Construction Books - Page 12

How to Build Your Dream Cabin in the Woods: The Ultimate Guide to Building and Maintaining a Backcountry Getaway

J. Wayne Fears

List Price: $22.95 By: The Lyons Press Amazon Marketplace: 19 new & used starting at $6.23

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Excellent 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I bought and read at least 5 different books on cabins and this one by far was the best, most informative and hence most useful of them all.

Building your dream cabin in the woods 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

The book was very helpful. It was packed with much needed information for would be cabin builders. The photos could have been better and there wasn't alot of actual building or construction information about cabins. It did make me think about most of what has to be done if your really going to build a cabin some where. There were lots of adresses for places you can go to to get additional information about building and owning a cabin.

Woth every cent! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

If you are interested in building a cabin one day, already own a cabin, or simply a dreamer like me, this book will be most beneficial to you.

I have read a few books on cabins and this one is by far the best. I recieved this book less than a week ago and had all 200 pages or so read in two days, and I've only finished a few books to the end in my life time.

I highly suggest this book. Everything about it is practical and not one sided.

Editorial Review:

For people who want to build a log cabin or are just dreaming about it.

Setting Tile (Fine Homebuilding)

Michael Byrne

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Taunton Amazon Marketplace: 90 new & used starting at $1.79

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Michael Byrnes's Work is Excellent 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

Michael Byrne's work in both his book "Setting Tile" and his DVD "Tiling Floors with Michael Byrne" are excellent resources for beginners, and were I an experienced tile setter, I would say so for those folks, too.

As a complete novice I recently completed my first tile project, re-doing my bathroom, some 50 square feet. In my opinion it turned out very well considering it was a first time effort. I relied heavily on Mr. Byrnes's works. That would be small by most accounts, but let me assure you, for me, it was large. I am in the process of doing another 500 square feet of work on a plywood substrate. After that I have another 500 feet downstairs on a concrete slab to do.

He makes it simple for anyone to understand. These works will remain life-long resources in my personal library.

While it is not possible to cover everything in any works like these, some areas I would suggest for improvement are some more clarification on areas around door jams in terms of doing the tiling around those, trimming them. More information on toilet removal and installation would have been helpful. The toilet borders on plumbing and that is a subject unto itself though. One more area that would be helpful is the area of cementitious backerboard. There are several kinds on the market and each has its own idiosyncracies.

But if one is considering undertaking a project like this, you can always rely on Amazon.com for additional material.

Works by Taunton Press, the publisher of these media are also recommended. But again, no one resource can be everything. And finally, there is no substitute to finding reliable people to talk things through.

Again, I rate Mr. Byrnes's work as 5 Star.

Editorial Review:

A beautiful tile job can make a room. And now with the help of this book and new, readily available materials, you can design and install your own tile floors, walls, countertops and shower stalls. All the up-to-date information you need is right here.

Stonescaping Idea Book (Taunton's Idea Book Series)

Andrew Wormer

Amazon Price: $10.17 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Taunton Amazon Marketplace: 51 new & used starting at $6.45

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Gardening & Horticulture -> Landscape
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Gardening & Horticulture -> Outdoor & Recreational Areas

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The right kind of stone and how you incorporate it in your landscape and garden can make all the difference. Stone, a broad term that includes pavers, fieldstones, bricks, rocks and boulders, and stone veneer, can be used to create a distinct yet practical component to any yard. And with the variety of natural and manufactured stone products widely available today, incorporating stone in the landscape is no longer out of reach.

Stonescaping Idea Book showcases a wide range of inspiring and practical ideas for using stone in all types of landscape settings and for all budgets and regions of the country. Along with tried-and-true designs for inviting walkways and beautiful walls, new ways of using stone in gardens and patio spaces are also presented. You’ll discover ideas for creating graceful streams, waterfalls, or even simple fountains that will help transform your backyard into a private retreat. And you’ll find a wide range of outdoor living spaces that family and friends can enjoy for years to come. As the examples in the book demonstrate, there is a world of stone to explore; this book will help get you started on the right path.

