Remodeling & Renovation Books - Page 5

Earth-Sheltered Houses: How to Build an Affordable...

Rob Roy

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Home Design -> Design & Construction

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

An earth-sheltered, earth-roofed home has the least impact upon the land of all housing styles, leaving almost zero footprint on the planet.

Earth-Sheltered Houses is a practical guide for those who want to build their own underground home at moderate cost. It describes the benefits of sheltering a home with earth, including the added comfort and energy efficiency from the moderating influence of the earth on the home's temperature (keeping it warm in the winter and cool in the summer), along with the benefits of low maintenance and the protection against fire, sound, earthquake, and storm afforded by the earth. Extra benefits from adding an earth or other living roof option include greater longevity of the roof substrate, fine aesthetics, and environmental harmony.

The book covers all of the various construction techniques involved, including details on planning, excavation, footings, floor, walls, framing, roofing, waterproofing, insulation, and drainage. Specific methods appropriate for the inexperienced owner/builder are a particular focus and include:

• Pouring one's own footings and/or floor
• The use of dry-stacked (surface-bonded) concrete block walls
• Post-and-beam framing
• Plank-and-beam roofing
• Drainage methods and self-adhesive waterproofing membranes

The time-tested, easy-to-learn construction techniques described in Earth-Sheltered Houses will enable readers to embark upon their own building projects with confidence, backed up by a comprehensive resources section that lists all the latest products such as waterproofing membranes, types of rigid insulation, and drainage products that will protect the building against water damage and heat loss.

Rob Roy is a former contractor with 27 years of experience and 12 previous books to his credit, including Cordwood Building and Timber Framing for the Rest of Us. An expert on underground building, he founded the Earthwood Building School in 1981 with his wife, Jaki, and is frequently a speaker at events throughout North America.

Home Rules: Transform the Place You Live Into a Place You'll Love

Nate Berkus

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Interior Design -> Decorating

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 43 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Nate Berkus, regular contributor on The Oprah Winfrey Show, contributing editor of O, The Oprah Magazine, and nationally renowned decorator, has created a book inspired by his belief that everyone should love the way they live. This step-by-step guide to achieving your own beautiful rooms is based on Nate+s signature style and innovative approach to design. As a small boy, Nate could often be found rearranging his room (as well as helping his mother and the other neighborhood mothers rearrange theirs). Throughout the years his passion continued to grow, and soon Nate was heading his own award-winning firm with an elite roster of clients. But it was Oprah Winfrey who gave Nate the chance of a lifetime-the opportunity to go into millions of homes around the world and join her mission to help people live their best lives. -It has been a dream come true that has absolutely changed my life,+ explains Berkus. -Not only has working with Oprah helped me redefine my own vision and purpose-but she continues to challenge me to use my own life to help others live better. And there is nothing that makes me happier or more grateful than to be a part of that.+ As Oprah always says, -your home should be a reflection of who you truly are.+ Nate says, no matter how much money you have, he believes that is so very true. -I am honored to share my love of design to help everyone make that dream real for themselves with this book.+

Dare to Repair: A Do-it-Herself Guide to Fixing (Almost) Anything in the Home

Julie Sussman, Stephanie Glakas-tenet

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 34 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

This is NOT your father's home repair book!

And it's not your husband's, your brother's, your boyfriend's, or the guy's next door. Dare to Repair is a do-it-herself book for every woman who would rather be self-reliant than rely on a super or contractor.

No matter the depth of your pockets or the size of your home, a toilet will get clogged, a circuit breaker will trip, and a smoke detector will stop working. It's up to you how you'll deal with them -- live in denial, pay the piper, or get real and do it yourself.

Dare to Repair demystifies these home repairs by providing information that other books leave out.

In Dare to Repair, you'll learn how to:

• Take the plunge -- from fixing a leaky faucet to cleaning the gutters.
• Lighten up -- from removing a broken light bulb to installing a dimmer switch.
• Keep your cool -- from maintaining a refrigerator's gasket to changing the rotation of a ceiling fan.
• Get a handle on it -- from replacing a doorknob to repairing a broken window.
• Play it safe -- from planning a fire escape route to installing a smoke detector.

Filled with detailed illustrations, Dare to Repair provides even the most repair-challenged woman with the ability to successfully fix things around the home. Once you start, you won't want to stop.

Green Remodeling : Changing the World One Room at a Time

David R. Johnston, Kim Master

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Home Design -> Remodeling & Renovation -> Energy Efficiency

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Whether because of changing lifestyles or simply because houses are becoming outdated, millions of North Americans are renovating their homes every year, spending more money annually on renovation than on new-home construction. But renovations can be fraught with unintended consequences like indoor air pollution. How do you remodel in a healthy, environmentally friendly way?

