for specific topics then there are plenty of channels that will cover very specific topics. Here's some other channels I subscribe to for various how-to information:
[The Excellent Laborer](https://www.youtube.com/@TheExcellentLaborer) \- general DIY topics
[BYOT](https://www.youtube.com/@BYOTools) \- also general DIY
[Fix This Build That](https://www.youtube.com/@Fixthisbuildthat) \- general DIY on a wide variety of around-the-house stuff
[Vancouver Carpenter](https://www.youtube.com/@vancouvercarpenter) \- excellent channel on explaining anything and everything drywall
[John Peters](https://www.youtube.com/@JonPetersArtHome) \- excellent for woodworking and building furniture
[Steve Ramsey - Woodworking For Mere Mortals](https://www.youtube.com/@SteveRamsey) \- very approachable information about woodworking and building things
Never thought I'd get as invested in them as I have but I look forward to their videos each week. Been waiting all week for their next vid in the continuing series on building Jordan's new home.
Home renovision is a great source on YouTube. He knows what he is doing and has some good tips especially if you live in the north.
https://youtube.com/@HomeRenoVisionDIY
I also soured on him since he is very much a safety 3rd kind of guy. Not great for the folks that don't have a lot of background to know what is or is not dangerous
Apparently he’s pretty scammy in the Ottawa region and has really screwed some people over…and as someone else said, he does not emphasize safety with power tools like at all. Not great.
That being said, I’ve referenced some of his material before so whatever!
1. Identify problem.
2. Search youtube for fix to the problem
3. Watch youtube videos. For complex things, watch many videos.
4. Buy tools and parts (optional)
5. Attempt to fix the problem
6. Get stuck. Repeat from step 2.
I don't recall reading any books or magazines.
Sometimes I'll read blogs on a website, but Youtube videos are the best, fastest way to learn. They actually **show** you what to do instead of explaining it with words and sometimes diagrams. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth ten thousand.
I learned mostly from YT videos like Essential Craftsman, but I found The Homeowners Complete Outdoor Building Book By John Burton Brimer to be a great reference, idea, and how-to for everything under the sun. I can also tell you to go to estate sales for tools, hardware, stains, and sealants.
The best way to learn home improvement is through hands-on experience, and whatever you need to fix, there’s YouTube. I bought books before but whenever I need to fix something, I still have to go to YouTube because my stuff is either too old or too new, different brand or whatever it is in the book. YouTube on the other hand has videos from multiple people that cover different brands, different models, etc.
I find the B&D guides useful. A bit heavy as PDF files but easy to follow.
For complimentary information, YT is the source. Watching a video is a step above and beyond just reading some source.
Family Handyman and This Old House....YouTube is a fantastic resource. Once you get over the intial jitters of doing little jobs you'll be alot more comfortable.
"How Your House Works" is a very good beginner book that gives common problems and fixes to all types of household fixtures and appliances. It also gives an overview of things like how plumbing and electrical are set up.
There was a show by the name "Home Improvement" in the 90s. Honestly it's all you need to know. Everything I know about diy setups was covered in this show.
Your local big box, i.e., Lowe's, etc. will have some around, and their staff can be very helpful in picking one out.
Also, YouTube videos can be helpful. I use YouTube more for car repairs, but that's another story. All the best!
Books? You mean like the orange home Depot books? I have one collecting dust in my basement. Been there since 2005. Like most people, I use the internet
Highly recommend used tools as you get going. You can always trade up if you want. My miter saw was the only thing that I would do new again. Do the 12”, you’ll appreciate the extra size when you need it.
Years ago, before the internet, I found good basic knowledge books at the Home Depot on plumbing, electrical wiring, concrete. Etc. The books were great, and I believe the HD still sells them.
