Step-by-Step How-To Guides.
For the Homeowner Who Wants to Know.
Short, focused guides to the jobs most homeowners face — written from forty years of doing this work in my own houses, not from a contractor's sales playbook.
Hammond Re-Engineered DIY Guides
No. 1 · ~55 pages
Replace a Toilet
A Step-by-Step Guide
Replace a toilet without calling a plumber. A step-by-step plan from shutoff to wax ring to final tank bolt — with the sequence mistakes that cause leaks weeks later.
No. 2 · ~75 pages
Diagnose a Wet Basement
Five Causes in Order of Cost
A wet basement is almost never the thing homeowners first assume. This book walks the five real causes in order of cost — so you fix the $4 problem before you spend $14,000 on an interior drain tile.
No. 3 · ~45 pages
Fix a Running Toilet
Flapper, Fill Valve, Chain — In That Order
Stop the phantom flush, the midnight hiss, and the $200 water bill. A running toilet is one of three parts, and each takes 15 minutes and under $20 to fix. This book walks the order.
No. 4 · ~50 pages
Replace a Bathroom Faucet
Without Destroying the Vanity
Replace a bathroom faucet in one afternoon without cracking the vanity, smearing plumber's putty on the countertop, or having a leak behind the drywall in six months. The sequence that works.
No. 5 · ~65 pages
Diagnose a Ceiling Leak
It's Never Where It Drips
A water stain on the ceiling is almost never above where it shows. This book walks the four possible sources and the tracing technique that finds the actual leak before you cut the wrong drywall.
No. 6 · ~55 pages
Replace a Kitchen Faucet
Around the Disposal, Filter, and Sprayer
Replace a kitchen faucet in a single afternoon — around the disposal, the filter, and the sprayer. The sequence that keeps you from being stuck under the sink at 9 PM on a Sunday.
No. 7 · ~48 pages
Unclog a Drain Without Chemicals
What Actually Works and What Makes It Worse
Chemical drain cleaners eat your pipes, lie about working, and leave the clog in place. This book walks the actual fix — plunger, snake, and wet/dry vac, in the order that works, for kitchen and bathroom.
No. 8 · ~44 pages
Stop an Under-Sink Leak
Trap, Supply Line, Shutoff — In That Order
Four places an under-sink leak comes from, ranked by how cheap they are to fix. Work down the list and you'll stop the drip in an afternoon.
No. 9 · ~50 pages
Replace a Garbage Disposal
Wiring, Mounting, and the Plumbing Tree
A jammed, leaking, or just-tired garbage disposal is a 90-minute DIY replacement — including the electrical and the dishwasher hookup. This book walks the whole tree.
No. 10 · ~68 pages
Replace an Electric Water Heater
Drain, Disconnect, Swap, Fill, Energize
Replace an electric water heater in a single Saturday — drain, disconnect, swap, fill, energize. The sequence that keeps the job from turning into two trips to the hardware store and a cold Sunday shower.
No. 11 · ~55 pages
Replace a Sump Pump
Before the Water Rises
A sump pump fails when you need it most — during a storm, at night, often during a power outage. Replace it on a dry day, on your schedule, in under two hours.
No. 12 · ~50 pages
Replace a Shower Head and Valve
Hand-Tight to Leak-Free
Swap a shower head in ten minutes. Replace a shower valve in two hours — with the one fitting that decides whether the tile comes off or stays. This book walks both jobs.
No. 13 · ~44 pages
Replace an Outdoor Sill Cock
Frost-Free, Leak-Free, Year One
A leaking or frost-split outdoor faucet is a two-hour DIY fix if it's frost-free. This book walks the sill-cock swap and the winterizing mistake that cracks them in year one.
No. 14 · ~55 pages
Replace an Outlet or Light Switch
Standard, GFCI, and What Goes Wrong
The most common home electrical job — a dead or failed outlet, a broken switch, an upgrade to GFCI. Ten minutes when you know what you're doing. The book walks what to check first, how to wire it, and what makes it fail.
No. 15 · ~50 pages
Replace a Light Fixture
Old Box to New Fixture Without Sparks
Swap any ceiling or wall light fixture in 30 minutes. This book walks the existing-box inspection, wire matching, and mounting — with the three specifics that surprise first-timers.
No. 16 · ~55 pages
Install a Ceiling Fan
Brace Box, Wire Up, Balance the Blades
A ceiling fan is a fixture + a 30-pound spinning motor. The installation needs a fan-rated brace box and careful wiring. This book walks both from scratch, including the remote module and the balance kit.
No. 17 · ~44 pages
Install a Dimmer Switch
Match the Load, Match the Bulb
Upgrade a light switch to a dimmer in 15 minutes. The trick is matching the dimmer to the bulb type (LED, incandescent) and the wiring configuration (single-pole, 3-way).
No. 18 · ~55 pages
Install a Smart Thermostat
Wiring It Right the First Time
A smart thermostat install is thirty minutes IF you have a C-wire. This book walks the wiring, the C-wire adapter options if you don't, and the HVAC compatibility checks that save you from fried equipment.
No. 19 · ~50 pages
Hardwire a Smoke and CO Detector
Interconnected, Code-Compliant, Peace of Mind
Replace or install hardwired, interconnected smoke and CO detectors. The code-compliant sequence, brand differences, and the interconnect wire that makes them alarm together.
No. 20 · ~60 pages
Diagnose a Mystery Smell
A Homeowner's Nose-to-Source Guide
House smell that won't go away? There are six common sources. This book walks the investigative method that finds which one.
