How to be Handy [hairy bottom not required]: Build Money Saving DIY Skills, Create a Unique Home and Properly Look After Your Stuff

Price: £27.43 - £15.99
(as of Jun 18, 2026 21:33:35 UTC – Details)


***Perfect for first time DIY’ers who need a little hand holding (or anyone who’s scared of trying!) ***

Imagine using your own two hands…

To repair broken things, to restore old favourites, or improve your home. Imagine building new stuff from scratch (a house even!) or even just doing boring old maintenance…

…But you’re afraid you don’t have the skills.

Fear not, because this is a different kind of DIY book. It replaces the ‘do this, then do that’ with real insight. It gently explains the principles of being handy, and how to work stuff out yourself.

You’ll learn how to look at the physical world through ‘practical eyes’ like the professionals do.

There’s nearly 40 years of professional experience as a builder and teacher in this actionable guide to being good with your hands and living a more practical life. It’ll show you how to build your own skills and avoid all the common pitfalls.

You’ll save money using your own head, hands, and heart to create something wonderful, fix something you treasure, maintain something you want to keep forever or build something just for fun.

Learn how to be handy for real, and not just a follower of step-by-step instructions!

When you’re handy, you can do anything…

Start today

From the Publisher

About the author…

Ian is an English builder who’s been self-employed in construction since the tender age of 18.

He was awarded a silver trowel at college for prowess with a trowel, as well as the silver medal, first prize for surveying and levelling, Now a Licentiate member of the City and Guilds Institute of London.

Ian also has a Master of Science degree in Trauma and Disaster Management (to help him better understand his experiences working in East Africa).

Professionally, Ian has built new houses, extensions, restored period houses using traditional lime mortars, underpinned ancient foundations, and restored centuries old roofing, as well as carrying out routine repairs and maintenance work on a variety of properties in the UK and abroad.

Now settled in Norway, he spends his days working for the odd friendly client, tinkering with old things, playing in the fjord at the end of the street, and of course, writing.

And yes, the days are never long enough 🙂

Publisher ‏ : ‎ handycrowd media
Publication date ‏ : ‎ 20 Aug. 2017
Edition ‏ : ‎ Illustrated
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 447 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 8293249056
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-8293249054
Item weight ‏ : ‎ 664 g
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10 – 18 years
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 2.57 x 22.86 cm
Best Sellers Rank: 95,473 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) 5 in Bricklaying & Masonry 6 in Home Improvement Construction 67 in Home Improvement Guides
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