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Safe and sound : a renter-friendly guide to home repair / Mercury Stardust.

by Stardust, Mercury, author.

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Indianapolis, IN : DK Publishing, 2023.

Rental housing -- Maintenance and repair -- Amateurs' manuals.

Dwellings -- Maintenance and repair -- Amateurs' manuals.

Do-it-yourself work.

9780744079074 (hardcover)

0744079071 (hardcover)

222 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm

First American edition.

Hey there, hi! -- Part 1: The basics -- 1: Apartment hunting -- Home sweet home -- Big feelings, little feelings -- Figuring out financing -- Safe as a bug in a rug -- Viewing your hopeful home -- Reading the lease -- 2: Moving in and creating a home -- The checkity checklist -- Construction-grade materials -- Creating a home -- Setting yourself up for success -- 3: Requesting a repair -- What's a work order? -- How to submit a work order -- Emergency requests -- 4: Troubleshooting -- Being a detective -- The Mercury method -- 5: Building a toolkit -- Not too many tools -- Multi-bit screwdriver (11-in-1) -- Utility knife -- Adjustable pliers (12-inch [30.5cm]) -- Allen keys (metric and standard) -- Where are the hammer and tape measure?!? -- Other tools and materials -- Part 2: Bathroom faucets and drains -- The dreaded, no good, stinky clog -- Unclogging a drain clog in a bathroom sink -- The plunger method -- The p-trap method -- The drain snake method -- The never-ending faucet repairs -- Tightening a faucet base -- Repairing low water pressure in a sink -- The faucet aerator -- Cleaning the aerator -- Replacing the aerator -- Replacing the supply lines -- Replacing a faucet cartridge or a stem -- Cleaning faucets and drains -- Tackling a smelly drain -- Replacing or repairing a sink stopper -- Removing and repairing tub plugs -- Caulking -- Removing caulk -- How to apply caulk -- 7: Toilets -- The bubbling gurgling toilet clog -- Plunger-free fixes -- The plunger method -- The auger method -- Mysterious, miscellaneous toilet problems -- Repairing a loose toiled seat -- Replacing/tightening a toiled handle -- Fixing a constantly running toilet -- Installing a bidet -- Fixing a whistling or overflowing tank -- 8: Showers -- So fresh and so clean -- Replacing a showerhead -- Fixing a whistling showerhead -- Fixing a loose shower handle -- Fixing a whistling shower faucet (spout) or tub diverter -- 9: Wall repair, painting, and mounting -- Finding the mythical wall stud -- The magnet method process -- Mercury and the many patches -- Patching small holes -- Patching medium holes -- Making a California patch -- Patching large holes -- The fun-damentals of painting -- Painting a small patch -- Painting a whole wall -- Cutting in -- Painting with a roller -- Shelf improvement (mounting, hanging, and anchoring) -- Hanging frames safely -- Using mounting tape -- Removing a nail -- Using drywall anchors -- Fixing a towel rack -- Peek-a-boo blinds -- Replacing slats -- Replacing mini blinds -- 10: Doors, floors, and cabinets -- The loosey goosey & not so screwy screw holes -- Loose screw holes -- Replacing a broken latch or doorknob -- Fixing a loose doorknob -- Fixing a strike plate -- Moving the strike plate -- Repairing a lock -- Cleaning or replacing a peephole -- Repairing a sliding closet door -- Fixing bifold closet doors -- Fixing an improperly hung cabinet door -- Repairing and parching a hole in a door -- Repairing corrugated carpet -- Repairing and replacing baseboards -- Vinyl baseboards -- Wood baseboards -- Repairing hardwood flooring -- Repairing a chip in laminate flooring -- 11: Electrical repairs -- Before you begin: a safety disclaimer -- Labeling breaker boxes -- Electrical outlet repairs -- Installing outlet spacers -- Outlet replacement -- Little light fixes -- Removing a broken bulb -- Removing a broken mounted light -- Removing a recessed fixture -- Repairing flickering light bulbs -- All around the ceiling fan -- Fixing an unbalanced fan -- Replacing a ceiling fan pull switch -- 12: Mold, pests, and weather prepping -- The awful adventures of mold and mildew -- The never-just-right forecast (weather-protecting your home) -- Stop bugging me! -- 13: Appliance repairs and upkeep -- The icebox investigation: common fridge and freezer troubleshooting -- Reversing the fridge door and handle -- The little oven that couldn't -- The very hungry garbage disposal -- Repairing a garbage disposal -- The wonderful washer of dishes -- The giving unit: air conditioner repairs -- The whirly twirly washer and dryer -- 14: Security and safety -- Go bags for emergencies -- Smoke detectors -- Entrances and exits -- Pets and children -- Technicians in your home -- 15: Moving out of your apartment -- Planning your move -- Getting your deposit back -- Protecting your valuables and home when moving -- A brief checklist -- Cleaning -- Part 3: Resources -- Tenant laws and resources for every state -- Knowledge is power -- Federal laws -- Legal resources.

"Don't panic -- I'm here to help! For too many people, the simple act of contacting a plumber or repair person can feel like a game of chance. As a transwoman, I've discovered (the hard way) that we live in a world with much to fear. If you've ever felt panicked about opening your home to strangers in order to fix a maintenance issue, this book is for you. You deserve to fell empowered to take matters into your own hands -- and it's not as hard as you might think. I'll show you how to tackle the projects that need improvement in your home -- from how to properly fix a clog in your bathroom sink and safely hang things on your walls to patching small and medium drywall holes. Safe and Sound includes: Guidance for over 50 simple home maintenance projects, such as replacing your showerhead and troubleshooting a faulty garbage disposal. Advice tailored to renters to minimize permanent changes. Helpful illustrations and QR code links to videos to help you on your journey. Remember -- a little bit of knowledge can go a long way toward making you feel more safe and in control of your own life." --Back cover.

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