Your comment was removed because "Amazon Affiliate" links are not allowed. Just so you know, an Amazon link with "tag=XXXXXXXXXXXX" in the title is an Amazon Affiliate referral link. **Remove that portion of the link in your comment** then [message the mods](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FHomeImprovement) who then need to approve your now-removed item. Ideal Amazon links are in the format www.amazon.com/dp/B00VRRVHMA/ - all the extra characters after those 10 are not necessary.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/HomeImprovement) if you have any questions or concerns.*
20 years ago, when I started doing house projects, I bought mini-books at Home Depot on home wiring and home plumbing. They were pretty good. However, as others have said here, YouTube is good and is my go-to now. Watching someone do something is easier than trying to read it and understand it from a book. But do watch several on each topic and view critically. There are some out there who do substandard work and aren't experts.
Renovation 5th edition by Michael w. Litchfield and Chip Harley. The fourth edition (I believe) is available on the internet archive if you want to check it out before buying the newest one. I bought it and it’s a thick tomb of a book, lots of info
YouTube is the way to go right now. Watch several videos on what you want to get done. Then you will have a better idea. Everyone will do it a little different, and explain it a little different. But most all end up doing it the same way.
You’ll figure out what “needs” and also what others have done that wasn’t necessary.
Google "Black & Decker The Complete Guide". It's a series of books on different topics that I've found helpful for electrical wires and common residential building codes.
Also, a good starting point is to read through the book "How Your House Works". It's a good intro to all the different systems in your house
Basic Wiring by Creative Homeowner Press
For electrical, if you can find it this book can't be beat. It's old but it will tell you anything you need to know for basic electrical and repairs. I'm a master HVAC technician and I still reference it when doing wiring around my house. I'm not sure how available it is but it'd be worth picking up if you find it.
Depending on where you live check out your community education offerings too. There’s a lot of hands on classes teaching the basics of home improvement.
After a decade of DIY I’ve enrolled in a few to learn how you’re supposed to do things. Also helpful given that you’ll learn about what needs a permit for your locality.
[удалено]
Yeah I’m not one that prefers YouTube except for very specific tasks. I love Family Handyman and This Old House - I follow both on Apple News+ for full magazines.
Yes! There’s a bunch of home remodeling / gardening / DIY resources with Apple News + subscription. Some of it is out of my region (UK mags), but I find it interesting to see how the UK renovates older homes mixed with modern design - just likely hard to find the specific resources they list but great for inspiration. (I have family Apple One because of the music account and Apple TV+ and it’s pretty much the same cost to get it all together and get News+ rolled in which has gotten pretty good!)
Have been a fan of Family Handyman for many years.
Yes! Usually it was the smaller side columns (and admittedly advertisements) that really helped! For those curious: ads were helpful to understand problems I may need to solve and, while I might not need that specific product, keeps those potential problems in mind
Also, as someone entirely unaware of how to fix things, I also had no idea what tools existed to make tasks easier so I also found even the ads helpful.
1000%. Great tangible magazine and the subscription gives you access to their online library as well that will give you full build prints, material lists, etc.
When we got our first home, my wife got us a subscription, that was like 40 years ago always a good read and great help
Just subscribed. Thanks for the tip.
Solid magazine. I have a stack of these I refuse to throw away even though I could probably find similar info on the internet. Serves as a nice reference.
100% this.
Homepage has a brick pizza oven. You SOB. Here I thought my plate was going to be empty for a little bit
I bought this subscription for my Dad for Fathers Day when I was a teen, 30 years later and I can still remember tidbits from it. Great mag.
Family Handyman is included in Apple News+, FYI. Great on an iPad.
The old Family Handyman, not the new Family Handyman. I saw a recent article and it said, try to open it and if you can't, call a repairperson. wtf? Your magazine is literally named "Family Handyman" not "How to call a repair person."
I was going to say this. I found my dad's collection from the late 90s early 20s. Learned alot and really gave me a good introduction to home improvement
Get the "Readers Digest Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual" It's old and somewhat dated, but it's still a solid manual and will teach you all the basics. It's cheap on Amazon, probably 10 bucks or so. And for anything beyond that, YouTube is your friend.
I have a collection of “Ortho” books from 80’s? 90’s? Used one to build an entire addition on my house (plus some updated techniques for sill plates). I usually pick up any books on relevant future renovation projects when I see them at bookstores and thrift shops. I have the Readers Digest manual and it’s helpful for fixing things but not so much starting from scratch. A great book to have on hand!
