Paula Lamb

Paula set up her own building company several years ago when she realised that most women would prefer to hire a woman to work in their house! MRS FIXIT is the name of Paula's highly successful South London company and of her first book, a comprehensive DIY guide for the complete beginner. MRS FIXIT will be published by Collins Reference in October 2005.

Mrs Fixit is the ultimate reference guide for domestic repair and renovation. Full of easy-to-follow expert advice, this handbook will provide those interested in home improvements - or those wanting to increase the value of a property for resale - with the basic DIY skills and guidance to get the job done. Baffled by the fundamentals of tiling? Want to put up a shelf? Or just want to call in the professionals? Mrs Fixit is an invaluable reference for women wishing to tackle key DIY tasks around the home. The fascination with DIY is growing year on year, with mainly women accounting for the 33 per cent growth in the DIY market in the past few years. An increasing amount of time and money is spent on home improvements, and particularly women buy 40 per cent of DIY products. This stylish, modern, user-friendly book demystifies DIY and empowers female readers to try out home improvement solutions as seen on TV and in style magazines. Contents include: DIY basics Organising and building the essential tool kit Health and safety tips Drilling techniques - hanging mirrors, fitting smoke alarms, drilling holes and the tricks of flat pack construction Hanging a new door and repairing cracked glass Preparing surfaces for staining and staining existing floors Fundamentals of tiling Painting and decorating techniques Plumbing and wiring basics Hiring a builder/tradesperson