Book excerpt: Have some home improvement notches under your belt--but not feeling quite ready to tackle a major job? You can step up to the big projects...as long as you have this all-color, how-to manual by your side. Whether you're moving an interior wall or adding a shed, these instructions, tips, dozens of large-size photos, and extraordinarily detailed and colorful line drawings will show how to go about making key structural changes to your house. From codes and permits to tools and materials, become privy to the insider information the professionals know. What kind of lumber should you buy? Which nails are right for your job: ring shank or hot-dipped galvanized? How do you demolish a wall without damaging the rest of the house? What's the smart, safe way to construct a garage from the ground up? You won't want to start work without the answers to these and hundreds more important questions about tools, materials, framing systems, post-and-beam, foundations and floors, partitions, barriers, insulation, and much more.