Dare to Repair : A Do-it-Herself Guide to Fixing (Almost) Anything in the Home
List Price: $14.95
Price: $5.62 You Save:$9.33 (62%)
Product Description
This is NOT your father's home repair book!
And it's not your husband's, your brother's, your boyfriend's, or the guy's next door. Dare to Repair is a do-it-herself book for every woman who would rather be self-reliant than rely on a super or contractor.
No matter the depth of your pockets or the size of your home, a toilet will get clogged, a circuit breaker will trip, and a smoke detector will stop working. It's up to you how you'll deal with them -- live in denial, pay the piper, or get real and do it yourself.
Dare to Repair demystifies these home repairs by providing information that other books leave out.
In Dare to Repair, you'll learn how to:
Take the plunge -- from fixing a leaky faucet to cleaning the gutters.
Lighten up -- from removing a broken light bulb to installing a dimmer switch.
Keep your cool -- from maintaining a refrigerator's gasket to changing the rotation of a ceiling fan.
Get a handle on it -- from replacing a doorknob to repairing a broken window.
Play it safe -- from planning a fire escape route to installing a smoke detector.
Filled with detailed illustrations, Dare to Repair provides even the most repair-challenged woman with the ability to successfully fix things around the home. Once you start, you won't want to stop.
Whether you identify with riot grrrls or Rosie the Riveter, you'll love the tackle-it-yourself empowerment style of Dare to Repair. Covering simple tasks like unclogging bathroom sinks and switching directions on a ceiling fan along with more intimidating projects such as patching holes in drywall or creating a circuit map, this no-nonsense guide will walk you through those simple steps of maintaining, and perhaps even improving, your home. Forget about Martha and her hot-glue-gun projects--this is about drain snakes, electrical tape, and the kind of screwdrivers you can't order from a bartender.
Authors Julie Sussman and Stephanie Glakas-Tenet mix goofy "Your fridge is running? Better catch it!" jokes with a very matter-of-fact tone that assumes from the start you're woman enough for the job. Sections are arranged by general category (electricity, plumbing, etc.), and every entry is accompanied by clear illustrations of items and processes. For women who live alone or are starting up a business, this is a serious money-saving guide; for those of us with roommates, there's no quicker way to impress than to whip out your toolbox and get down to business. --Jill Lightner
Customer Reviews
courage to handle the basics
This book demystifies some of the simple, around-the-house chores that you always thought you should be able to handle on your own, but somehow still weren't sure how to tackle.The projects are well explained and have given me the courage and confidence to take some of them on. It's also nice to know the guide is in the book case, so when I start to think about calling a plumber or an electrician, I'll be able to look in the book and decide whether or not I really do need to make that call.I've noticed that some people think the book's simplistic, while others seem to think it's too heavily slanted toward a female audience. Since women have not traditionally done a lot of home repair (myself included), I think the book is ideally suited to its target group.
A Very Empowering Book
I bought this book for my Mom for Christmas last year. She was on her own for the first time in her life. When I visited her this Christmas, she was complaining about her toilet running. I said, "Mom, get the book" She got the book out, I read the instructions out loud to her, and she fixed her OWN toilet. She was so proud of herself. Everyone that called on Christmas got the blow by blow account of how she fixed her own toilet. Buy this book. You will learn how to fix alot of those annoying household problems. Save money, and get a feeling of accomplishment. Buy it for your Mom, Dad, everyone. Highly recommended!
January 2, 2006
(Grayslake, IL United States) | Helpful Votes: 36 | Rating: 5
It's 3:00 AM and you have a gas leak..now what?
I have to say that this is a great book for anyone who has just purchased their first home. If you are in a position where you have noone to depend on but yourself, get a copy. Although, a reviewer did pan the book, stating that it gave instructions on how to change a bulb, this is not the whole truth-the bulb that they are referring to in the book, is in your gas or electric oven-big difference. It gives details on how to ignite a pilot light on a water heater safely-( which, unfortunately, I have had to do twice )- and several other things that you may not even think about until it is too late. Better to buy the book, and familiarize yourself. Do you know how to shut off your gas supply in an emergency, or repair a leaking water tank on a Sunday, or worse, in the middle of the night? Where is your toolbox? Do you even have a tool box? I admit, I did'nt even consider these things before. Buying a house for the first time, most of us are knee deep in carpet samples,...
