THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 2, 1994 TAG: 9409300075
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARCIA MANGUM, HOME & GARDEN EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
READER'S DIGEST, long known for its do-it-yourself books, has joined forces with The Family Handyman magazine to produce a promising series of home improvement books.
The Family Handyman Outdoor Projects, released last month along with The Family Handyman Easy Repair, is a well-illustrated, clearly written guide to 22 popular outdoor projects.
The book is helpfully organized, with sections on Outdoor Furniture, Small Structures, In the Yard and Two-Day Projects. Each project, ranging from a simple sandbox to an elegant gazebo, has a listing of the necessary tools and materials and additional shopping and cutting lists. All projects have been built and tested by Handyman magazine's staff and readers, according to the book's foreward.
Most projects have nicely written introductions with helpful suggestions, such as with the multipurpose yard shed. The author notes that the shed's extended eaves provide useful protected space for storing firewood, canoes, utility trailers, lawn furniture or rabbit hutches. ``They also can shelter activities like refinishing furniture, washing the dog, or just resting your weary bones,'' it says. But the plans also can be altered to eliminate one or both eaves if you don't have enough space.
Most projects also have helpful diagrams, and the book has more than 500 color photos.
There were a couple of problems stemming from the fact that the book is essentially a collection of projects from The Family Handyman magazine, which circulates monthly to more than 3 million do-it-yourselfers. Federal guidelines for children's play equipment have been updated since The Family Handyman designed and built its backyard playground. Instructions for the project were revised to conform to new standards, but rather than rebuild a new playground for the picture, the book includes a confusing note about the changes.
Similarly, the book apparently used old black and white art from the magazine to illustrate deck building, rather than reshooting in color. The shortcut stands out in the otherwise attractive book.
The book doesn't include any cost estimates for its projects, probably because costs vary greatly depending on where you live and what lumber you choose. Still, some guidance would've been helpful.
There is a useful lumber guide at the back of the book, explaining qualities of woods. It's not extensive, but it will help the beginner.
Overall, the book keeps its projects and instructions simple and clear. Unsuspecting couch potatoes may find themselves out in the yard hammering and sawing before they know what hit them. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
``The Family Handyman Outdoor Projects'' contains 22 projects in 190
pages. Published by The Reader's Digest Association Inc., it sells
for $19.95.
Photo
The arbor and swing is one of 22 projects in the book.
by CNB