ESSENTIAL HOME-IMPROVEMENT VIDEOS

The basic home-improvement categories are crowded with would--be instructors who think they’ve got what it takes to teach you how to change a light fixture or faucet, or put up wallpaper. But only a few really do the job right.

Here are the best tapes for the most common home repairs:

Carpentry: Fine Homebuilding Workshop--”Installing Trim” Host Craig Savage demonstrates all the basics of woodworking in this 60-minute tape. He also shows advanced projects for the more adventurous home remodeler.

Electrical: Hometime--Every imaginable electrical repair can be found on this tape, as well as basics of wiring a new structure. Hosts Dean Johnson and JoAnne Liebeler give detailed explanations of each step in this 65-minute tape.

Paint and wallpaper: Hometime--All the basics are covered in this 58-minute tape. The tricky parts are amply demonstrated, and projects are taken from planning to cleanup.

Plumbing: Do-It-Yourself--Hosts Curt Burbick and Avian Rogers demonstrate everything from simple repairs to plumbing your whole house in this thorough 52-minute tape.

Tile: Fine Homebuilding Workshop--Depending on your project, pick the tape on “Countertops, “Walls” or “Floors.” Host Michael Byrne takes you from surface preparation, layout planning and tile selection to beautiful finished job. Each tape is roughly 60 minutes long.