March 18, 2004
| Helpful Votes: 28 | Rating: 5
Denali 115-Piece Home Repair Tool Kit
List Price: $99.99
Price: $51.94 You Save:$48.05 (48%)
Product Details
Quality hand tools with professional features meeting ANSI standards
Product Description
Every home needs a good set of basic tools, and kits are a great way to get them at a considerable savings. Three things make Denali’s 115-piece kit stand out—the price, an exceptional selection of screwdriver bits, and last but not least, the bag. In fact, it’s hard to find a set of tools as extensive as this for anywhere near this price. If purchased separately, these items would cost $150.00
This kit includes all of the tools you need for just about any household chore, from hanging pictures to fixing a leaky faucet. They are of good quality and should handle all of your household chores and repairs for many years to come. Going through this kit, I really appreciated little touches rarely seen in basic tool sets, like the soft-grip rubber cover on the tape measure that makes it easy and comfortable to hold, and the dizzying array of bits that come with the ratcheting screwdriver handle.
But what’s really brilliant is that all of these tools come in a heavy-duty nylon bag. Most tool sets come in big, flat blow-molded cases that can be awkward to store and carry. Plus, some tools invariably fall out when you open the case. That’s why most professionals, after buying a tool set, will throw away the case it came in and go out and buy a separate tool bag or chest to store their tools. The Denali kit’s bag fits easily under a sink cabinet (it actually is the size of a breadbox), and has both a shoulder strap and hand-straps that Velcro together, making it easy to carry around. The mouth of the bag has metal stabilizing rods in the zipper, so it opens wide and stays open, meaning you can set it down, and easily get to any of the tools inside while you are working. There are a ton of pockets lining the inside and outside of the bag to carry little things like nails, screws, tape, picture hangers—all of the little things that seem to crowd your kitchen drawers.
Of course, what are most important are the tools themselves. Again, this is a well-appointed set of quality tools that should outfit you for just about any household need. Here is a complete tally:
What’s In The Bag
Hammer This 16-ounce ripping hammer with heavy duty fiberglass handle is a medium-weight hammer that will handle most household jobs, with claws for pulling nails.
Torpedo level A good sturdy level is a must for hanging or straightening pictures, checking tabletop alignment, or mounting towel bars and curtain rods. This 9-inch, aluminum model is accurate, lightweight and easy to handle.
Tape measure The 3/4-inch wide by 16-foot long tape measure has a thumb lock, metric and English markings, marks for placing studs every 16-inches, a belt clip, and a soft-grip rubber shell that makes it easy to grip and comfortable to hold.
Heavy-duty zinc utility knife with rubber grip
Wrenches
16-piece hex key set These are also called Allen wrenches. The kit comes with 8 in metric and 8 in English measurements.
6-piece combination wrench set with steel clip
Pliers
8-inch needle- nose pliers with wire-cutting blades, useful for getting into small spaces and gripping small nails, screws, nuts, etc. (meets or exceeds ANSI standards)
8-inch diagonal pliers (meets or exceeds ANSI standards)
8-inch groove-joint pliers(meets or exceeds ANSI standards)
7-inch nickel-coated locking pliers are essential for getting a good, solid grip, especially when working in small spaces that don’t allow you to grip with your full strength.
wire cutters
Screwdrivers Wow, you’d never imagine needing a star-drive screwdriver, until you buy that fancy new European dishwasher. Denali’s kit includes a ratcheting handle with a selection of interchangeable bits to provide an exceptional array of screwdrivers in all sizes and head shapes. The ratcheting handle is a nice feature, making it a lot easier to drive screws that are upside down or in tough to see places, where you really don’t want release pressure on the screwdriver handle to keep turning it.
14 flat head: 4, 5, 6, and 7 mm and 3/32-, 1/8-, 5/32-, 3/16- (x3), 7/32-, and 1/4- (x3) inch
9 Phillips head: 1x2, 2x5, and 3x2
3 square head: S1, S2, and S3
10 star head: T6, T7, T8, T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30, and T40
10 hex: 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 mm and 1/8-, 5/32-, 3/16-, 7/32-, and 1/4-inch
4 Pozidriv: PZ0, PZ1, PZ2, and PZ3 Poszidriv screws are similar to Phillips head screws, but are less prone to slippage at high torque and so provide better performance when working with air and power tools. Note that Pozidriv screwdrivers are likely to slip or tear out the screw head when used in Phillips screws.
14 nut drivers
Drill Bits This is interesting, since the kit doesn’t come with a drill. The manufacturers apparently assume that either you have a cordless drill and will appreciate a couple of good bit sets, or that if you don’t have one, you should get one. They’re right. If you don’t have a good, basic, cordless drill, you’ll appreciate it when you do. Check out Amazon's selection of cordless drills.
