NEW BOOK FROM COLIN ROSS
DIY or Call a Guy: The Bathroom Edition
100+ bathroom problems. One page each. A straight answer on whether to fix it yourself or call someone.
Running toilet, dripping faucet, cracked caulk, a fan that just hums. Some of these are a 20-minute fix. Some turn into a ceiling stain downstairs if you guess wrong. This book tells you which is which before you start.
Paperback · 144 full-color pages · 8 x 10 · Also on Kindle
Every page ends with a verdict
No "it depends." Each problem gets one of three calls, so you know where you stand before you buy a single part.
DIY
Go for it. Most homeowners can handle this one with basic tools and the steps on the page.
DIY with care
Doable, but slow down. The page points out where this job usually goes wrong and what that costs you.
Call a guy
Hire it out. The risk, the tools or the time aren't worth it for most people, and the page tells you why.
What's on every page
Every problem is laid out the same way, so you can flip to it, read it standing in the bathroom, and decide in a few minutes.
- The verdict: DIY, DIY with care, or Call a guy.
- Time: roughly how long it takes.
- Parts: what to pick up before you start.
- Skill level: rated 1 to 5.
- Pro cost: a national price range for hiring it out, so you can weigh your time against the bill and spot a quote that's way off.
Layout shown for illustration.
Also inside
Symptom finder
Don't know what the problem is called? Start with what's going on and it points you to the right page.
Workbook pages
Room to keep notes on your own bathroom and the repairs you've done, so the next fix is easier than the last.
Sources in the back
Where the facts came from, so you can check them yourself.
Built for the paperback
Full color and 8 x 10. Keep it on the shelf or with your tools, and write in the workbook pages.
Why I wrote it
I'm Colin Ross. I run Colin Can Help, a handyman business in Euclid, Ohio, and I've been doing bathroom repairs professionally since 2020, and I've flipped houses too.
When it comes to the bathroom, most people just want someone to tell them straight: can I do this, or should I call somebody?
That's this book. It's not a pitch for my business. Most readers will never be in my service area. It's the answer I'd give a friend standing in their bathroom.
Who it's for
- Homeowners who want to handle the easy stuff and stop paying for 15-minute jobs.
- First-time buyers who just inherited a bathroom full of mystery problems. It makes a practical closing or housewarming gift.
- Landlords and anyone keeping more than one bathroom running.
- Anyone who'd rather know when to stop before a small repair turns into a big one.
Common questions
Do I need tools or experience to use it?
No. The skill rating tells you how hard a job is, and the parts list tells you what to buy. Plenty of pages end in "Call a guy," and that's worth knowing too.
Paperback or Kindle?
The paperback. It's full color, sized at 8 x 10, and has workbook pages you'll actually want to write in. Keep it with your tools.
What if the verdict is "Call a guy" and I'm near Cleveland?
I serve Euclid and Cleveland's east side. See my toilet repair, plumbing, caulking and bathroom painting pages, or text me a photo at 216-800-5883. I don't do drain snaking or sewer work.
Where can I read more for free?
The blog has a lot of bathroom repair articles, and you can see real bathroom jobs on my projects page. Other titles are on my books page.
Know before you start.
100+ bathroom problems, a straight verdict on every one, and a paperback you can keep with your tools.
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