No comments about The Architecture of Parking.

5 comments about Do-It-Yourself Housebuilding: The Complete Handbook.

1. For the Owner-builder, or others doing very advanced home building/repair. Actual hands-on building, limited designing sections. Very condensed explanations on the various different construction techniques. Does not get 5 stars until it's updated with modern materials; i.e. SIPS and encapsulated concrete walls. Plus more on PEX plumbing and Cat 5 wiring needed. Overall, excellent reference shelf staple.



2. Comprehensive! I built myself a house and am now happily working in the construction trade. If you are planning on building a stick-built house this book will serve by itself--if you buy multiple books it will be the one you keep referencing. Sam Clark's "Indepedent Builder" is helpful for design ideas (and is stronger in that area) and general contemplation, but Clark does not provide the details you need to know when you finally put your tool belt on and start building. I don't understand other reviewer's complaints about the (high) level of detail or the lexicon involved. If you are about to build a wall you should want to know everything you can about it--Nash leaves extremely little guess work. Every sentence tells something worth knowing. If you are working with all the various structural and decorative pieces that make up a house you want to know what to call them, and Nash employs a reasonably consistent terminology. The black and white pictures might be a little dark but there are plenty of very helpful and clearly drawn line drawings--parts are labeled and you can get the lingo down quickly if you really want to. Overall, you just couldn't ask for a more patient, thoughtful, and thorough writer--any gripes are so minor they aren't worth voicing. I am grateful to have this book!!



3. George Nash has written a number of great books on carpentry around the house. This is a great book to have for those who love to understand how their house is built and how they can fix things.



4. My husband and I DID build our own house over fours summers with a hammer in one hand and nails in the other. I am sitting in it right now at my computer.
   
   We began with old versions of Sam Clark's and Robert Roskind's self-builder books. (The new versions have much expanded chapters on interior finish work.) They are very good for FUNDAMENTAL concepts such as design, load limits, materials and tools needed, time estimates, etc. But it was Nash's that really gave us the DETAIL we needed to do so many of the jobs required of us, ranging from stair building to laying tile to putting up interior tongue-and-groove wall board to installing hardwood flooring. Of course, the book doesn't cover everything you MIGHT want to do. For instance, we put a concrete counter top in the kitchen and had to go to Fu-Tung Cheng's book for advice and direction.
   
   The point is that housebuilding is a BIG commitment. If you wish to, or have to, do it yourself, it will take SEVERAL BOOKS AND RESOURCES. My advice is to look at various books at your local public library then purchase the ones you think best for you.
   
   But rest assured, housebuilding is a realistic endeavor for any healthy individual. Even people over 50! But for every hour spent building, back it up with a couple hours researching. The research is invaluable and I highly recommend Nash's Do-It-Yourself Housebuilding as your point of reference.



5. This book contains everything you need to know about building most homes. If you want to be the contractor, I recommend that this book be acccompanied by "The Complete Guide to Contracting Your Home" by McGuerty & Lester. It has sample schedules, contract, etc. But I use this book more for the know-how of building a home.

   THIS IS THE BOOK TO OWN IF YOU WANT TO TALK INTELLIGENTLY TO YOUR BUILDER AND KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR DURING CONSTRUCTION! It will tell you EVERYTHING! I started out with a builder that was planning to be shady and knowing stuff in this book scared him off. I knew too much for him to cut important corners. I asked specific questions and he fled. My current builder and I have good relations and we can intelligently talk specifics of the trade because of this book.

4 comments about Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction: The Architect's and Builder's Guide to Design, Planning, and Construction Details (Ramsey/Sleeper Architectural Graphic Standards Series).

1. This book is an excellent reference book for use in designing, planning, and building a new house or remodeling an existing one. Whenever I plan on doing something on the house, I double check with this reference before finishing my designs and plans. It's a must own book for serious do-it-yourselfers.



2. Although these editions change little, this review is based upon AGS 10th Ed. & AGSRC 2003.
   
   
   Negative:
   This is bascially a regurgitation of the more complete Architectural Graphics Standards, distilled to a "residential" focus but appears as volumous because some details have been photo-enlarged (in poor-average quality). Few, if any new residential details/information has been provided.
   
   Positive:
   Those ONLY interested in residential construction and NOT requiring a full brace of ALL details will find this quite a good value - compare its price to Architectural Graphics Standards.
   
   Recommendation:
   Anyone in construction should have one, but not both of these books as a prime resource. The content does improve every year, although some years it's like watching grass grow.
   
   Challenge:
   IF there are numerous portions of the Residential version that are unique and new to it, exclusive of passages in the larger AGS version - I would really appreciate a review that contains how to locate these passages, as I've spent enough time trying to find them. If enough of these exist, it would give thought of updating this resource once in awhile.



3. Experienced readers will benefit from its brief summaries and drawings covering the broadest range of topics imaginable. Some economizing is evident in the paper and printing quality, some of the drawings look 50 years old, but there is lots of reference information, like span tables, solar position data, etc. Probably not the last word on every topic, but still worth consulting.