50-piece chrome vanadium steel 1-inch screwdriver bit set can be used with either a cordless drill or the ratcheting screwdriver included in this kit.
5-piece masonry bit set with steel case: 5/32-, 3/16-, 1/4-, 5/16-, and 3/8-inch
Customer Reviews
Great quality for the price.
I bought this kit 2 weeks ago and have been very satisfied with it. As for the quality of the product, the fiberglass hammer, 4 different type pliers, 2 screwdrivers and bits, 6 wrenches, hex keys and bag are all high/professional quality. The utility knife is just your typical light-weight standard no frills knife but works fine. The drill bits come in steel cases and I've used both and they work fine. A 13 piece titanium drill bit set would cost you $20 at least! The pliers are all chrome vanadium which is the best material I've seen in pliers. They are definitely professional quality. The fiberglass hammer is as good as any fiberglass handled Stanley hammer that I've owned and the tape measure is as good as any Stanley one I've owned as well although it is only 16ft (25ft would have been better). The level is your typical lightweight level but it is magnetic which is great feature and works fine. The bag that this kit comes with is great. Its high quality and has enough...
Great!
Just bought this hand tool kit and am very happy with it. My husband has one but it came in a plastic case that now doesn't hold the tools anymore and most of them are gone anyway. I can't fit any other hammers in the spot where the original hammer was so we can no longer keep them together. The bag this set came with is really nice. It also allows my husband the chance to lose most of these tools and allows me the flexibility to replace them. The hand tools and accessories that came in the case seem very nice and even professional grade. My husband said that they are even better then some of the Stanley tools he has. I went to Lowe's and saw that just the hammer alone was $10 and most of the individual hand tools were $7-10 a piece. I think I got a great deal and my husband thinks he got great tools. Best of both worlds.
Quality better then expected
I was a little concerned about the quality of the set because of the low price, but I am very pleased. They are not top of the line, but perfect for handling small to medium jobs. Screw Driver set is a little lame but the interchangable bits can be used in drills. The drill bit sets are great. They even incluse masonry bits. I've never needed a hex key, and some of the other stuff in here, but all in all, it's a great gift for home-owners.
December 1, 2006
| Helpful Votes: 29 | Rating: 5
Home Repair by Barbara Kavovit known as Barbara K
Home improvement and home repair expert Barbara Kavovit founder of the Barbara K Product Line on US television.
Nurse Tackles a Tool Belt
01.01.70
As a nurse, Beth Allen fixed people's health problems. After taking time off to raise a family, she returned to her fix-it roots -- this time focusing on problems with people's sinks, windows and doors.
Last summer she launched a business as a handywoman -- with a twist. She makes house calls to repair leaky pipes and takes time to explain each step of her projects so that the woman of the house can fix it herself next time. Allen also teaches DIY workshops geared toward women.
Allen got the idea for her new career after spending time running an interior design company. Visiting homes, she realized that many of the women she met had no idea how to do basic home repairs. "I saw there was a need and interest," the 40-year-old suburban Philadelphia resident says.
But having a good idea doesn't translate to instant success. She needed visibility for her new enterprise, HIP Chicks , so she hired a website designer and began using Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. (HIP stands for Home Improvement Projects.) Being unaware of a similar business model, she created a hands-on company that is part service industry and part educational. "I am learning as I go but have the support of a few key smart advisors," she says.
Tomboy Tools hits nail on the head with female fixer-uppers
01.01.70
BANGOR, Maine — When it comes to finding a niche market with Maine’s handywomen, Wendi Gormely seems to have hit the nail on the head.
As Maine’s only saleswoman and independent consultant for Tomboy Tools in Maine, the Bangor native has a lot of territory to cover.
“Being the only one in Maine has its advantages and disadvantages,” said Gormely, who has been with Tomboy almost 11 months. “Disadvantages in that I’m it and I have to do all, but I also have all the potential sales and if they (Tomboy) get any leads on, I’m it as far as contacts.”
Tomboy Tools was started as an online store in 2000 by three women — Sue Wilson, Janet Rickstrew and Mary Tatum — and became a Web-based direct-selling business in 2004.
“The first time I heard of it was a couple years ago through a friend of mine, who heard about it on the Today Show,” recalled Gormely, whose day job is as an administrative assistant at Tyler Technologies. “This is right up my alley because I was looking for a part-time job and this is perfect because I can make my own hours and be my own boss. Plus I’m a single homeowner and do a lot of fix-up and maintenance things around my house all the time.”
