Information really is at your fingertips, whether...

Information really is at your fingertips, whether thumbing through pages or tapping at the computer keyboard. This column will help direct you, both at the bookstore and on the Internet, to sources that will make life easier in and around the home.

The WORD:

Mr. Fix-It: Andy Pargh’s “The Gadget Guru’s Make-It-Easy Guide to Home Repair” ($10, Warner Books, 1997).

Make it simple: Pargh, who’s been the new-products and how-to reporter on NBC’s “Today Show,” says home repair shouldn’t be daunting. He writes, “If I can do it, so can you” and makes good on his promise.

His chatty style puts at ease the reader who might have been unhinged by such tasks as repairing electrical outlets and wiring. Pargh gets simplistic, even describing basic tools, but this hold-your-hand approach can be helpful for the true novice.

The 260-page book is divided into five sections. In the first, Pargh takes you through each room, explaining concepts from how water gets around to what’s happening with the heating system. In part three, he tells how to solve more than 100 common household problems, such as ways to stop squeaking floors and staircases and what can be done with a warped refrigerator door (hey, it could happen).

Seeing is believing: The book benefits from dozens of illustrations supporting Pargh’s explanations of how things work and how to keep them working. These aren’t complicated technical drawings, but rudimentary graphics that even the dimmest bulb should find illuminating.

The WEB:

All-purpose: HouseNet (https://www.housenet.com) suggests it’s a one-stop Internet resource for the home and garden, and it pretty much delivers. Katie and Gene Hamilton, authors of 14 home improvement books, run this site, and they’ve made it remarkably comprehensive.

The home page is easy to maneuver, not a given when roaming the Web. The Hamiltons describe HouseNet as “Your Online Neighborhood,” and they make it a cozy stroll through sections such as Home Decorating, Lawn and Garden and Home Improvement. Visitors are called “neighbors”--too cute, but it does reflect HouseNet’s point of view.

Save cash: Besides the usual handyman and green-thumb suggestions, this site offers good info on do-it-yourself jobs. It tells you what to expect and how much money could be saved by not hiring a contractor.

An example is a short section on tiling the bathroom floor. HouseNet points out that a 50-square-foot job would cost about $370 if a professional were brought in. But if you’re willing to spend “a good day’s work” (about 10 hours) on your knees, you could do it for $110.

The Hamiltons have also compiled dozens of articles from various sources and have written several. There are practical ones, such as how to rejuvenate wooden floors (pesky dark spots usually come out with vinegar) and some more fanciful. A recently highlighted piece describes the best way to hang outdoor holiday lights.

Wanna buy?: The site turns commercial with the Shopping Center, a page featuring new products. Here you’ll find plenty of ads and item descriptions as HouseNet sponsors hope to get your dollars.