Masonry Books

Concrete Countertops Made Simple

Fu-Tung Cheng

Amazon Price: $14.93 List Price: $21.95 Not yet published By: Taunton

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Home Design -> Remodeling & Renovation -> Kitchens
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Editorial Review:

With his first bestselling book, Concrete Countertops, designer Fu-Tung Cheng brought homeowners and contractors an affordable, attractive alternative to expensive granite, marble, and man-made countertops. Now, he takes his concrete revolution one step further with this remarkable DVD/Book set. In seven simple steps, Cheng takes the reader through the process of designing, forming, pouring, finishing, and installing a concrete countertop that will look great and survive the test of time. Explaining the process like a chef guiding you through a recipe, Cheng shows that even an amateur with the simplest tools can produce fantastic results the very first time.

Creative Concrete Ornaments for the Garden: Making Pots, Planters, Birdbaths, Sculpture & More

Sherri Warner Hunter

Amazon Price: $16.47 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Lark Books Amazon Marketplace: 48 new & used starting at $13.90

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Gardening & Horticulture -> Garden Furnishings

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

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

This book contains many "recipes" for making concrete containers and concrete art. The book contains many full color photographs to guide you through each project step by step. The instructions are thorough and easy to follow. I've already made the hypertufa planters and stepping stones. The author also included numerous photos (and website links) of other artists' works. I found this book to be very inspiring.

Editorial Review:

Sherri Hunter, author of the best-selling Creating with Concrete, proves once again that concrete isn't just for sidewalks anymore; it's perfect for the garden too. A selection of 30 beautiful designs suggests the range of this increasingly popular material, and the illustrated instructions make the craft's fundamentals easy to learn. Because the simplest projects come first, beginners can work their way through the book progressively, building on their skills. Novices will have fun making the carved trough, sandcast bowl, and elegant relief panel. More sophisticated projects, including a decorative walkway and polished table, come next, and they'll bring charm to any outdoor space. More adventurous artists can unleash their creativity on a "Garden Guardian" sculpture or water feature. A Selection of the Crafters Choice and Homestyle Book Clubs.

Concrete at Home

Fu-Tung Cheng

Amazon Price: $21.12 List Price: $32.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Taunton Amazon Marketplace: 65 new & used starting at $10.29

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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.

Decorative Concrete (Sunset)

Jeanne Huber

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Sunset Publishing Corporation Amazon Marketplace: 34 new & used starting at $5.89

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great book on decorative concrete 5 out of 5 stars.
36 of 36 people found this review helpful.

I've purchased other books on decorative concrete, but this is the first one that I think is worth what I paid! It has excellent discussions of different techniques and materials, something that other books lacked. And, since they are not promoting some specific product, they provide information about products that are not as expensive as some of the systems that are being sold. The pictures are not as detailed as would be helpful on some pages, but that is a minor issue. There are enough step by step instructions to make it possible to do projects from the book as you learn the techniques. I highly recommend it.

Best Decorative Concrete "How To" Book Out There ! 5 out of 5 stars.
28 of 28 people found this review helpful.

This author really helps those who want to "Do It Yourself" or gives outstanding examples and ideas. We used this as a resourse
guide and by trial and error ( as the book states ) have successfully updated our exterior, interior flooring, kitchen/bath
countertops and sinks to model home quality for pennies on the dollar.

Great how-to manual on decorative concrete! 5 out of 5 stars.
16 of 16 people found this review helpful.

Just purchased a home with painted concrete countertops and wanted to learn more. Lots of pictures and information on how to start outdoor and indoor projects. I don't know if it is quite detailed enough for doing your own countertops but lots of pix and ideas for someone interested in the subject. Gave me the information I was looking for in expanding the use of concrete into other parts of my home and garden.

Editorial Review:

0-376-01160-2

The Stonebuilder's Primer: A Step-By-Step Guide for Owner-Builders

Charles Long

Amazon Price: $12.21 List Price: $17.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Firefly Books Amazon Marketplace: 36 new & used starting at $9.98

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

Diary of self-taught mason 4 out of 5 stars.
24 of 26 people found this review helpful.

