Carpentry Books

Building Kitchen Cabinets

Udo Schmidt

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Taunton Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $9.32

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 28 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Build Like A Pro-just like says!! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book is well written, and easy to understand. The author gives you a solid understanding of the basics and some of the more advanced "how-tos" of cabinet making. I would recommend this book to people who have some knowledge of power tools and want to learn how to build kitchen cabinets.

Excellent book if you actually want to build cabinets 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book and Danny Proulx's Build Your Own Kitchen Cabinets (Popular Woodworking). Proulx's book focused on particleboard construction and mostly 32mm cabinets. I was very dissapointed as I was anxious to start building cabinets and particleboard is not what I was looking for. This book however, was just what the Dr. ordered. I'm very comfortable with my tools and have been woodworking for years now, but I still found some usefull tips in the book. I skimmed the book without reading all of it and immediately bought the lumber I needed and began construction. I had a completed bathroom vanity cabinet in 1 afternoon (not including stain and finish). As others have mentioned, his dimensions are not perfect, but since my house doesn't perfectly match the book, I used my own tape measure.

Even with the dimension issues here and there, I highly recommend this book for anyone who actually wants to make cabinets. I have a few other books that discuss the "idea" of making cabinets. This one tells you the tools you need and how to do it. It focuses on pocket-hole joinery but it also shows how you can use other joinery techniques as well. I can't stress this point enough... if you are planning on building cabinets, you will love this book. If you just want to read about building cabinets, this book isn't what you want.

I'm off to buy more lumber for more cabinets!!!!

Editorial Review:

Building instead of buying cabinets means not only cost savings but also better materials and a truly custom kitchen. This book shows anyone how to build a complete set of kitchen cabinets. Professional cabinetmaker Udo Schmidt covers the entire process, from preparing materials and selecting the right tools to finishing and installing hardware.

Trim Carpentry and Built-Ins (Build Like A Pro)

Clayton Dekorne

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Taunton Amazon Marketplace: 73 new & used starting at $3.55

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 27 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Beginner to Expert, Something for all. 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I am a firm believer in the KISS method of doing things. (Keep It Simple Stupid") Every step is covered in this book so that anyone can learn from it. The "Build Like A Pro" series of books are all laid out like this one. The "Expert Tips" are great. They show you short cuts to help you do the jobs right, but in less time. This is stuff you only learn by doing the job everyday. They are trade secrets.

Good overview book sometimes misses the basics 3 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This book is very attractive and informative, but I found it lacking some of the very basics, and the production steps are often not laid out chronologically. In the crown molding section, there is no suggested nailing plan, so as someone who has never done crown molding but is planning to attempt it, this book alone does not suffice.

Editorial Review:

Installing trim requires precision and know-how. This is the book that shows how to handle all common trim projects, including window and door casings, baseboards, wainscoting and crown molding -- and get professional results every time. This is a complete do-it-yourself book written by a professional carpenter and presented in a highly accessible format.

How to Build Animal Housing: 60 Plans for Coops, Hutches, Barns, Sheds, Pens, Nestboxes, Feeders, Stanchions, and Much More

Carol Ekarius

Amazon Price: $16.47 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Storey Publishing, LLC Amazon Marketplace: 42 new & used starting at $13.86

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Cows and horses, donkeys and mules, sheep and goats, pigs and fowl, even llamas are living on small farms and in backyard barnyards throughout the United States. But how and where are these critters being housed?

Author Carol Ekarius knows. In How to Build Animal Housing, she provides dozens of plans--with illustrated, step-by-step instructions--for species-specific shelters that are well ventilated, safe, appropriate for the animals, appealing, convenient, and a solid value for their owners.

The book is essential reading for anyone interested in animal health and welfare. It includes complete plans and step-by-step, illustrated instructions for sheds, coops, hutches, multipurpose barns, and economical easy-to-build windbreaks and shade structures. Ekarius covers new high-tech, portable structures made of plastics and fabrics, such as hoop houses and hen spas, as well as more traditional alternatives, such as straw-bale structures. Always practical, she enumerates the advantages and disadvantages of ready-to-build kits and modular barnyard buildings and includes designs for watering systems, feeders, chutes, stanchions, and more--the essentials that help owners keep their animals healthy and happy.

Ekarius wisely emphasizes the importance of careful planning, choosing an appropriate housing site, and complying with local zoning regulations; pest control, basic housing maintenance, and insurance costs are also discussed. Real-world advice from farmers and veterinarians on the types of housing and facilities animals like best enliven the text throughout.

How to Build Animal Housing is the most comprehensive and useful guide of its kind. For small-scale farmers, hobby farmers, do-it-yourselfers, and animal lovers, this book is indispensable.

