Book excerpt: 1001 Do-It-Yourself Hints & Tips covers the basics of keeping the household in safe, working order inside and outside. There are tips on repairing damaged tile, plaster, and wallboard; cleaning a water heater; silencing squeaky stairs and floors; patching the roof; installing gutters and fixing gutters that leak; replacing wood clapboard and repairing timeworn vinyl or aluminum siding; and weatherproofing drafty doors and windows. 1001 Do-It-Yourself Hints & Tips is also packed with suggestions for improving the look of your home. The easy-to-follow instructions for painting and wallpapering are just the start. You'll also discover how to bring order to kitchens, closets, workshops, and storage spaces; strip and refinish furniture; reupholster, recane, or rewicker chairs; install wainscoting; and replace a ceiling fixture or put in track lighting. Home security is also covered with essential how-tos on installing home alarms, dead-bolt locks, and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.