Customer Reviews:
 Building for Dummies April 11, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
I did not find this book particularly useful. OK, it may be for people who have never ever done any building/renovation/fitting job in their house. If you have, this book will not help you much.
 Sarah Beeney Bounces Back... October 7, 2007
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
Ok, so I am a simple chap and not very good at knowing if someone is diddling me so I bought this book to help me when I was recently getting in some people to do work at my house. It actually worked out really well and saved me a lot of time and money.
Handy, Man June 21, 2006
75 out of 84 found this review helpful
Now here's a book that could really come in useful. Admittedly you have to put up with the occasional picture of Ms Beeny scowling threateningly at the camera (implied message to dodgy tradesmen: mess with me and you'll be talking two octaves higher for the rest of your days). And, yes, some of her estimates manage to be simultaneously both vague and strangely precise ("doorknob: 5 to 44"). Nevertheless, this compact little book -- small enough to slip between a builder's arse cheeks -- is bristling with tips that could save you a small fortune. Or at any rate take a good deal of the stress out of dealing with plumbers, electricians, tilers, carpet-layers, glaziers and the like. With immaculate logic Ms Beeny dissects each project into its component elements and pins a time and a price on each. Costings, of course, will vary between different parts of the country. And a few years hence they might well be out-of-date. But hey, it's a start. Let's hope they keep it regularly updated.
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