Guide to Looking After Your Property
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More About the Author
Product Description
Book Description
Fully revised and updated guide to buying and maintaining your home by hugely respected author
Product Description
For 10 years Jeff Howell has been answering readers' queries about property through his very popular 'Ask Jeff' column in the Sunday Telegraph. This book, in user-friendly Question and Answer format, addresses all the issues every home owner needs to know. Packed with expert tips, Jeff Howell offers comprehensive and authoritative advice on everything from boilers and builders, to central heating, condensation, damp proofing, dry rot, plumbing and woodworm. Using readers' stories as case histories, this authoritative book is the key to understanding how to maintain your home properly. How do you decide what needs doing and when? How do you find a decent builder? How do you judge if the work has been done to the right standard? All the answers and more are here in this clearly presented, accessible and practical book.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was recommended this book as a " family bible" by a relative and I have to agree with their diagnosis. It operates like a trouble-shooter or FAQ but one that is pleasant to read and dip into even when irrelevant (what IS causing those damp patches in the fifteenth-century farmhouse? who the heck owns one of those?!?). What is refreshing is his skeptical attitude towards the building trade and mortgage/surveying industry and his shocking opinions regarding rising damp: it doesn't exist! He tries to approach things from a scientific aspect and for the most part succeeds - building evidence will always struggle with being chiefly anecdotal. I wish I'd read it before I went housebuying but I'm glad I read it before committing myself to grand repairs.
There are criticisms of this book, however. Because, as I said it operates, like a FAQ, it can be repetitive: "use lime mortar, use lime mortar, use lime mortar"; but this assists in it being used as a reference text rather than read straight through. Additionally, there are few diagrams (new edition may be different) and the solutions given are cursory in detail so you will require other texts to fill in the gaps and help you along if you are as fresh to DIY as me.
The only problem I really have is the book is that I feel he tends to be a little too apprehensive about modern materials. But that's a minor (and inexpert) quibble in an outstanding book.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I wrote the following in 2005, when I was in the middle of house maintenance, of an 1873 house. I was impressed by its general rationality - principles, not recipes.
Very good book; well written. The author has a degree in nuclear engineering and can handle technical ideas. The format is readers' letters -- they could be you -- introduced with Howell's commentaries. The revised version is overdesigned for my taste - many colours, larger format, thinner. It's indexed. The earlier drawings reappear, but smaller. There are some photos.
He emphatically continues his pro-lime mortar & anti-condenser boiler & dislike of PVC-U campaigns -- house owners should know about these things! Good on assessing beam strengths, removing walls, and other structural matters -- he also refers to and recommends organisations. Good material in passing on wood -- e.g. getting your own floorboards cut and drawbacks of chipboard. Individual chapters on soundproofing, hazards [e.g. asbestos], conservatories, self-build etc. Some interesting points are left undecided or unmentioned; is it easy to move radiators? Are lightning conductors needed? What about wallpaper?
He slags off surveyors & trade organisations & legal weaknesses in a satisfying way.
For me, an annoyance is the removal of the entire section on cellars, perhaps because some accountant noticed that not many people have them. However, many old houses do. Howell is pro-drained membranes [he mentioned Triton & Newlath] as opposed to concrete floor on plastic, which often traps water. The only reason I heard of Howell is a chance chat with a man in B&Q who reads the Sunday Telegraph. It's exasperating to think people may wreck their cellars because this is now omitted.
I would have liked information on for example ways to wire [or radio] a house for computers or entertainment, on LED lighting, and humble things like effective doormats to minimise dirt & carpet cleaning.
Anyone who's puzzled over creaking boards, wall cracks, whether chimneys are usable, misted double glazing, damp patches, too much [or too little] heating, whether to extend ... should read this book.
Very good book; well written. The author has a degree in nuclear engineering and can handle technical ideas. The format is readers' letters -- they could be you -- introduced with Howell's commentaries. The revised version is overdesigned for my taste - many colours, larger format, thinner. It's indexed. The earlier drawings reappear, but smaller. There are some photos.
He emphatically continues his pro-lime mortar & anti-condenser boiler & dislike of PVC-U campaigns -- house owners should know about these things! Good on assessing beam strengths, removing walls, and other structural matters -- he also refers to and recommends organisations. Good material in passing on wood -- e.g. getting your own floorboards cut and drawbacks of chipboard. Individual chapters on soundproofing, hazards [e.g. asbestos], conservatories, self-build etc. Some interesting points are left undecided or unmentioned; is it easy to move radiators? Are lightning conductors needed? What about wallpaper?
He slags off surveyors & trade organisations & legal weaknesses in a satisfying way.