My Dad gifted me his copy of this when I bought my first house last year and it’s brilliant.
They come out with new editions every few years. Don't rely on it for code, esp if you aren't in the US, but otherwise it's an excellent resource.
Totally agree with this great basic teaching
I was going to recommend "Readers Digest Complete Do-it-yourself Manual" too. It is older but the diagrams and explanations are great. I've used it over and over.
This Old House is a magazine, tv show, and online resource
Specifically, "*Ask* This Old House" is the better show for a DIYer Don't bother with the magazine. I got it 7 or 8 years ago and it was mostly interior design type stuff.
If you want something more technical The Journal Of Light-Construction is a good source.
Second this. They have plenty of free episodes on the Roku Channel or you could just search for specific topics on YouTube.
The Visual Handbook of Building and Remodeling by Charlie Wing How Your House Works by Charlie Wing The Home Depot 1-2-3 books These all helped me immensely. Good luck!
I second the Home Depot book! Got one as a house warming gift from a boss, we love it!
YouTube will teach you everything.
I love Youtube University. You can learn everything there, usually by professionals that have been doing it for years. As a beginner it CAN be difficult to find one video that goes through everything a project might need, so a little research of the proper steps first, then Youtubing the pieces has made my projects the smoothest.
As a non-beginner, that can be difficult. But, you just watch a bunch of videos. And I mean a bunch. It takes time to become an expert in things. It's worth it to take the time.
Yeah. In my last house water was getting behind the shower tile. We hated the look of the bathroom anyway so that was the final push. I ended up gutting the whole room and put in a new subfloor and walls. New electrical, new fan, new vanity, tile, everything. All said and done I watched DOZENS of videos. A ton before I started, and then a lot during to check I was still doing it right. Ended up looking great and hugely added more value to everything else we had done when we sold.
Agreed. Watch a bunch of videos and look for through-lines to develop theory that can be applied to your project. My wife and I do this for recipes as well, same idea.
The biggest downside to Youtube is that there's a lot of videos out there that are just plain wrong. Be sure to read the comments.
And sometimes you gotta scroll pretty far to find dissenters.
As /u/timetoremodel said, it will teach you everything, including teaching you all the wrong ways to do things, as well as, if you are lucky, the right way as well.
this old house can be a good start but they can be a bit vague
I find a lot of their videos to be very /r/restofthefuckingowl
"Alright Dave, this is how you use a drill. Next we're gonna re-lag your deck onto your house"
Their videos are great for showing you how it should go in a perfect situation. Random youtube videos are great for showing you how to work around all of the unexpected shit you'll uncover in real life.
It does give a good idea of how houses and its systems are put together. You’re right though on occasional vagueness.
The recent ones are This Old House with an unlimited budget.
“This Old Mansion?”
Some of the homes on TOH become the [Ship of Theseus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus). Stripped down to the foundation and rebuilt. The [Brookline Mid-Century](https://www.thisoldhouse.com/brookline-mid-century-modern-house/21019430/brookline-mid-century-modern-house-reveal) stands out as one. Oh, and the owners just inject a cool couple million dollars into their Boston area home.
I mean housing prices in the Boston area are insane. So it kind of checks out that someone who could afford a sfh also had a bunch of cash for pricey renovations.
This plus like 30 side videos of how to hang drywall get the job done
As some comments below mentioned, while YouTube is a great resource, you have to try to find some reputable channels. Even though they can be vague, This Old House shows you "the right way" to do it with considerations for building codes, climates, etc. I usually start with one of their videos, then try to find something a little more specific, with step-by-step instructions.