4. Following in the terrific legacy of the benchmark Architectural Graphic Standards book, this edition clearly makes building for residences an easier task. I've found innumerable details that I've used in my residential practice on a daily basis, details not found in other reference books. Of particular help are the pages that give an overview of how parts of a house interconnect with each other, such as foundation-to-framing. Also, there is a wealth of info on HVAC, new window technology and other things I've found very, very helpful.

5 comments about Jeffrey Bilhuber's Design Basics: Expert Solutions for Designing the House of Your Dreams.

1. For someone that knows absolutely nothing about putting together a room this book has my highest approval. This is like a crash course in design because he gives you all of the design basics like how to choose color, what kind of furniture to use, how to place your pictures, where to place the furniture, how to make a room look smaller or bigger with all of the above. Plus there's a lot of information on the basics of window treatments, lighting, upholstery. This book was titled very well and I very much recommend it for someone that doesn't have a clue about decorating.



2. ...it gets you thinking about where to spend your precious decorating dollars. (Bilhuber advises against dumping your budget in kitchens and bathrooms in favor of making bigger statements in foyers and living rooms, for example.) I cook almost all my family's meals so I was EXTREMELY tempted to replace the white appliances in a home I recently purchased with stainless steel ones. I have instead decided to spend that money having the home's interior professionally painted and perhaps purchase a new oriental rug for my living room. When I think about which will make a bigger impact (freshly painted walls and a lovely rug in the first room people see or silver GE Profile appliances versus white ones in the rear of the house) it's pretty much a no brainer. I suppose it's fine to throw a wad of dough at a kitchen remodel if you're filthy rich and can also afford to decorate the rest of your house to the hilt. Bilhuber seems to recognize that that's not the case for the bulk of us, however. The book has also inspired me in smaller ways like decorating with ferns and pinpointing paint colors based on my favorite possessions such as the oat-colored cashmere cardigan I always turn to. Now if I could only decide whether to paint my ceilings Benjamin Moore's Atrium White as he suggests or Swiss Coffee, which is my favorite!



3. Bilhuber is obviously a talented designer and the lovely rooms in the book demonstrate this. Getting the basic concepts of design across to his readers somehow didn't gel. He includes some information that seems obvious:
   *Color is the quickest, most powerful, and most economical way to transform your house.
   Add to this, some high-flown statements that really don't help:
   *Even the humblest of materials can be ennobled by design.
   *Design obstacles are nothing more than opportunities.
   I did find helpful ideas like these:
   *Look at favorite items (suede gloves, a Chinese bowl) and let that inspire your room treatment (not pages torn from a magazine).
   *When you feature something, then repeat that design element (maybe through color) elsewhere in the room, so it isn't isolated.
   There is useful information here but maybe too much work to pull it out of the text and picture captions.



4. This book is far more than just a picture book. The instruction in basic design concepts allows you to apply what you learn to novel situations without having to simply copy an idea you see in a picture. I picked up skills from this book, not just ideas.



5. I think most people don't quite understand this book and what it has to offer. (Interior designers included.) If you're looking for "French Country at home" this book it ain't. But if you want to understand and create your unique style, Bilhuber will definitely teach you how to.

5 comments about Building Stairs (For Pros by Pros).

1. They must work perfectly every time they are used for the life of the house because someone can be horribly injured or worse, including the builder. Not for a DIY project and I was alarmed by what this volume left out. A DIY stairs project would be painting trimming an interior staircase, or tacking down some mats. I do not feel the book is unsafe, just grossly incomplete.
   
   Sorry, I have to rate the book at 1 star. Zero wasn't an option.
   
   Hire a licensed builder with time in rate.



2. The book addressed building stair-related structures that were just not relevant to standard stair building needs...



3. So I don't know why I bought this book without reading the previous reviews. I usually check those first and avoid books like this. It had too many types of stairs to be documented and not enough detail for each one. I would have rather had just three basic types of stairs covered in detail than all of the types in here. The writer appeared to be showing off.
   
   Still, it did show me what I needed to purchase (bending rail) and had about two pages worth of useful information. I finished my curved baluster, but I see flaws in my work. I am a pretty ambitious DIYer and I would not recommend that anyone try doing this but a professional. This book did not give enough detail or complete instructions to help me through the rough spots.



4. As an installer by trade, I urge anyone interested in learning the construction of stairs to consult another book. I wish I had read the other readers comments before I wasted my money on this book.



5. I have a large amount of admiration for the Taunton Press. Fine Homebuilding is quality magazine and the For Pros books have been worth the money. This book is a poor collection of disjointed FH articles that have no cogent flow to them. I should know better than to buy books by "Editors," but I made a mistake here. William Spence's "Constructing Staircases, Balustrades & Landings," while not a perfect book, is much better than this collection.
   