A guide to home repair for women offers practical advice on how to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair any area of the house and includes guidance on saving ...
Publisher: Atria
About this book
What's your most important home repair tool? Attitude. Start off believing in yourself, and Allegra provides the rest in Renovating Woman. She'll keep you from making costly mistakes, show you how to do it yourself with style, and help you find a reliable contractor who will soon realize that a renovating woman is one smart lady - so he had better do the job right. Whether you have an old house, a newer house, a brand-new condo, or an ancient apartment, you can be competent and in control. You can put in a ceiling fan, hang gorgeous wallpaper, or stop the drip in the faucet. Why? Because with Allegra Bennett's help, you're a Renovating Woman - a whiz with a hammer, and a whole lot more!
It's the same thing with home repairs—women can do them, we're just used to
writing honey-do lists, waiting for dad to drop by, or calling the super We ...
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
About this book
This is NOT your father's home repair book!And it's not your husband's, your brother's, your boyfriend's, or the guy's next door. Dare to Repair is a do-it-herself book for every woman who would rather be self-reliant than rely on a super or contractor.No matter the depth of your pockets or the size of your home, a toilet will get clogged, a circuit breaker will trip, and a smoke detector will stop working. It's up to you how you'll deal with them -- live in denial, pay the piper, or get real and do it yourself.Dare to Repair demystifies these home repairs by providing information that other books leave out.In Dare to Repair, you'll learn how to:Take the plunge -- from fixing a leaky faucet to cleaning the gutters.Lighten up -- from removing a broken light bulb to installing a dimmer switch.Keep your cool -- from maintaining a refrigerator's gasket to changing the rotation of a ceiling fan.Get a handle on it -- from replacing a doorknob to repairing a broken window.Play it safe -- from...
"It is truly an honor for our organizations to partner with former service men and women and their families to create safe, decent and affordable housing." Today's announcement is the third of weekly grant announcements during The Home Depot
At one point he was arrested for home repair fraud but the felony charge was dropped. His former attorney, Terry Heuel, said his legal woes were typical of a company struggling to stay afloat, with no fraud proved. As his concrete career crumbled,
We're still struggling to secure women's basic right to live.” Nader, who calls herself “a refugee” because her grandparents lost their home in what is now Israel in 1948, attributes much, if not all, of the women's struggle to “the Israeli occupation.
The topics include the repair of historic windows, plaster repair, appropriate color combinations for period homes and drought-tolerant landscaping. Sandy Koepke, an interior and garden designer who has been on HGTV and in numerous magazines,
She's now an apprentice, and the only woman, in large scale repair at Victoria Shipyards. Times are changing and there are more opportunities for women because of programs such as Women in Trades, which starts its next set of classes Oct. 3 at Camosun
Help me name my non profit home repair ministry for widows and single women/moms.?
Aug 15, 2011 by Diane | Posted in Small Business
I'm starting a nonprofit ministry to help widows and single women / mothers with their home repairs. Jacques 1:27 "Religion that God our Father, pure and spotless, to look after orphans and widows in their distress ...
Apollenaire | Aug 19, 2011
Meredith | Aug 22, 2011
Would there be any women here who would cook me a chili cheese hot dog in exchange for a home repair?
Mar 29, 2010 by Richard | Posted in Cooking & Recipes
or lawn service. I am flexible. you need, my needs, I read the book ,../.
I think you and my husband would agree. I could give you guys sabretts chili cheese * and you can sit around a man and do things together while I sit on the computer and answer questions.
The Original Magic 8 Ball BILF | Mar 30, 2010
Of course, being here at six tomorrow. I have some sheet rock work to be made.
Sep 21, 2011 from Jenniffer Mackey
RT @: Cincinnati Bell is proud to partner with Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity to help the men and women who have...
Sep 21, 2011 from Cincinnati Bell
Cincinnati Bell is proud to partner with Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity to help the men and women who have...
Sep 21, 2011 from Jose Mendes
@ thanks for signing me up for random home repair calls. Telling some women I'm not interested in remodeling my bathroom made my day
As a nurse, Beth Allen fixed people's health problems. After taking time off to raise a family, she returned to her fix-it roots -- this time focusing on problems with people's sinks, 
Do-it-herself: Home repair and renovation tips for women: (Can you do it? Yes you can!)
Today on the blog - simple home repair for untechnical women...
RT @: Cincinnati Bell is proud to partner with Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity to help the men and women who have... 
Cincinnati Bell is proud to partner with Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity to help the men and women who have... 
@ thanks for signing me up for random home