4 comments about Quick Guide: Garages & Carports: Step-by-Step Construction Methods (Quick Guide).

1. The garage I currently own is not only leaning to the South but is also put together from what looks like 3 other garages. I bought this book to help me with designing and possibly doing part of the new garage myself. After looking through it for an afternoon, I now know that we will be doing the entire thing ourselves.
   
   The book covers:
   Design considerations
   Requirements (permits, drawings and such)
   Tools, materials and fasteners (basic, but discusses nails, screws and framing connectors in some depth)
   Lumber and its defects
   Site and layout
   Foundation (with a good section on footings)
   Pouring concrete
   Framing (of course)
   Building a carport and a shed roof
   Roofing, doors, windows, siding, sectional garage door ("roll ups")
   4 garage projects - with cutting and materials list! (one-car detached garage, one-car attached carport with shed, one-car detached carport with gable roof, and a two-car detached garage with truss roof)
   Truss types (W-type and Howe) plus installation tips
   Conversion chart
   and a glossary.
   
   For a "Quick Guide" and only 80 pages, this book is well laid out, nicely written and has tons of drawings so that you can instantly see what they are talking about (see the "Search Inside" feature on Amazon.) When it comes to construction, I do better with pictures / drawings / blueprints.
   
   If you are looking to do part of your garage or all of it I highly recommend this book. Or, if you just want to have a better understanding of what your contractor is talking about, this book can help you with the language and the `why' of construction.
   
   Also, my book came with a different cover (see the picture I submitted.) The inside is the same as the "Search Inside", page for page, so I don't think anything major changed.



2. This book covered all the basics. It is a good resource, although you will probably need more detailed information if you are going to build the garage completely by yourself.



3. When you start a major project, whether a do-it-yourselfer or a builder or contractor, you want the best and most up-to-date building instructions and guidance you can find. This book is the one that instructs you as to the hows and whys, giving good shortcuts in money-saving and time-saving techniques on building that garage or carport.

   As a general contractor who is on the job working with my crew, I found this one to be one of the best.




4. Here is a cogent, extremely useful book, one of a seemingly scant offering of books on the subject of building your own carport. (Garage construction is much easier to find reference material for) Unfortunately, this brief manual deals primarily with garage building, devoting less than equal space to the special problems associated with the construction of a free-standing, unseathed structure. Nevertheless, I found it most helpful as a starting point. Besides, how can you argue with anything that costs as little as the publisher charges for this book. You will be hard pressed to find a better value for your $8.

5 comments about The Rustic Cabin: Design & Architecture.

1. Great pictures pair with many ideas for turning your house into a rustic dream home.



2. Wonderful photography, well written chapters, and many, many decorating ideas. My wife and I really enjoyed this book. We decorate our home in a rustic style, and hope to have our own cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains one day. However, a better title for this book might have been "Cabins of the Rich and Famous"; these aren't the little cabins your grandparent's owned, or those that most people could afford.
   
   It is a great coffee table book if this is your area of interest, and will inspire you with building, design, and decorating ideas.



3. This is an excellent book on the topic of the adirondacks and adirondack home. Ralph Kylloe always does a fantastic job with pictures and text. It was a very worhtwhile purchase.
   Thanks
   G. Cerank



4. There's nothing "rustic" about these luxury ranch homes, and the word "cabin" is definitely a euphemism. The houses are as big and gorgeous as the settings they reside in, and the author's photographs capture both. If you want the vicarious thrill of seeing how the rich spend their summers in Montana, then book is for you.



5. Look inside this book at a bookstore before you buy it. It is NOT about cabins but about huge lodges-log mansions, if you will.

5 comments about The Straw Bale House (A Real Goods Independent Living Book).

1. For someone who knew nothing about straw bale construction this book was not only informative, but also inspiring. The Straw Bale House contains a lot of good information about the specifics of straw bale construction. I found that because it covered information about straw bale construction from start to finish it couldn't go into as much detail about any one aspect as much as I would have liked. However, my feeling is that this book was designed to get you interested and then send you out to gather the more specific information for yourself. It has proven effective at inspiring me.



2. This is a must have. If you are totally new (as I was) then this book will give you a good solid understanding of the pros and cons of strawbale construction. It is obvious that the authors know what they are talking about.