Green Remodeling is a comprehensive guide. It first points out the advantages of remodeling. Buildings are responsible for 40% of worldwide energy flow and material use; so how you remodel can make a difference. Upgrading furnaces, cabinets and toilets means less fossil fuel pollution, reduced resource depletion and fewer health risks. Green remodeling is more energy-efficient, more resource-conserving, healthier for occupants and creates buildings that are more affordable to build, operate and maintain.

The book then discusses simple green renovation solutions for homeowners, focusing on key aspects of the building, including foundations, framing, plumbing, windows, heating and finishes. Room by room, it outlines the intricate connections that make the house work as a system. For example, how new windows may affect the structure and mechanical systems of the rooms below, the health of the family and the future of old-growth forests. Then, in an easy-to-read format complete with checklists, personal stories, expert insights and an extensive resource list, it covers easy ways to save energy, conserve natural resources and protect the health of loved ones. Addressing all climates, this is a perfect resource for conventional homeowners, as well as for architects and remodeling contractors.

David Johnston was named one of the top 50 remodelers in the U.S. in 1990. He developed the first green remodeling program in the U.S. and is creating a national green certification program for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. Kim Master is a green building consultant. Both are from Boulder, Colorado.

New Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual

Editors of Reader's Digest

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 26 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Buy the new edition 5 out of 5 stars.
36 of 36 people found this review helpful.

This is an excellent book for the novice do-it-yourselfer. I was intimidated with a lot of the work needed to be done on my new home, but this book made it all seem possible. It was clear what things I could tackle myself, and what things are best left to a pro. I particularly liked the section on fasteners - it was something I didn't understand, although I thought I should!, and it gave a detailed description of what to use where, and why. I had a lot of lightbulb moments reading this book.

One note - be sure to pick up the new edition, which I hear is much improved (hard to believe)-it just came out feb 05 and is not the first one amazon brings up - the new edition is actually cheaper as I write this.

Great detail (US) 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I've had this book since 1991 and it is still the BEST in its class. I own and have read many other "do-it-yourself" manuals on home improvment and thia one is hands down the best. It's simple to read, yet each new section give lots of details and great illustrations.

Editorial Review:

The most complete and authoritative home repair manual ever published, this book is the yard-stick by which all other books on do-it-yourself are measured. The definitive guide to home repair, maintenance, and improvement. Over 4,000 illustrations.

Smart Homes For Dummies (For Dummies (Home & Garden))

Danny Briere, Pat Hurley

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 41 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Do you long to listen to your favorite CD from anywhere in your house? To set up a wireless network so you can access the Internet in any room? To install an iron-clad security system? To fire up the coffee pot while you’re still asleep and wake up with automated lighting? Smart home technology can help you do just that!

Smart Homes For Dummies, Third Edition, shows you how easy it can be to create and live in a cutting-edge, fully connected home—without breaking your bank account. With this user-friendly guide, you’ll discover all the latest trends and gadgets in home networking, automation, and control that will help you make life more enjoyable and comfortable for your entire family. We help you plan for things such as flat-screen TVs, intercom systems, whole-home audio systems, gaming consoles, and satellite systems. We talk about your wiring (and wireless) options and introduce you to the latest technologies, such as VoIP and Bluetooth. You’ll see how to:

• Build your home network on a budget
• Turn your home into an entertainment center
• Access the Internet from any room
• Get VoIP on your phone network
• Boost in-home wireless and cell phone signals
• Connect your computer to your TV
• Secure your home and property
• Increase your home’s resale value
• Avoid common networking pitfalls
• And much, much more

Complete with a resource list for more information and neat toys of the future, Smart Homes For Dummies is your plain-English, twenty-first century guide to a fully wired home!

Black & Decker Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair: with 350 Projects and 2000 Photos (Black & Decker Complete Photo Guide)

Editors of creative Publishing

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Editorial Review:

Bigger and better than ever

      

The two previous editions of the book known by home improvement retailers as “Big Red” sold nearly 600,000 copies. This new edition features a larger portrait format for better visual clarity, and incorporates a new page layout style. But all the features that made the original America’s best-selling “bible” of home repair are still present here—thousands of color photographs and detailed step-by-step directions.

 

The third edition also includes more than 30 projects not found in the original edition, as well as more than 300 new photos.

Concrete at Home

Fu-Tung Cheng

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Imagine the possibilities.... 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

In CONCRETE AT HOME, concrete designer Fu-Tung Chen does just this, sharing with his readers the many creative uses he's found for concrete over the years. Floors, walls, countertops, sinks, fireplaces - Chen covers them all, with a decided flair for the fanciful.

I approached CONCRETE AT HOME as a first-time homeowner who was toying with the idea of ripping out all of my home's flooring and staining the concrete slab underneath. And, I should specify, hiring a pro to do so, since I'm not the DIY type (at least not when it comes to the single largest investment of my life). It was with this newbie curiosity that I devoured CONCRETE AT HOME.

