Collins complete do it yourself manual

CONTENTS

The home improver of today enjoys the benefits of a highly sophisticated market that recognizes the way ‘do it yourself has developed over the years. He or she has become used to a ready supply of well-designed products and materials that are easy to use and produce first-class results which many a professional would be proud of. Any work of reference for this generation of home improvers must reflect the same high standards in its presentation, depth of information and simplicity of
use. No-one reads a book of this kind from start to finish like a novel in the hope of absorbing all the information in one go. Instead, every reader wants to refer to his or her particular interest or problem without having to extract it from page after page of continuous text. This book has been written and designed to make the location of specific information as easy as possible by dividing the subject matter into clearly defined, colour-coded chapters for easy reference. Every chapter has its
own contents list so that you can find the pages you are looking for, and every page is divided by specially designed features into digestible sections. The book has a detailed index, but to guide you from chapter to chapter, each page has a list of cross-references to refer you to other information related to the task in hand.
Running heads

As a guide to the number of pages devoted to a particular subject, a running head identifies the broad outline of subject matter to be found on each page.
^ Numbers in text

A bold number in the text draws your attention to a particular illustration which will help to clarify the instructions at that point.
• Headings

The main text is divided into sections by clearly identifiable headings so that you can locate specific information or a single stage in the work. It is a useful feature when you want to refresh your memory without having to reread the whole page.
? Colour coding •

Colour-coded bands and margin tabs designate the extent of each chapter for easy identification.
* * Tinted boxes

Tinted boxes are used to separate certain information from the main text. Your attention is drawn to special safety precautions by red-tinted boxes.
Cross-references

There arefewDIY projects that do not require a combination of skills. Decorating a single room, for instance, might also involve modifying the plumbing or electrical wiring, installing ventilation or insulation, repairing the structure of the building and soon. Asa result, you might have to refer to more than one section of this book. To help you locate the relevant sections, a symbol (t>) in the text refers you to a list of cross-references in the page margin. Those references printed in bold type are directly related to the task in hand. Other references which will broaden your understanding of the subject are printed in light-weight type