   If you are vaguely interested in SB and haven't got this one you're really missing out.

   Thanks Steen Steen and Bainbridge for this wonderful contribution.




3. The Steens have written two books on this subject, this one from 1994, is the most informative as far as actual construction information goes. I would say that if you think you might want to actually build a straw home get this book and their second book,The Beauty of Straw Bale Homes(from 2000). After reading these books you'll need more information both about straw bale work and other construction and carpentry books, Amazon has a selection of those.



4. This book would seem to be an indispensible starting point for anyone looking into the straw bale home concept. If the thought of a poorly-insulated, energy-guzzling, expensive, bland, mass-produced, contractor-built home doesn't quite appeal to you, this book is essential, for it shows that inexpensive doesn't have to mean low quality nor unattractive. In fact, bales and other "natural", low-cost building materials can yield attractively individual results in part because they are easy and fun to work with, enfranchising the future owner to be his or her own designer and builder. The inspiring photos included in the book help make the case for the aesthetic advantages. Of course, the most important function is to show how to build the straw bale home. In this respect, the book succeeds admirably, giving diagrams to illustrate the major techniques being used and showing how simple straw bale building is. Incidentally, this would make an attractive book for your coffee table even if you are just mildly interested in the subject. One warning though: even including the index and other back-of-the-book sections, there are only 297 pages, not 336!



5. I must admit being fairly sceptical about straw bale construction until I read this book...

   The style is very assessible and the content is thorough, interesting and informative. Just about every angle is covered in depth without being overly technical.

   Includes useful covereage of many associated areas, such as rammed earth, adobe and passive solar issues.

   An inspirational read for whether you are a dreamer or seriously intent on buiding your own house!

2 comments about Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Repair.

1. I found the text to be very useful, although it was not the complete and through guide that I was hoping for. That would probably be in the factory shop manual for the central airconditioner that I am attempting to troubleshoot, and those are hard to come by.
   
   Ron



2. This book is an excellent primer for someone that has no prior knowledge of A/C systems. It is very dated and lacks information on the newer systems and refrigerants.

5 comments about Frank Lloyd Wright Interactive Portfolio.

1. As an Architect student, I love this book. I show all my friends how a real great mind works. Wright is my favorite architect, so when I was this it was a given ofr me to buy it. I highly suggest checking your local book store first, because I bought this EXACT one for 13 dollars.



2. Un buon libro in cui è racchiuso l'essenziale. Molto curato e fuori dal comune per la ricchezza di particolari. Un'ottima idea regalo per chi vuole avvicinarsi alle opere di Frank Lloyd Wright.



3. This is clearly a labor of love. The solid box the book fits into is very cool. Keeps the book with about 9 clear sleeves with insert papers from gettin' smushed. A few nice big photos. Plenty a text. Other good smaller photos. And a cd of Wright speaking. It's nice to finally have some drawings to hold and unfold. I'm not sure all 18 or so of them are what I would have chosen. One in particular is pretty basic. But the mile high tower is 3 folded tall. And there's maybe 6 letters he sent out, modern letter writers might not recognize them with their notations and corrections because since computers we don't need to make such written corrections but in his day that's all they had. I'd easily have taken more and bigger drawings than any of the letters. As it is most of the drawings are 3 or 4 foldouts, very nice. Definitely worth the lower used price available on amazon.com. I think you do have to be a fan though to appreciate it. I'd love to see more books made this way, expanding the notion of what a book is or can be.



4. This is a unique book, nothing else like it around. A great coffee table book or a gift for anyone interested in architecture or the works of Frank Lloyd Wright.
   Highly recommended.



5. A must-have for FLW fans. Can be found remaindered for less but this price is decent. Make sure its in good shape. Well-made, written & produced, worth every penny.

3 comments about Carpentry & Construction.

1. 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.



2. 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.



3. 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.

No comments about The New 100 Houses x 100 Architects.

1 comments about Building & Maintaining Docks: How to Design, Build, Install & Care for Residential Docks.

1. As a Landscape Architect I found the book helpful and very simple to use and browse through. It is a good resource. It would be helpful to have some construction sections or details illustrating construction techniques. Also having a resource guide in the back for manufacturers and supplies would be useful.

1 comments about The English House: English Country Houses and Interiors.