The experiences of Mr. Long will interest many 'would-be' masons, contemplating construction of a stone wall of any form. The book is not a 'how-to' guide as much as a 'how I figured it out' or 'how I got the rock to the top of the wall.' Those with masonry experience will probably find this unnecessary, but anyone considering a masonry adventure will find the reading well worth the effort. Mr. Long's experiments in man-handling rock, using ramps and building scaffolds are exactly what amateur masons need to read.

The book if fairly shy about the author's handiwork. The finished house is never displayed, and 'example' photos are generally shots of 19th century buildings. Additionally, there is nothing on how long it took to accomplish their tasks. There are lots of photos showing the author and wife man-handling rocks, though.

The book seems to be set in the north-eastern United States, and Mr. Long's advice for finding rocks may be unsuited to other areas. As best I can tell, the book advises picking up a suitable rock when ever one one. This might happen on the shoulder of a highway, while driving past a farmer's field or wandering around old quarries. Mr. Long suggests all non-masons are overjoyed when anyone hauls away a rock. I'm not convinced.

Editorial Review:

Writer Charles Long has a well-earned reputation as one of North America's self-sufficiency experts. More than 20 years ago, he and his wife, Elizabeth, fled city life and conventional employment for the country, and have flourished there ever since. Now back by popular demand Long's The Stonebuilder's Primer is a highly readable account of the couple's successful effort to build "a house that will outlast anything made of wood."

Developing a compromise method of stone construction that is both simpler and truer to the stonemason's art than the popular slipform method, the Longs built an aesthetically satisfying home of stone on a limited budget and no previous construction experience. In this classic how-to book, the author describes the complete building process in clear, easy-to-follow steps and, in so doing, dispels the myth of difficulty that surrounds stone construction.

Tiling Complete (Taunton's Complete)

Michael Schweit, Robin Nicholas

Amazon Price: $14.93 List Price: $21.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Taunton Amazon Marketplace: 42 new & used starting at $13.49

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

great for the DIY'er 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This book gave me the courage to tackle the floors and walls of my master bath, project is going great using the tips and techniques in the book. The "what can go wrong" feature has helped me from making shortcuts and costly mistakes.

Thorough, Pro Advice 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Having some previous tiling experience, I was pleased to discover that "Tiling Complete" contained many well-informed tips and clear, straight-forward instruction -- simplifying and illuminating each step involved, including the handy features addressing mistake-prevention and trade tips. This is the clearest, most thorough book on tile-setting I've come across.

Editorial Review:

Written with the DIYer in mind, this all-encompassing manual takes a head-on approach to every home tiling situation--except those best left for the pros. Loaded with photos and laid out in an intuitive, accessible format, Tiling Complete makes it a snap for even the most hesitant of novices to get the job done right the first time. The authors begin with a thoughtful introduction and move to tile styles and shapes, tools, preparation and installation, plus grouting, sealing and caulking. There is a complete project section and a stress-reducing chapter on Problems and Troubleshooting. Also included are tips on maintenance and repair so that the finished product will shine for years to come.

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: 53 new & used starting at $5.20

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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

Stonework: Techniques and Projects

Charles McRaven

Amazon Price: $12.89 List Price: $18.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Storey Publishing, LLC Amazon Marketplace: 64 new & used starting at $5.60

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

High on inspiration, a bit thin on tools 4 out of 5 stars.
36 of 37 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful black & white pictures of stone walls, stone arches, stone bridges and sundry projects. The author makes much of ancient Scot stone work. There are a lot of nice pen drawings used for 'step by step' construction programs. There are many, many suggestions regarding stone choice and stone placement. These comments are the best feature of the book. Finally, there are a few pages on handling large stones with hydraulic booms, pick-up trucks and front-loaders. These suggestions are not going to be found in many books.

There isn't much said about hand power-tool options, nor stone shaping. There are few 'construction tips'. For example, the details of mixing motar specific to your job are only broadly discussed and there are no aids for determining correct mortar wetness. There are no 'good' and 'bad' stone arrangements to illustrate stone arrangement tricks. If you are looking for a 'first project' guide, the Black & Decker 'Stonework & Masonry projects' book offers more assistance. If you've got a few walls completed and want to take the next step towards being a mason, this is your book.

