It is richly satisfying to have the ability and confidence to do your own plumbing and wiring installation or repairs. Plumbing and wiring can be really fun, too - once you know the basics.

      Here are some good instructional guides for wiring and plumbing to get you started, to make sure every part of the house is safely done and up to code. Also be sure to read Living Homes: Stone Masonry, Log, and Strawbale Construction for coverage of plumbing and wiring details in stone and log homes.

Recommended Guide Books

Solving Home Plumbing Problems
by Gary Branson

      This is a handy guide to repairing and remodeling the plumbing in your home.

      Plumbing is often a mystery to homeowners. As a result, faucets drip, toilets clog, and pipes leak because of our hesitation to take on a simple repair project or call a plumber.

      This complete guide to fixing the most common plumbing problems shows reluctant homeowners everything they need to know about how to fix and maintain a home plumbing system by following a few basic steps. Written in a jargon-free and accessible style, this comprehensive guide offers a way to save hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars. Solving Home Plumbing Problems covers:

-Plumbing tools
-Repairing faucets
-Dealing with minor emergencies
-Replacing outdated plumbing fixtures
-Working with copper, plastic and steel pipe
-Maintaining drains and fixing common leaks
-Remodeling and adding a second bathroom

Paperback. 143 pages.
Firefly Books. 2004.
ISBN: 1-55297-876-1.

For Pros By Pros
Wiring a House
The systematic, pro-level reference for residential electrical wiring.
by Rex Cauldwell

      A complete, no-nonsense guide to safe residential electrical wiring. First published in 1996, this critically acclaimed reference is revised to account for changes made in the electrical code. Master electrician and home wiring veteran Rex Cauldwell gives you the benefits of his professional expertise along with tips and tricks he's picked up from over 20 years on the job. Recognized as one of the most knowledgeable practical electricians in the country, Cauldwell takes the mystery out of every aspect of wiring a house, from wiring a panel to installing a light switch.

      Writing with a keen attention to safety, Cauldwell's "code-plus" approach to home wiring shows you how to choose the best tools and materials, which materials to avoid, and how to wire any room. You'll learn how to install main and sub service panels, receptacles, GFCIs, simple-to-complex fixtures, and every type of appliance. You'll also find out how to ground a house properly, how to run wire in existing walls with minimal damage, and how to meet and beat national code requirements. New material covers home generators, lightning protection, and wiring "above code." An essential reference for everyone associated with residential construction.

      Softcover, 8-1/2 x 11 in., 256 pages, with color photos and drawings. Published 2002, ISBN 1-56158-527-0