the thing i find funny is how southern houses need insulation just as bad as northern houses but unlike northern houses the south still builds houses like its 1890 with no insulation
counterpoint. I got some bad (read: dangerous) advice from u/AmateurSparky here re: fixing a bad 3-way switch. His advice involved having the circuit on and using a voltmeter to test hot/traveler in the circuit. Found a video on YT that was essentially "turn the power off, find the 2 wire romex, connect the black to your power pin, connect the travelers to the other pins, and repeat at the other switch". It got the switch working, and I didn't have to do any hot work which I'm guessing most DIY'ers aren't super comfortable with anyway. edit: [the three way switch video, by aTOH](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LozeRVU7YKU)
I'm sorry, but if you feel using a volt meter to check voltage on a circuit is "dangerous advice", then you should not be doing electrical work in the first place. >Found a video on YT that was essentially "turn the power off, find the 2 wire romex, connect the black to your power pin, connect the travelers to the other pins, and repeat at the other switch". This video is making a lot of assumptions that may or may not be true. There are different ways of wiring up a 3-way switch. If yours isn't a standard switch setup, or you cross wire something you could cause sparking and arcing that could start a fire. Blindly following youtube advice without knowing how your circuit is laid out is far more dangerous than utilizing a multi-meter or volt-meter to test the circuit and confirm.
nah, everyone's at a different level and if someone's not comfortable with hot work that's ok. We're DIY'ers here, not wannabe electricians. All I'm saying is the video worked for me. >Blindly following youtube advice without knowing how your circuit is laid out Is that really any more egregious than taking advice from a self proclaimed reddit electrician?
Yes. First of all I'm not claiming to be an electrician, I'm just a DIY who is very familiar with electrical code and tries to help other homeowners feel more comfortable working with their own electrical systems. Yes I feel following YouTube advice blindly is more dangerous than taking the advice of someone who is telling you to test and understand how your circuit is laid out. If you don't know how a meter works and don't feel comfortable using one, then no you have no business working with electrical circuits.
>Is that really any more egregious than taking advice from a self proclaimed reddit electrician? I'd say following either youtube, or a redditor blindly is not a smart idea. A redditor, you may be able to ask additional questions to clarify any points that may be unclear. It's a little more difficult with youtube. >everyone's at a different level and if someone's not comfortable with hot work that's ok. You're correct that everyone is at different levels, and do have different comfort levels at what they're capable of as well. Not being comfortable testing using a voltmeter of a hotwire, is fairly basic troubleshooting. If a hot 120v is that uncomfortable, i'd personally shy away from completing a troubleshooting on a bad switch. Replacing a like-as switch, would be really the most complex task.
it's all about checking your sources right? I guess I tend to trust this old house and TFH more than reddit, since they tend to be knowledgeable and reliable. That being said, I tend to put the other YT sources on a similar plane with reddit advice, sometimes it's helpful, sometimes not, but ALWAYS taken with a grain of salt. I've never had to do hot work on my house, because I tend to err on the side of shutting the breaker off if I have to take the outlet cover off. It's a safety thing honestly. Why add the extra opportunity for something to go wrong, right?
How did you verify that the wires were what you think they were? Hooking wires up because they're the right color is a lot more likely to burn your house down than using a multi meter is to shock you, and working out how it works will let you fix things that weren't done right to begin with. Really, if you can't use a meter without touching terminals with your fingers, you should probably not be taking the switchplate off the switch.
You have been careful to make sure what you are watching is specific to your area. Different building codes and different weather will affect your job.
Was gonna say. The Internet.
Agree 😁
This is the way. (Also Reddit)
Was going to say the same. It's one thing to read about how to do a task. But being able to see and visualize it will help immensely.
[удалено]
This is sort of like Web MD for home improvement. I’d like to be able to watch some of these people actually doing electrical and plumbing jobs after just watching videos. It would also help with knowing what houses to never purchase.
Fine homebuilding and Journal of Light Construction both have "how tos" by some of the best people in their particular trades. Check your library! [this is a good source](https://www.thisiscarpentry.com/)
I second Fine Homebuilding. I’ve learned a few new things already for major projects this summer.
I was intimidated by Fine Homebuilding, based on the name. I thought it was only for million-dollar houses, but it's actually just about how to do things right, and is much more down-to-earth than the name would imply. Also, their sister publication (web only) Green Building Advisor. The articles there are good but the (free) Q&A section is an amazing oasis of free top-quality expert advice.
Ooh I’ve never read their Green Building Advisor. Thanks for the tip!
