Books

Books : reviews

Gene Logsdon.
The Low-Maintenance House.
Rodale Press. 1987

When Gene Logsdon moved back to his hometown and had a house built for himself and his family, he designed low maintenance into it wherever he could. He wanted to get off the treadmill of playing Mr. Fix-it every weekend, because, as he says, “The only thing I like to fix is a good lunch.”

In pursuit of the low-maintenance house, Gene has learned many important things about products and techniques that can make all the difference in how much time and money home maintenance will cost. Take advantage of Gene’s experience and the many tips and facts he has learned from building professionals, products manufacturers, tradespeople, and the editors of Rodale’s Practical Homeowner magazine, including:

•paints that make walls easier to clean and paints that hide dirt
•the longest-lasting floorcoverings
•rugs that take a beating
•simple preventive maintenance for longer-lasting appliances and heating/cooling systems
•the best roofing materials for the long run
•alternatives for members of the I-Hate-to-Paint Society
•the most durable siding materials: aluminum versus steel versus vinyl
•lawn grasses that need less mowing
•the sure signs of a well-built piece of furniture