1. I found this book to be extremely resourceful when building my Georgian-style home; it gave me great decorating ideas. This book is full of knowledge and beautiful colorful pictures. It is a great source for English decorating.

5 comments about The Urban Design Handbook: Techniques and Working Methods.

1. this a firm way of working
   just one way of doing things



2. This book is a rare but insightful look into the practice of one of the New Urbanist legends. UDA began the pattern book revival a decade ago (and also has a book out describing the process of writing one.) They also are one of the pioneers of the New Urbanist revolution, which, by discarding the fictions of Modernist planning, have rediscovered existing methods and have discovered new methods of creating compact, mixed-use and walkable neighborhoods that were always the basic cellular structure of cities from the dawn of time until just before World War II. We have understood the basic principles again for some time. What this book shows are some of the mechanics of how to do it again.



3. The architects at Urban Design Associates use war stories and bold illustrations to provide detailed instructions on how to transform a blighted urban area into an aesthetically pleasing community. This Pittsburg-based firm created the architectural plans for city redevelopment in communities from Cincinnati, Ohio to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to Riverside County, California. The book shares UDA's time-tested, 10-part "charrette process."

   The charrette brings together local residents, government officials, real estate developers and other stakeholders to guide the design process. Using the existing community's "best addresses" as an ideal, UDA produces a unique pattern book that describes preferred neighborhood building arrangements and architectural styles. The plans emphasize the area's natural features by making parks and public space an integral part of each project.

   UDA has one cardinal rule that guides these working sessions: "No matter how many encounters you may have with participants, the first time you meet people, you are asking questions, not giving answers." Judging from the work presented in this full-color manual, they are asking the right questions. Their designs are scaled for pedestrians and they incorporate building sites that can accommodate single-family homes, multi-family residences, civic buildings and commercial space.

   The book is stuffed with specifics--everything from consensus building tips to digital filing guidelines. Architects, engineers, planners and developers are the obvious target audience for this trade book. But, new urbanists and city enthusiasts everywhere will also enjoy it as an entertaining and instructive reference.




4. The Pittsburgh-based firm Urban Design Associates has been in practice for nearly 40 years, over the decades accumulating quite a lot of experience in urban design. This is UDA's in-house training manual, polished and augmented for public use. If you are starting out in the urban design field, or are just curious about the methods of a successful firm, this is a good place to begin your investigations.

   The first section introduces some basic principles and organizing concepts. Ideas like the "Urban X-Ray" and "Urban Assembly Kit" are easy to understand but at the same time provide a powerful means of evaluating locations and organizing the design process.

   The second section, taking up one-third of the book, is a case study of the design process from beginning to site plan. It's really the heart of the manual. This section takes you through information collection, analysis, charrettes, preliminary design, negotiation, and final presentation. UDA can be justifiably proud of their work here, as the site (a housing project in Winston-Salem) was extremely challenging, yet the final plan was quite good from a number of perspectives. You get some idea of the politics, persuasion and patience necessary when working with established residents, officials, engineers and developers.

   The following two sections cover pattern books and architecture. These sections are mostly about basic concepts and the firm's standardized methods, which can be dry reading. The information is sound, but presented in a rather generic way, and so is less engrossing than the earlier section. It will be of interest to students wanting to understand how one firm tackles contextual residential design.

   In the extensive appendices, the roots of the manual become more apparent. These cover everything from filing system notation to line weight (how to draw a block of houses). Mainly of interest to those wanting to compare office administration procedures, students, and new UDA employees.

   The Urban Design Manual delivers the goods in a concise format, focusing on UDA's methods rather than trying to encompass a variety of possible approaches. The illustrations are a treat to look at, and convey at least as much information as the text. The writing is clear and professional, yet also conversational and even a bit lighthearted. Mini "war story" vignettes in the margins bespeak the writers' understated humor. It is the first step-by-step manual of urban design (hopefully the first of many by various authors), and is valuable resource for students and practitioners.




5. Gindros and Company at UDA distilled the stuff they do every day (-designing buildings, neighborhoods and towns), into a manual for their own new hires. Then they expanded this information into a handbook for publication. The book presents an excellent framework for design work at several scales, from the individual building through the building blocks of great neighborhoods, the street, the block, the public spaces.