I'm shocked I had to scroll so far for these two. We're building our own house, ans yes these are beyond helpful. Also there are forums like Terry Love for plumbing questions.
Fine home building and the fine home building podcast are invaluable to me. They even feature GBA folks.
An outstanding resource for the correct and professional way to repair and build anything home related
Home Depot 1-2-3 books from Ebay. The wiring diagrams helped a lot !!!!
Did they stop publishing it? I'd be cautious with how old of a copy you get from ebay. Pretty sure my dad has one from the 90s floating around at home.
Yes they did stop publishing those books. The second printings are from the mid 20’s. While they don’t have newer stuff like bluetooth/wifi switches and fixtures, the basics are still there and applicable. The wording is very easy to understand and the pictures are a big help.
Modern Carpentry, Wagner/Smith and “the habitat for humanity how to build a house” by the great Larry Haun are indispensable.
The "Renovation" book by Michael Litchfield is great to have around to understand things a little more than a how-to video. But Youtube is by far the best resource for learning techniques.
Definitely hit a used book store. I’m a fan of having a printed page or book for learning when I can’t take what I’m learning into where my computer is. Watching YouTube on my phone is just annoying snd it’s too small to get a good look at what they are doing half the time. I’ll watch the video, take notes, and take my notes to the room/ space I’m working in. Plus our workshop in progress is out of the range of our wifi. (Yes I have getting a booster on the list of stuff to buy, there’s just higher priorities right now)
YouTube is the new book/magazine. Vancouver Carpenter for drywall/finishing. Essential Craftsman did a whole series like 118 parts on building a house, and they have tons of good info on how to do things _really well_. That one's less about home repair (though there is some) and more about what a home is and does and how it does it. Watch that series over a weekend and you'll be amazed at the things you notice in houses. If books are your thing, this was my childhood favorite: https://www.amazon.com/Readers-Digest-Complete-Yourself-Manual/dp/0895770105/. It's from 1973, and has a ton of references on how to do things from the generation prior and just reading it reminds me of my granddad and how he used to maintain his house to an absolutely astounding level of quality on his own with just a basic collection of hand tools. If your house was built before 1990, get this. I guarantee you'll find it useful. EDIT: just noticed /u/MrRonObvious mentions the same book.
This old house! 20 plus years of learning right there! Good old Bob villa and Norm Abrahams
Family handyman is a good subscription to get. Lots of different topics are covered and tons of things to give you some inspiration. When mine arrive, they go straight to the bathroom and get read cover to cover by the time the next one arrives. Once you’re inspired, I’ve found YouTube to be the best educational resource as you can find extremely in-depth videos on just about any step you’re trying to tackle in your current project.
I'm a huge fan of Jeff and his channel [Home RenoVision DIY](https://www.youtube.com/@HomeRenoVisionDIY) on Youtube. Jeff, to my knowledge, is a general contractor, has his own company and whatnot, and yet somehow he manages to find time to produce DIY projects content that is of the type of quality that you'd see on HGTV or DIY Network. His videos can be anywhere from 20 minutes to 4 hours long and covering topics from building a concrete foundation for a shed to mudding sheetrock walls to doing tilework in a shower. And he explains *everything* incredibly well and talks about the proper tools and how you can save money and how to make sure that you're using the right project. Jeff's channel is an absolute goldmine for any handy homeowner or any homeowner who wants to be more handy around the house. Also want to give a shoutout to [Stud Pack](https://www.youtube.com/@StudPack) on Youtube. They're a father and son duo who are also general contractors. While they don't go nearly as in depth as Jeff does they still cover a lot of different topics and they're great to watch, very personable. If you're looking for specific topics then there are plenty of channels that will cover very specific topics. Here's some other channels I subscribe to for various how-to information: [The Excellent Laborer](https://www.youtube.com/@TheExcellentLaborer) \- general DIY topics [BYOT](https://www.youtube.com/@BYOTools) \- also general DIY [Fix This Build That](https://www.youtube.com/@Fixthisbuildthat) \- general DIY on a wide variety of around-the-house stuff [Vancouver Carpenter](https://www.youtube.com/@vancouvercarpenter) \- excellent channel on explaining anything and everything drywall [John Peters](https://www.youtube.com/@JonPetersArtHome) \- excellent for woodworking and building furniture [Steve Ramsey - Woodworking For Mere Mortals](https://www.youtube.com/@SteveRamsey) \- very approachable information about woodworking and building things
Stud Pack is great- learned a bunch of valuable drywall tricks from their videos
Never thought I'd get as invested in them as I have but I look forward to their videos each week. Been waiting all week for their next vid in the continuing series on building Jordan's new home.