Drywall: Professional Techniques for Great Results

Myron R. Ferguson

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Taunton Amazon Marketplace: 63 new & used starting at $4.42

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

3rd Edition is also a great addition to your library 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I noticed that the 3rd Edition of this book has a copyright date of 2008 and the cover of the book notes that it is completely revised and updated. Any review written before 2008 is almost certainly for the second edition. The 3rd edition is a reasonably hefty 210 pages of content; it is printed on nice paper, is nicely organised, and has an index.

I am an experienced do-it-yourselfer and bought this book to get an update on the latest corner beads made of vinyl and some made of metal and paper. I also wanted a little more knowledge on available types of drywall and joint compounds.

This book is very comprehensive and covers drywall techniques, tools, and materials. Consistent with the reviews of the earlier edition(s), this book focuses almost exclusively on drywall (which is also consistent with its title). There is a section on soundproofing which I believe is very useful.

I would rate this book as a must read for anyone who wishes to learn about drywall techniques. The text is clear and there are many photographs to illustrate the points that the author is making.

I would have liked it if the author covered skip troweling but this is a little tricky to learn from a book (so this omission did not bother me much).

I already had a good amount of knowledge about drywall and this book has given me another step up in knowledge. I am completely satisfied with this book.

Editorial Review:

The most thorough and concise guide to hanging drywall available. This revised edition features new material, additional pages and color photographs. With more than 87,000 copies sold, Drywall is a mainstay of any comprehensive home-building library.

Chicken Coops: 45 Building Plans for Housing Your Flock

Judy Pangman

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Storey Publishing, LLC Amazon Marketplace: 49 new & used starting at $12.50

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 29 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

A Ripoff 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book is supposed to have plans on building a chicken coop. All of the drawings are incomplete and have no detail at all. We sent the book back.

Chicken Coops 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book has all kinds of chicken coops, whether you are on a large farm or just a small lot. It shows what you need and how to build them. This is an excellent book to get started at raising chickens.

I bit off the Norm! 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

While this book does have a variety of coop designs, they are mostly more whimsical and labor intensive then I needed. For a small backyard coup that is a landscape or art piece they work fine, but not very practical for most chicken coops that have flocks of any size.

very good 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The product was exactly what I asked for and it was a great price. I will definatly shop with amazon again.

Truly disappointing! 2 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is a truly disappointing source for good poultry housing plans. Though some of the housing may be interesting from an artistic standpoint, many of the designs are not practical when it comes to sanitation, vermin control, and sensible layout. It would appear as if the author capitalized on the entertainment aspect of the designs rather than on the usefulness of them. The details for the inside of the structures were lacking making it seem as if the book is basically a collection of photographs.

Measuring, Marking, and Layout: A Builder's Guide

John Carroll

Amazon Price: $16.47 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Taunton - Model: 070464 Amazon Marketplace: 43 new & used starting at $8.35

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Good book except for page 27 & other similar "metric" references 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 21 people found this review helpful.

This author is in the dark ages with respect to the use of the metric system. As a country, we've been there / tried that. We can't help it if the rest of the world is backwards using the metric system! Why was at least a whole page WASTED in talking about this? How ridiculous! It is an okay book, but mostly black and white drawings and lots of text. Perhaps if the author, and Taunton, had spent more time with the content of the title and included some color in a book that is the same price as their other titles with LOTS of color, they would have had a good book.

Editorial Review:

"For Pros By Pros." You don't have to invest a fortune in space-age gadgetry to make accurate measurements, and you don't need advanced training in math to build complex houses. Author John Carroll provides dozens of beautifully simple techniques for highly accurate measuring, marking, and layout using a number of basic tools. Good habits of measuring and marking not only ensure high quality but also save materials and money and increase productivity. Measuring, Marking and Layout shows how to do the job right the first time. If you find it more enjoyable to end up with clean, professional-looking work than with sloppy work, Measuring, Marking Layout gives you what you want.

Graphic Guide to Frame Construction: Details for Builders and Designers (For Pros by Pros)

Rob Thallon

Amazon Price: $23.07 List Price: $34.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Taunton Amazon Marketplace: 52 new & used starting at $14.78

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 46 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great basic reference for residential building 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Have been using this reference for years as an Architect. Probably the best one out there that covers all the basics. Not overly complicated. Could use an advanced version for more complicated details, especially in roofing (half-hips, etc.) and foundations.
Great reference for the nomencalture of all the parts.
Do not expect to build from it as codes and structural sizing are required and vary too much, but good, basic detailing and understanding overall with plenty of illustrations.

Great 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I do a lot of non-professional new construction. For me, visualizing the right way do do something is the problem. Once the skin is on a building I have no idea what lies underneath -- I have no 'guide' to model my construction after. Also, building according to convention is useful -- for instance, it's good to know that you can expect to find a vertical stud in a wall every 16 or 24 inches, regardless of who built the building and when -- and this book clarifies what those conventions are.

