Editorial Reviews

. This heavily illustrated, all-in-one guide walks you through each step of construction in such detail that you can use it to build your own house! Clear instructions along with 1,500 photos and illustrations thoroughly cover every stage of construction and remodeling, from planning and site preparation to interior finishing..

. Great for do-it-yourselfers, professional house builders and contractors and students, this A-Z guide has all the task-simplifying details needed for each project, logically organized according to the stages of building--along with important safety precautions. The authors even include valuable tips on buying a new home--what to look for and how to avoid costly mistakes..

. Includes such diverse projects as:.
.
* Kitchen and bathroom remodeling.
* Installing solar heating.
* Termite prevention.
* Installing skylights.
* Constructing fences, decks, and patios.
* Framing walls.
* Pouring concrete slabs.
* Installing windows and doors.
* Craft custom cabinets.
* Panel rooms.
* Repair damaged drywall.
* Fix a leaky roof.
* Lay ceramic tile.
* and much more!.

. NEW TO THIS EDITION: latest tools and devices, new methods of utilizing wood in construction, new methods and materials, steel framing in residential work, and much more.. (20041101)

Customer Reviews

Just What I needed to Know, 2004-11-25
by John Matlock (Winnemucca, NV)

The project I'm working on right now in the hundred year old house I bought is refinishing some hardwood floors. So first I turned to the index to see what they said about doing that task. It was there. The description was rather short, but exactly what I needed to know.

I then turned to how to install a toilet, yup, it was there too. So was wiring, framing walls, building a stair way, roofing, venting gas appliances, and there's a section on solar heating systems. In short, I couldn't find anything about building a house that wasn't covered (except for finding the money to cover the cost). If you're going to build a house, or have one built, I can't recommend any book higher than this one.

Great overview of construction, 1999-10-31

This book is a great overview of construction - it covers building stages ranging from the foundation to framing to roof details to types of siding available. Some electrical basics discussed, tips and tricks to keep in mind -- overall a good, lucid, well-thought out book that can get you started with construction.

Grassroots info on building your own home, 1999-04-01

From tools to termites, this book is an excellent reference tool for the construction novice (the person who is a neophyte to the trade, yet yearns to build their own home). This is a fine jumping-off point to more trade-specific references. It has given me the confidence to build my own house, even though I can't swing a hammer without hitting my thumb. Detailed drawings and illustrations complement a text that works from the "ground floor" up (forgive the pun) to the finishing touches aimed at the asthetic level.