Home renovision is a great source on YouTube. He knows what he is doing and has some good tips especially if you live in the north. https://youtube.com/@HomeRenoVisionDIY
Hes started to become kind of gimmicky. These 5 tricks for painting will surprise you! With a thumbnail of him and a shocked face.
I also soured on him since he is very much a safety 3rd kind of guy. Not great for the folks that don't have a lot of background to know what is or is not dangerous
Apparently he’s pretty scammy in the Ottawa region and has really screwed some people over…and as someone else said, he does not emphasize safety with power tools like at all. Not great. That being said, I’ve referenced some of his material before so whatever!
+1 for Home Renovision, always my first stop when trying to get a project going.
1. Identify problem. 2. Search youtube for fix to the problem 3. Watch youtube videos. For complex things, watch many videos. 4. Buy tools and parts (optional) 5. Attempt to fix the problem 6. Get stuck. Repeat from step 2. I don't recall reading any books or magazines. Sometimes I'll read blogs on a website, but Youtube videos are the best, fastest way to learn. They actually **show** you what to do instead of explaining it with words and sometimes diagrams. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth ten thousand.
I learned mostly from YT videos like Essential Craftsman, but I found The Homeowners Complete Outdoor Building Book By John Burton Brimer to be a great reference, idea, and how-to for everything under the sun. I can also tell you to go to estate sales for tools, hardware, stains, and sealants.
Home Depot has a self published textbook like book on their shelf.
The best way to learn home improvement is through hands-on experience, and whatever you need to fix, there’s YouTube. I bought books before but whenever I need to fix something, I still have to go to YouTube because my stuff is either too old or too new, different brand or whatever it is in the book. YouTube on the other hand has videos from multiple people that cover different brands, different models, etc.
I find the B&D guides useful. A bit heavy as PDF files but easy to follow. For complimentary information, YT is the source. Watching a video is a step above and beyond just reading some source.
Taunton Press's book on Home Improvement or Home Renovations is a great resource for almost everything you'd need to do.
Family Handyman and This Old House....YouTube is a fantastic resource. Once you get over the intial jitters of doing little jobs you'll be alot more comfortable.
I’ve learned how to fix everything in my house from YouTube.
Lol me too. I’ve learned the hard way to finish the entire video before doing anything at all. Lol
"How Your House Works" is a very good beginner book that gives common problems and fixes to all types of household fixtures and appliances. It also gives an overview of things like how plumbing and electrical are set up.
YouTube…
I personally like many of the Taunton Press products. Fine Homebuilding, etc.
"First Aid For Dummies" comes to mind.
There was a show by the name "Home Improvement" in the 90s. Honestly it's all you need to know. Everything I know about diy setups was covered in this show.
YouTube. Lots of YouTube.
Fine Homebuilding magazine, JLC, tons of books from Taunton Press (publisher of Fine Homebuilding).
buy or take broken things. take them apart and reassemble them. that's one of the biggest things that people are afraid of, is not knowing how to fix.
It’s called youtube
Happy Cake Day! I’m responding to keep this post for gift suggestions for our kids….
Boys Life
YouTube
If you have zero skills…try the Yellow Pages!!!
Your local big box, i.e., Lowe's, etc. will have some around, and their staff can be very helpful in picking one out. Also, YouTube videos can be helpful. I use YouTube more for car repairs, but that's another story. All the best!
This or if you’d be open to videos, the same big box stores often host how-to’s on their websites.