Topics covered include:
Patios & Terraces
Paths, Walks & Steps
Walls
Pools & Ponds
Seating & Sculpture

New Rooms for Old Houses: Beautiful Additions for the Traditional Home (Nat Trust for Historic Preserv)

Frank Shirley

Amazon Price: $26.40 List Price: $40.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Taunton Amazon Marketplace: 34 new & used starting at $19.99

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The most popular American house styles today are still the classics from yesterday--Capes, Bungalows, Victorians and Federals. The perennial struggle, however, is how to best live in them with our changing needs. Often, we need more space. The likely solution? Add on. The challenge? How to do it right.

Published in conjunction with The National Trust for Historic Preservation, NEW ROOMS FOR OLD HOUSES by renowned architect Frank Shirley contains more than 300 full-color photos. It is a beautiful design guide and essential resource for anyone who loves classic American houses or is considering expanding an old home.

Through words and pictures, Shirley shows how to enlarge a home without sacrificing the charm and character of the original structure. Using the guiding principle of “harmony,” Shirley walks readers through the four cornerstones of design on which, he believes, all old house expansions should be based: balance, public and private areas, the careful use of transitions, and the choice of appropriate materials.

Packed with photos, both before and after shots, and architectural drawings, NEW ROOMS FOR OLD HOUSES is a fascinating tour through the golden age of architecture.

The Complete Japanese Joinery

Hideo Sato, Yasua Nakahara

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Hartley and Marks Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 14 new & used starting at $17.43

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

This is a really neat book 4 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

This book is really neat--definitely worth $16. There are dozens and dozens of joints detailed but almost all of them are for framing buildings. Even so, these multitude of ideas presented can really start the creative process for furniture makers, like myself. In fact, this book provided a joint that solved a problem that I had dwelled on for months. Without this book, I never would have thought of this joint.

Most of the joints described are described well. But you will need to read the material carefully because some of the joints are quite complex. A lot of the joints are described with "drafting style" drawings--a front view, side view and top view. The book could benefit from more drawings that are in perspective.

The description of the use of Japanese tools is brief. In fact, if I were the publisher I'd delete "Japanese Tool Use" from the title because this book really doesn't focus much on tool use. Yeah, it's covered but there are other, more detailed texts n the topic.

At times, the text is awkward. If I recall correctly, this book was translated from Japanese, which likely accounts for the awkward phrases.

The Complete Book of Birdhouse Construction for Woodworkers

Scott D. Campbell

Amazon Price: $3.50 List Price: $3.50 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Dover Publications Amazon Marketplace: 60 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Not so complete guide 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Don't expect to open this book and start building birdhouses right away. There are very few diagrams or pictures, mostly detailed discussions of bird house attributes. This is not the book for children or first time builders since the author assumes the reader is already a woodworker. However, careful reading will reveal a lot of useful information, making this a welcome addition to my "how to" library.

Basic design, but provides excellent sizing tables 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

At first I thought I had purchased a bulletin, because the book is not very substantial, but upon examining the book, it contains some valuable tables on the proper dimensions of the bird houses (depth, width, height, material, hole size, etc).

Editorial Review:

Expert and inexpensive guide to building 7 wooden birdhouses includes detailed coverage of wood selection, hanging and supporting birdhouses, inspection and cleaning, proper placement, attracting specific species, construction of pest guards, and more. Step-by-step instructions, clear diagrams. Only simple hand tools are needed! 63 illustrations.

Sustainable Construction: Green Building Design and Delivery, Second Edition

Charles J. Kibert

Amazon Price: $60.00 List Price: $75.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: US Green Building Council Amazon Marketplace: 57 new & used starting at $54.30

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The green building movement has come a long way in a short time. Responding to this exponential growth, with its attendant technological as well as aesthetic developments, Sustainable Construction: Green Building Design and Deliver, Second Edition guides construction and design professionals through the process of developing commercial and institutional high-performance green buildings in today's marketplace.

In this revised edition, Charles Kibert delivers a detailed, and passionate, overview of the entire process of green building, covering the theory, history, state of the industry, and best practices in green building. Kibert uses not only the dominant LEED assessment system, but includes such newer ones as Green Globes and several noteworthy building assessment systems from other countries. Sections introduce the background of the green building movement and walk you through such aspects as the background of high-performance green building design, green-building assessment, the green building process, and ecological design.

Broad enough to cover the needs of faculty and students in architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, interior design, and construction management, yet focused enough to serve as a reference for building owners and buyers of construction services, Sustainable Construction is a comprehensive look at an emerging process that is environmentally sounds while making good economic sense.

