Three new home-improvement books worth reading

Each month, a slew of new home-improvement books hit the shelves. While they’re all informative in some way, not all catch readers’ attention. Here are three recent releases that are worth a look.

•If you’re sending a child off to college this fall, or know someone who is housecleaning-challenged, or just want a handy reference on caring for virtually everything in your home, pick up Good Housekeeping’s “The Complete Household Handbook” (Hearst Books, $24.95).

Brief, bright references on everything from basic home repair to efficient dishwasher loading are easy to look up and clearly explained. There are laundry tips, decorating basics, dishwashing advice, instructions on how to repair a leaky roof, how to organize and store clutter — even how to make a bed. This is the kind of cornerstone reference everyone should have on the bookshelf.

•Homeowners who are tired of looking at the same drab kitchen, but have little time or money for renovations, will like Taunton Home’s “Kitchen Makeovers” (The Taunton Press, $20.50). Quick and cost-effective kitchen solutions, most of which can be completed in a weekend, are presented in full color.

The lightweight, softcover edition is easy to tote around and prop open while painting cabinets or retiling countertops. It covers the basics, such as what tools to purchase, and offers simple but effective design solutions to common problems like storage. Taunton Home also has two companion books in the series, “Bathroom Makeovers” and “Garage Solutions,” which retail for the same price.

•For those who are thinking of buying or building a new home, “The Modular Home” by Andrew Gianino (Storey Publishing, $24.95 softcover, $34.95 hardcover) is well worth a look. Modular homes — houses that are partially preassembled at a factory and transported to the building site for installation — have come a long way in the past 25 years.

Chances are, you live near or have passed by a modular home and not known it. If you’re unfamiliar with this building option, or you still think of modular homes as small, cramped buildings that come in two colors, look again. Better yet, pick up this book, which has full-color examples of home styles, floor plans, information on choosing and working with general contractors and so on.

HOME TIP: When mowing a lawn on a slope, always mow across the slope rather than up and down. It ensures an even cut, gives you better control of the mower, and is far safer.