Though I found CONCRETE AT HOME to be somewhat helpful and very enjoyable, it didn't totally quench my thirst for all that is concrete. Chen can't quite seem to decide on an intended audience in CONCRETE AT HOME; while he aims to explain the basics of concrete to average Janes like myself, he also includes advanced instructions for professionals. As a result, the book has a kind of schizophrenic quality. Although Chen does take the time to explain some of the fundamentals, it's not as complete or in-depth enough to qualify CONCRETE AT HOME as a Concrete 101 text. On the flip side, I imagine that concrete professionals will be equally dissatisfied with the brief instructions Chen includes for complicated concrete projects - such as working with forms and building walls (!). In trying to please everyone, I suspect Chen's resulting treatise will fall short of everyone's expectations.

Even so, CONCRETE AT HOME is a must-read for those interested in concrete and its applications. It may be a bit spotty in coverage, but it's by far one of the most interesting, engaging, and inspiring concrete books I've yet to come across.

Now I can't wait to get started on those floors!

Editorial Review:

Fu-Tung Cheng’s surprise bestseller Concrete Countertops paved the way for a fresh look at a familiar surface. His new book moves beyond the kitchen and transforms this commonplace material into an elegant medium that can be used throughout the house. Combining cutting-edge design with helpful how-to information, Concrete at Home offers ingenious ideas for planning and building walls, fireplaces, mantels, hearths, and exterior and interior floors, as well as tips on incorporating architectural elements such as counters, sinks, columns, and water pieces into the project. The construction of forms, footings, and ties is detailed in clear, easy-to-follow instructions, and special attention is given to finishing techniques, including adding color, texture, and inlays.

The Encyclopedia of Window Fashions

Charles T. Randall

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Over 2,000 decorating ideas for windows, bedding and accessories- including draperies, shades, blinds, shutters, verticals, bedspreads, pillows, cushions and more. Blending current, popular styles with extraordinary new approaches, the fifth edition of The Encyclopedia of Window Fashions is a must have for designers, from beginner to expert.With more full-color illustrations than ever before, this book presents myriad window treatments for any room in any home from the most simple to the most challenging. Now 300 pages, which include detailed illustrations, cost-saving ideas, yardage and fullness charts and much more. Finally, a new comprehensive update for the book that has become the industry standard for decorators and homeowners alike. Now in its sixth edition, this all-inclusive pre-eminent decorating book has been reworked for the new millennium, including an expanded historical section, new styles and calculations, more comprehensive information about treatments and accessories, and of course, the visual index, a terrific means to colorize any window treatment or accessory in this book to your own interior color palette.

Building Traditional Kitchen Cabinets: Completely Revised and Updated

Jim Tolpin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Highly rated but disappointing 3 out of 5 stars.
6 of 8 people found this review helpful.

The hand written drawings are poorly done and lack significant detail. The photo illustrations are of good quality but are again limited in their application to the building process. Overall descriptions of the building process are scanty at best. Woodworkers interested in learning kitchen cabinet construction would be better served by reading Jere Cary's book; Building Your Own Kitchen Cabinets by the Taunton Press.

Save your money and don't buy this book 2 out of 5 stars.
3 of 6 people found this review helpful.

This book is old school and is way outdated as far as making cabinets. This book is very hard to follow and laid out very poorly. If you want a good book to make cabinets look into "Building Kitchen Cabinets" UDO SCHMIDT

BTKC-BUY THIS BOOK 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Definitely the best money I have spent on a cabinet book. Tolpin really provides a LOT of valuable information that can be used for DECADES to come.

From what I gather through my readings, Tolpin is a traditionalist / purist at heart, but, he understands the necessity to produce time and resource efficient designs. He provides instruction on both sides of the spectrum: Fast and Effective as well as traditional and effective (a little something for both). In this way, he is able to speak to the enthusiast that is interested in making a traditional set of cabinets, and the professional that is interested in producing a quality set of cabinets more quickly.

I also gather that he really enjoys teaching others his thoughts, shortcuts, time saving jigs that you can really use and appreciate (especially if you have been busting head trying to do it another way). This fact is what really wants me to buy more of his books. His service to carpentry in general is extraordinary; he is a true teacher of carpentry and advises young carpenters in almost every page of this book.

I especially enjoyed making and using most of the jigs he describes. In one chapter he outlines more than 5 jigs. Having built them (extremely easy to make), I have already put them to use in more than one woodworking session and will continue to do so in the future because they are so useful.

If you're interested in cabinet making, buy this book. If you're tight on money, buy a used copy. The point is to buy this book and read this book. If you don't like to read, buy this book because the illustrations can explain a lot too. Building one cabinet will pay for the book.

Editorial Review:

First published in 1994, this book quickly established itself as the standard shop reference on building kitchen cabinets. It covers all aspects of building a complete set of cabinets, from choosing a style for doors, to laying out the cabinets, to finishing and installing convenience hardware in the interiors.