Table of Contents:
Intro: Why stone?
Part 1: Working with stone
Chapter 1: Types of Stone
Chapter 2: Sources of Stone
Chapter 3: Handling Stone
Chapter 4: Selecting Stone for a Project
Chapter 5: Cutting and Shaping Stone
Part 2: Stonework Projects
Chapter 6: Basic and Inspired (curving) walls
Chapter 7: Retaining walls
Chapter 8: Entryways
Chapter 9: Stone steps
Chapter 10: Stone Projects for backyard and beyond (bbq, birdbath, sculpture, walkway, etc.)
Chapter 11: Stone Bridges
Chapter 12: Stone in Interior Spaces

Editorial Review:

Readers will learn to collect and handle stone while creating walls, stairs, pools, and even waterfalls.

Rustic Fireplaces

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Gibbs Smith, Publisher Amazon Marketplace: 36 new & used starting at $18.75

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

Rustic Fireplace Lovers Book 4 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Beautiful book written by one of my favorite authorities on rustic!!! I enjoyed this book but had a few reservations . I own all of Ralph Kylloes books and love them but my complaint with this book was,( and he did address this in the book) alot of the pictures of fireplaces were in his previous books so I was already familiar with a majority of them, but he did manage to sneak a few new ones in also that were enjoyable to view. My other complaint would of been the fact the pictures were very small but Im also aware he probably had to do this alot as there were so many pictures and this in return made for a fully loaded book but I found myself using my magnifying glass to zoom in the details of each picture more clearly. Anyone out there building a rustic home or wanting to get ideas on remodeling their current fireplace or simply to treat themselves to some rustic eye candy- this book is for you. Although I myself already own a gorgous floor to ceiling river rock fireplace I still delight in seeing what other rustic lovers have!!! I like to see whats on the mantels, and what kind of andirons they use and fireplace screens as well, not to mention what the rest of the room looks like- these pictures have it all but in smaller scale.

Editorial Review:

Rustic Fireplaces
Written and photographed by Ralph Kylloe
Fireplaces have become elaborate works of art in rustic home design. From stone and rocks to elaborately carved wood and antlers to a variety of metals and wrought iron, Kylloe has collected designs for more than 100 fireplaces and hearths that will inspire homebuilders, homeowners, craftspeople and anyone looking for ideas on how to incorporate the warmth and artisanship of a good fireplace into their home.
Kylloe's work has been featured in USA Today, the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and has been seen on the Today Show. Kylloe's titles have sold more than 120,000 copies.

Tile Your World: John Bridge's New Tile Setting Book

John P. Bridge

Amazon Price: $23.95 List Price: $23.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Mistflower Press Amazon Marketplace: 8 new & used starting at $19.95

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 24 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Very Dissapointing 1 out of 5 stars.
3 of 5 people found this review helpful.

This book was pretty disappointing. After spending $24 for what I thought was going to be an authoritative book from a well respected expert on the art of tile setting, I find myself browsing other books while I'm at Home Depot to get the information I need. In particular there is absolutely no mention of how cutting and setting stone tiles is different than ceramic. No mention of using epoxy to set tiles with resin on the back or use of epoxy for anything. No mention of design issues like what size tile or what layout is best for small or large rooms, what size grout joints look best with what types and sizes of tile. He has these cute sections about how cool it is to be a tile setter all over the book which bugs me since that space in the book could have been used to give real information. As an example he has a section on making u-cuts in floor tiles. He never actually tells you how to make a u-cut, just how great you'll feel when you master this skill.

I'm guessing the reason this book has so many great reviews here is that the people that hang out in his online forum buy the book and enjoy his cute little stories and write a glowing review. They don't care about the lack of detail in the book because they can get it from the online forum. But for $24 I shouldn't have to then go to an online forum or sneak peeks at other books while at the store for the information I need, it should all be in the BOOK!

From looking at other tile books at Home Depot, either the Stanley (that's pretty sad) or Taunton book would be better choices for people who actually want to learn how to set tile.

Editorial Review:

As of November 2008 TILE YOUR WORLD is still the only available book that covers ceramic tile showers completely. A comprehensive and in-depth guide for amateur and professional ceramic tile setters. TILE YOUR WORLD takes the reader from the early history of the craft, all the way through to advanced residential tiling techniques. Projects range from kitchen and bathroom floors to custom tile shower installations. Kitchen counters and back splashes are also covered. TILE YOUR WORLD contains over 300 black and white photos and line drawings and 6 four-page color inserts. Eight appendices and a full index are included.