No. 21 · ~55 pages
Patch Drywall
Nail Pops to Fist Holes to 2x2 Patches
Drywall patching, from nail pops to fist holes to 2x2 patches. The mudding technique and feathering method that makes the repair disappear under paint.
No. 22 · ~65 pages
Paint a Room the Right Way
Prep Is Eighty Percent of the Job
A room painted right looks great for ten years. A room painted wrong looks bad for one. The difference is prep — taping, patching, priming, and the right roller.
No. 23 · ~50 pages
Texture-Match a Drywall Repair
Orange Peel, Knockdown, Smooth
After patching drywall on a textured wall, the patch is smooth against textured surroundings — and visible. This book walks texture matching for orange peel, knockdown, and popcorn.
No. 24 · ~55 pages
Install Baseboard and Shoe Molding
Mitered, Coped, and Caulked
Install baseboard trim that tucks tight to the floor and looks right at the corners. This book walks the mitered corner, the coped corner, the scribe trick for uneven floors, and the caulk-and-paint finish.
No. 25 · ~50 pages
Fix a Squeaky Floor
Three Root Causes, Three Real Fixes
A squeaky floor is friction between two wooden parts that used to fit together. This book walks three root causes (subfloor to joist, subfloor to top, and top floor board to board) and the specific fix for each.
No. 26 · ~60 pages
Replace a Section of Damaged Hardwood
Board Removal Without Collateral Damage
Replace water-damaged or gouged hardwood planks without tearing up the whole floor. This book walks the careful cut, the tongue-and-groove removal trick, and the stain match.
No. 27 · ~65 pages
Install LVP in One Room
Prep, Layout, Click, Trim
Luxury vinyl plank is the most DIY-friendly flooring on the market. Click-lock installation over a level subfloor takes a weekend. This book walks prep, layout, and the three trim cuts that finish the job.
No. 28 · ~55 pages
Regrout a Tile Floor
And Fix the Tile That's About to Crack Next
Cracked, discolored, or missing grout is a leak waiting to happen. This book walks removal of old grout, replacement with matched color, and sealing — plus the hairline-cracked tile fix that most people miss.
No. 29 · ~60 pages
Replace a Dishwasher
Disconnect, Remove, Install, Commission
A dishwasher replacement is three connections (water, drain, power) and one fit. This book walks the full swap in about 90 minutes — including the high-loop requirement that prevents backflow.
No. 30 · ~60 pages
Replace a Range Hood or OTR Microwave
Venting, Mounting, Powering
A range hood or over-the-range microwave mounts on a cabinet bracket, connects to 120V power, and vents either outside or recirculates. This book walks both types.
No. 31 · ~55 pages
Fix a Dryer Vent Fire Hazard
Why Your Dryer Takes Two Cycles
A clogged dryer vent is a top-5 cause of home fires. It also doubles your drying time and kills dryer life. This book walks inspection, cleaning, and replacement of the full vent run.
No. 32 · ~44 pages
Level a Washing Machine
Stop the Shake, Save the Floor
A washer that shakes isn't broken — it's unlevel. Thirty minutes with a wrench and a level stops the walking, the thumping, and the floor damage.
No. 33 · ~70 pages
Diagnose an Electrical Problem Safely
Breaker, Outlet, or Device — In That Order
A dead outlet, a tripping breaker, a flickering light — each has three possible causes, in a specific order. This book walks safely through the diagnosis before you call an electrician.
No. 34 · ~44 pages
Rehang a Sagging Interior Door
Hinges, Shims, Square
A door that rubs, sticks, or won't latch usually has three possible fixes, none requiring new hinges. This book walks the shim trick, the longer hinge screw, and the strike-plate adjustment.
No. 35 · ~50 pages
Replace a Deadbolt or Install a Smart Lock
Keyway, Backset, Strike Plate
A new deadbolt is 20 minutes with a screwdriver. A smart lock adds 15 minutes for batteries and app setup. This book walks both plus the backset gotcha that stops first-timers.
No. 36 · ~45 pages
Weatherstrip Doors and Windows
Air-Seal the Easy Thousand Dollars
Air leaks around doors and windows are the single biggest energy waste in most homes. This book walks the $30-per-door fix that saves a thousand dollars over a heating season.
No. 37 · ~55 pages
Clean and Seal a Deck
From Graying Wood to Showroom Finish
A weathered gray deck is months from serious rot. Cleaning and sealing restores the wood and adds 5 years to its life. This book walks the weekend project.
No. 38 · ~60 pages
Replace Rotted Fascia
Cut Back to Solid, Flash It Right
Rotted fascia behind failing gutters is the classic cause of roof-line damage. This book walks the cut-back, the new board, and the flashing that prevents the rot from returning.
No. 39 · ~45 pages
Patch a Section of Gutter
Leak-Free Without Replacing the Whole Run
A small leak, hole, or seam failure in a gutter doesn't need whole-gutter replacement. $10 of patch material and 30 minutes on a ladder fixes most gutter problems.
No. 40 · ~50 pages
Replace Exterior Caulk and Sealant
The Right Product for Every Joint
Exterior caulk fails on a 5-10 year cycle. Replacing it prevents water damage to siding, trim, and the framing behind. This book walks the product choice and the application for every exterior joint.
See What These Jobs Look Like in Real Life
Personal photos of repairs and remodels I've done in my own homes and rentals — the same jobs covered in these guides, done by me.
Bigger Project? There's a Full Book.
DIY guides cover one job at a time. For a room-scale remodel, see the full-length books on kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.