Content from this book is available as two online continuing professional education courses at http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-320255.html#life_cycle_assessment and http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-320255.html#green_building.  WileyCPE courses are available on demand, 24 hours a day, and are approved by the American Institute of Architects.

Residential Energy: Cost Savings and Comfort for Existing Buildings

John Krigger

List Price: $30.00 By: J. Krigger Amazon Marketplace: 1 new & used starting at $223.30

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Consider "Insulate and Weatherize" Instead 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Consider starting with "Insulate and Weatherize: Expert Advice from Start to Finish" by Bruce Harley instead which is a more practical "Go Do It" book with lots of photographs. "Residential Energy" does have more formulas and the like.

Useful, but perhaps better resources available 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book might be useful for someone just digging into the issues of residential heating and cooling. It's presentation format doesn't presume the reader has much prior knowledge of the material, which dovetails nicely with the medium-level details of the material. I consider it a pretty decent overview, but by the time I had read it, other materials I had covered made this book redundant.

Editorial Review:

Residential Energy is the best book available on home energy conservation. This book introduces readers to a home's parts, before explaining all the important possibilities for energy conservation. Readers will learn that effective energy conservation requires an integrated approach that identifies the biggest sources of energy waste.

Residential Energy is the perfect reference manual for: building inspectors, energy auditors, weatherization technicians, carpenters, heating and air-conditioning specialists, insulation contractors, plumbers, electricians, libraries, and home improvement enthusiasts.

Practical Electrical Wiring: Residential, Farm, Commercial and Industrial: Based on the 2008 National Electrical Code (Practical Electrical Wiring: Residential, Farm, Commercial & Industr)

Herbert P. Richter, F. P. Hartwell

Amazon Price: $44.07 List Price: $69.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Park Publishing, Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 34 new & used starting at $43.99

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great book for future electrician! 4 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book while in Iraq to study before I get out of the army and try to get under an apprenticeship. This book has helped me learn a LOT about the trade of inside wireman and the basic fundamentals of electricity from fomulas to installation of panel boxes to wiring an entire house and to which lamps will give the best lighting effect in a room. I am really looking forward to learning more about the trade. So far I have read it once and am already half way thru for my second time around. I highly recommend this book however, what I have learned about electrical is only from this book so I do not have a comparison.

Editorial Review:

Critical revisions in technical topics driven by emerging technology and code changes comprise this truly comprehensive reference that gives an insider’s look at how the electrical trade works. The guidelines provide an essential context for understanding the major industry segments—residential, farm, commercial, and industrial—and the techniques help solve all wiring problems. A wealth of tips and handy tricks offered in a professional, down-to-earth style make this a favorite on-the-job resource. Professional practitioners, students and apprentices, and those seeking more information to wire at home will find everything they need to know about the wiring trade in a single, compact volume.

Wood Spirits and Green Men: A Design Sourcebook for Woodcarvers and Other Artists

Lora S. Irish, Chris Pye, Shawn Cipa

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Fox Chapel Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 37 new & used starting at $12.22

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Wood Spirits and Green Men 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Awesome, three great carvers: Chris Pye, Shawn Cipa, and the queen of design Lora S. Irish get together to make this very informative book. Well worth twice the full price.

Wood Spirits and Green Men 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I wish I could give this book a 5 star rating. I have now purchased 6 wood carving books, and this one actually gives readers many adorable patterns in large sizes and the permission to reproduce them. It then takes the novice through the steps from drafting on paper, roughing out, and then finalizing and sanding. The high quality of the color plates and the size and detail of the patterns makes this a must have for carvers. The designs are those that will appeal to young and old. Loved the dwarf faces!

Editorial Review:

The 40 patterns included in this guide for carving green men and wood spirits out of wood are appropriate for carvers of all skill levels. A recent term for a loose archetype—usually the head of a man within nature or a man as part of nature—the green man can be documented as early as A.D. 30 as a Roman architectural accent. The patterns show the green man in his wide range of emotions—happy, sad, miserable, or mischievous—with descriptions of how the wood spirit is anchored to nature not by the imagery of leaves and foliage but by the media on which he is depicted. The wood spirit walking stick patterns show realistic human faces that appear out of the bark or grain of the wood branches or logs in which they are being carved.