Michael W. Litchfield

In the course of writing 18 books on home renovation and launching Fine Homebuilding magazine, I have visited hundreds of job sites across North America. On every site, I've learned something useful and met builders who, though busy, were willing to explain what they were doing, answer my questions, and allow me to photograph them at work.

If you are renovating a house, you will find this first-hand, field-tested information very helpful. It is specific, often ingenious and as complete as I could make it. My most ambitious book--Renovation 5th Edition--is 656 pages long, covers remodeling from planning to finish surfaces and its 1,000 photos were gleaned from 45,000 taken over the years. It's also very readable.

Armed with the wisdom of hundreds of seasoned builders, you can tackle your next renovation project with confidence. As the old saying goes, "Many hands make work light."