This is a great book. The graphic representations are exceptionally clear and detailed. Many alternatives are given, and in building you simply choose the alternative that gives you the most of what you want and follow the diagram.

Editorial Review:

Teaching through hundreds of meticulous drawings, Rob Thallon's guide covers foundations, roofs, building systems and materials, durability, energy efficiency, and more.

Treehouses & Playhouses You Can Build

David Stiles, Jeanie Stiles

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Gibbs Smith, Publisher Amazon Marketplace: 60 new & used starting at $6.96

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Perfect for the young builder 4 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

This is the latest installment in a long string of wonderful books from David and Jeanie Stiles. Inside you won't find glossy, double page spreads of extravagant treehouses ... this is not a coffee table book. Rather, it is a how-to book, and the best one available for those that want to build their own whimsical play structure. Inside you will find excellent line drawings and readable explanations of intelligent, creative, and well though-out designs.

David starts with the basics: tools. From there you follow a complete and logical progression to completed treehouse. In between you'll get solid building advice. David has built his designs. He knows how to make life easier for you by using common materials and minimizing cuts. The building advice is spot on throughout.

The huge, huge, huge problem with this book is the 20 or so options David gives you for connecting lumber to tree. They are almost all bad. Never girdle a growing limb with rope or cable. Never use nails. This leaves you with only lag bolting. To be sure, there are other ways. But the only safe and tree-friendly way presented in this book (and any of his other works) is to use lags.

This is the by far the best book to give to a young builder and is probably a treasure to any 8 or 9 year old lucky enough to have a copy. It will get their mind working. The crazy schemes they come up with will amaze you.

The ideas inside this book are great. Fun, imaginative, unique. If you know a young boy (or girl) with a tree, get him this book. And when it comes time to actually build their creation, call an arborist and he'll set you straight about properly attaching it to a tree.

Editorial Review:

Treehouses & Playhouses You Can Build shows how average "do-it-yourself" families can easily and affordably bring to life a "Hobbit's Treehouse," a "Pirate's Playhouse," or a "Crow's Nest" in their own backyards! There are a lot of books out there filled with enchanting photos of elaborate treehouses and playhouses built by professionals and costing tens of thousands to build. For the rest of us, there's bit of elbow grease, a lot of imagination, a trip to the hardware store-and Treehouses & Playhouses You Can Build.

Trim Complete (Taunton's Complete)

Greg Kossow

Amazon Price: $14.93 List Price: $21.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Taunton Amazon Marketplace: 39 new & used starting at $13.46

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

I recommend the book. 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I have several books on Trim and this one seems to be the most updated and exhaustive on the subject. I really enjoy the layout and the way the information is presented.

Excellent~!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excellent book. Lots of photos and step by step instructions. Highly recommended for weekend carpenter like me.

Editorial Review:

Trim Complete covers those important finishing touches that give a house a one-of-a-kind personality: trim and modling. An expert carpenter, Greg Kossow presents a vibrantly visual guide that details every possible project, from the most basic baseboards, to the most complicated casings. He tackles real-world situations with authoritative advice, never failing to address how to solve problems when things do go wrong. The book's ingenious design makes it a snap to find the relevant information for each project and Kossow includes a crystal-clear table of contents. Plus, unlike most other books that only deal with basic carptnetry, Trim Complete includes hard-to-find advice on complex crown molding and making custom modling.

Good Design Can Change Your Life: Beautiful Rooms, Inspiring Stories

Ty Pennington

Amazon Price: $16.50 List Price: $25.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Simon & Schuster Amazon Marketplace: 62 new & used starting at $5.07

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

Editorial Review:

BRING TY PENNINGTON, THE HOST OF EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION, INTO YOUR HOME AND MAKE YOUR DESIGN DREAMS BECOME REALITY.

Ty Pennington and the millions of people who watch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition know that you can not only transform a home in seven days, you can transform someone's life. If he could, Ty would renovate every home in America, but even he doesn't have that much energy! So he's written Good Design Can Change Your Life: Beautiful Rooms, Inspiring Stories and filled the book with proof that you don't need a bulldozer and a million bucks to realize your dreams.

Focusing on the three most important parts of your home -- sleeping spaces, living spaces, and working spaces -- Ty offers low-cost, high-impact ideas for every budget. You'll learn how to express your personality and your passions in your design and how to get the most out of small spaces and limited time. Whether you want to create a welcoming living room that helps you connect with friends and family, a restful bedroom that lets you face the day energized and optimistic, or a streamlined home office that keeps you productive, Ty has some great ideas to share. From the elegant to the funky, the whimsical to the restful; from walls, floors, and lighting to storage, wallpaper, and fabric -- it's all here, infused with Ty's vitality and great style, along with the emotional stories of the people who changed his life as much as the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition crew changed theirs.