For me, an annoyance is the removal of the entire section on cellars, perhaps because some accountant noticed that not many people have them. However, many old houses do. Howell is pro-drained membranes [he mentioned Triton & Newlath] as opposed to concrete floor on plastic, which often traps water. The only reason I heard of Howell is a chance chat with a man in B&Q who reads the Sunday Telegraph. It's exasperating to think people may wreck their cellars because this is now omitted.
I would have liked information on for example ways to wire [or radio] a house for computers or entertainment, on LED lighting, and humble things like effective doormats to minimise dirt & carpet cleaning.
Anyone who's puzzled over creaking boards, wall cracks, whether chimneys are usable, misted double glazing, damp patches, too much [or too little] heating, whether to extend ... should read this book.
30 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Who was it who said: "A person lacking knowledge of soffit boards is but living their life in the shadows." ?
Possibly me. Mr Howell's books have this effect on even the most casual and ignorant reader. I began reading this book on a crowded Central Line Tube at Oxford Circus, by the time I had reached Holborn I was aware that my fellow passengers were straining to read it over my shoulder. Conversation broke out, opinions flowed, soon we were fast friends. Combining a knowledge of his subject with a dry wit and a passion for uncovering the myths, lies and ignorance that permeate UK house maintenance Jeff Howell's latest book consolidates a deserved reputation for straight talking informed by experience and a pan European knowledge base. Written in the form of readers' questions, followed by Mr Howell's answers, makes this an easy book in which to dip casually or pick a subject. I now know why our cistern is constantly dripping and how to fix it. A first for a spanner-phobic such as myself.
I am reliably told by people of all sexual persuasions that possession of practical skills, a willingness to get out of bed and use them, combined with a pair of rugged overalls renders a man (and some women) deeply, physically attractive. In reading this book I feel I have made a start. This guide has the power to get your radiators balanced and render you irresistible to passing strangers. I was exchanging phone numbers by Shepherds Bush. Buy it, read it and wait for the effect.
Possibly me. Mr Howell's books have this effect on even the most casual and ignorant reader. I began reading this book on a crowded Central Line Tube at Oxford Circus, by the time I had reached Holborn I was aware that my fellow passengers were straining to read it over my shoulder. Conversation broke out, opinions flowed, soon we were fast friends. Combining a knowledge of his subject with a dry wit and a passion for uncovering the myths, lies and ignorance that permeate UK house maintenance Jeff Howell's latest book consolidates a deserved reputation for straight talking informed by experience and a pan European knowledge base. Written in the form of readers' questions, followed by Mr Howell's answers, makes this an easy book in which to dip casually or pick a subject. I now know why our cistern is constantly dripping and how to fix it. A first for a spanner-phobic such as myself.
I am reliably told by people of all sexual persuasions that possession of practical skills, a willingness to get out of bed and use them, combined with a pair of rugged overalls renders a man (and some women) deeply, physically attractive. In reading this book I feel I have made a start. This guide has the power to get your radiators balanced and render you irresistible to passing strangers. I was exchanging phone numbers by Shepherds Bush. Buy it, read it and wait for the effect.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Eccentric
I would be rather cautious about following his advice. Howell rubbishes cavity wall insulation and condensing boilers, which is contrary to just about everyone else. Read more
Published 1 month ago by French legal translator
Jeff Howell's wisdom
Jeff Howell talks more sense than most people and this book reflects that. For instance,filling cavity walls, definitely does produce a damp house - seen in my next-door... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mrs. G. L. Mitchell
DIY Helper
This book is more than your average DIY offering. It gives a lot of sound advice on various aspects of common home buildings problems, including covering some of the dubious ideas... Read more
Published on 30 April 2010 by David Andrews
Best Home Book
Having recently purchased my first home I have found this book to be the holy grail of DIY / Property books. Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2010 by K. Arkle
The Sunday Telegraph Guide to Looking After Your Property
Great book,a sensible review of building maintainence.Exposes a lot of the bad practices that housebuilders do and the take ons used by cowboy builders
Published on 3 Feb 2010 by Mr. M. J. Melvin
Not all information is Correct!
I was shown a copy of this book by one of my customers. It is very nicely presented and I can see why consumers would trust the information it contains. Read more
Published on 5 Sep 2009 by Alasdair Mackay
Everything You Need To Know About Maintaining Your Home
Very good book for down to earth advice all all aspects of maintenance work around your property
Published on 23 July 2009 by Mrs. Kermit
OK but not brilliant
The book seems to consist of extracts from the authors news paper column. This leads to a certain amount of repetition. Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2003 by S J S Lethbridge
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