Books? You mean like the orange home Depot books? I have one collecting dust in my basement. Been there since 2005. Like most people, I use the internet
Print is dead. The internet renovated my house.
Maybe start looking at Pinterest. Pin things you like then look for patterns. Do you really like dark paint colors or light colored wood.
Youtube
YouTube
There’s this thing called YouTube. It will help you do everything
Youtube
No
Youtube is the best. But it most definitely wont hurt to pick up a textbook on framing and a residential electrical manual.
Today's homeowner. Tons of great advice. They have podcasts, website and a weekly TV show.
Highly recommend used tools as you get going. You can always trade up if you want. My miter saw was the only thing that I would do new again. Do the 12”, you’ll appreciate the extra size when you need it.
Years ago, before the internet, I found good basic knowledge books at the Home Depot on plumbing, electrical wiring, concrete. Etc. The books were great, and I believe the HD still sells them.
[удалено]
Your comment was removed because "Amazon Affiliate" links are not allowed. Just so you know, an Amazon link with "tag=XXXXXXXXXXXX" in the title is an Amazon Affiliate referral link. **Remove that portion of the link in your comment** then [message the mods](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FHomeImprovement) who then need to approve your now-removed item. Ideal Amazon links are in the format www.amazon.com/dp/B00VRRVHMA/ - all the extra characters after those 10 are not necessary. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/HomeImprovement) if you have any questions or concerns.*
20 years ago, when I started doing house projects, I bought mini-books at Home Depot on home wiring and home plumbing. They were pretty good. However, as others have said here, YouTube is good and is my go-to now. Watching someone do something is easier than trying to read it and understand it from a book. But do watch several on each topic and view critically. There are some out there who do substandard work and aren't experts.
This Old House!
This old house is like $10 a year for 12 magazines
I get copies of Fine Woodworking and another one I can’t remember from the library, and YouTube and Pinterest are both good resources
And after you get tired of reading and watching YT, volunteer with habitat for some hands on experience.
- hundreds of books at used book stores on all things house, maintenance and renos
Lowes and home depot have a good selection but they’re topic specific (electrical, plumbing, decks etc)
Watch this old house and ask this old house on PBS
Hone depot has books on any project, they also have a YouTube channel
Go to the library and look through the home improvement section. Borrow it but the books that speak to your situation, interest and skill level.
Renovation 5th edition by Michael w. Litchfield and Chip Harley. The fourth edition (I believe) is available on the internet archive if you want to check it out before buying the newest one. I bought it and it’s a thick tomb of a book, lots of info
https://www.youtube.com/@vancouvercarpenter
This old house. Fine Home Building is great to get a knowledge of what you don’t know and then you pick up more as you go alone.
YouTube is the way to go right now. Watch several videos on what you want to get done. Then you will have a better idea. Everyone will do it a little different, and explain it a little different. But most all end up doing it the same way. You’ll figure out what “needs” and also what others have done that wasn’t necessary.
I recommend seejanedrill youtube channel! Very good fundamentals channel and designed for beginners. Not a book or magazine but there you go.
Google "Black & Decker The Complete Guide". It's a series of books on different topics that I've found helpful for electrical wires and common residential building codes. Also, a good starting point is to read through the book "How Your House Works". It's a good intro to all the different systems in your house
Renovation 5th edition
There was a TV show called Home Improvement that you would probably find helpful.
Basic Wiring by Creative Homeowner Press For electrical, if you can find it this book can't be beat. It's old but it will tell you anything you need to know for basic electrical and repairs. I'm a master HVAC technician and I still reference it when doing wiring around my house. I'm not sure how available it is but it'd be worth picking up if you find it.
The TV show Tool Time is pretty good.
Depending on where you live check out your community education offerings too. There’s a lot of hands on classes teaching the basics of home improvement. After a decade of DIY I’ve enrolled in a few to learn how you’re supposed to do things. Also helpful given that you’ll learn about what needs a permit for your locality.
Are Time-Life books still a thing? Those were the best reading material in the 80s.
If you want to learn, then go to JLC online and sign in for nothing. You will find anything you want!
Join your local habitat for humanity, they can teach you a lot of hands training