   Taunton's "For Pros" books on Electrical (Caldwell) and Plumbing (Hemp) are well worth the money, particularly Caldwell's offering.

5 comments about Good Green Homes.

1. This is an excellent book for those seeking an introduction to environmentally sound home building. There are many good general points and examples of green homes. It is short on details for actual designers but good for home builders who need to read this information desperately and stop building mega-mansions with 5 bedrooms for families with one kid.



2. Doesn't give a detailed analysis of anything, but is a great tool for people wanting a basic understanding of green building, energy efficient techniques, etc.



3. This book no doubt makes a lovely addition to my coffee table. I feel so inspired and now.. how do I do it?? I was looking for more practical advice that addressed all my reasons for wanting to remodel green - protecting my family's health and our planet's natural resources and my financial savings. If the intention was to create a stunning, inspiring book - great job. If it was to really explain what green is and exactly how to do it, I think I'd look to books like "Green Remodeling" by Johnston and Master or read Environmental Building News....



4. "A recent poll revealed that an astounding 96% of consumers are willing to pay more for green features in a home, and 91% feel that energy-efficient features in a new home were extremely or very important."
   
   If you are planning to redecorate or remodel, Good Green Homes offers ideas, real-world advice and lots of inspiration. Jennifer Roberts is a freelance writer who specializes in sustainable building, energy efficiency and corporate social responsibility. She helps people make choices that encourage positive change in their living environments. She answers the following questions:
   
   How does having a "green" home actually save money?
   How can someone who rents their home make significant changes?
   What are some ways to protect and improve the quality of air inside our homes?
   What are "rapidly renewable sources?"
   How can you afford a green home on a limited budget?
   
   Jennifer is also a merchandising manager for the Marina Green stores and joys introducing consumers to the joys of stylish clothes made from organically grown cotton, healthy paints, energy-efficient light bulbs, tableware made from recycled materials and environmentally friendly alternatives to everyday household products.
   
   Featured Homes Include:
   
   A Delightful Cottage
   An Ecofriendly addition to a historic home
   A Trio of Healthy and Green City Homes
   An Artist's studio on a Wooded Island
   A Vacation Retreat in the Wine Country
   A Neighborhood of Homes
   A Remodeled Victorian Flat
   
   It is rather shocking to learn that the air inside our homes can be five times more polluted than the air outside. One look at your energy bill might convince you to read this book.
   
   These homes don't really look all that different, but there are features like skylights to save electricity or there is a home that is naturally cooled, heated and lit. Some homes have solar water-heating systems for the summer and a unique solar power system blended right in with a backyard trellis to generate electricity from the sun.
   
   The section on air quality was of interest to me because I am always moving my Austin air filter about the house.
   
   The "Wine Country Retreat" looked like a house I could live in because it even has a tower. Well, the pools also looked rather inviting.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



5. This book is a gift to the Earth and to so many of the people who inhabit it! Good Green Homes is educational and practical in an amazingly palatable way...that is to say, it is most enjoyable reading; and at the end one is so much wiser than when one began. It is a visual feast. The concept of environmentally sensitive choices in every aspect of the home is brought to the whole spectrum of the population, from new construction to renters to "what can I do with what I've got." This book is beautiful, user friendly and, above all, inspirational. I kept saying, "I can do that! I can take that action. I can make a difference, and I want to!" Bravo!

3 comments about The Old Barn Book: A Field Guide to North American Barns and Other Farm Structures.

1. This field guide has what I consider to be soso black and white photos and drawings of each type of barn and supporting structures. If you are looking for accurate information on a style of barn and where it may be located this is the book for you. I would perfer better quality photo's and some color. Rather boring presentation!



2. For what I wanted the book for it is a fantastic resourse. I build model barns and covered bridges. This book has not only given me new ideas but also a history behind them. Love the book.



3. While the book presents numerous types of agricultural buildings from all over the U.S., it doesn't go into any sort of detail about any of them, making it of limited reference use.

No comments about Essential House Plan Collection: 1500 Best Selling Home Plans.

No comments about Managing Sport Facilities.

5 comments about Frank Lloyd Wright in Pop-up.

1. I have enjoyed this book since receiving it. It's a fun coffee table book and the pop-ups are wonderful. It is a fragile book, arriving with the spine damaged in shipping. All the pop-ups were fine so I didn't exchange it.



2. Despite the earlier, very negative review by Dominic, I agree with George&M's positive review, and found this book quite enjoyable, interesting, and readable.
   
   First of all, Dominic is wrong when he says the pop ups don't actually "pop up." The model of the Johnson Wax building actually rises up a good six inches, maybe more off the paper, hardly anything close to what he describes. Most don't go that far, but are still very enjoyable to watch how they work as you open up the book, and to look at.
   
   And as for the fragile binding and poor book quality he cites, well, welcome to the real world of commercial publishing of art and architecture books, which has been going downhill for probably the last 20 years, as publishers struggle to maintain profitability in the face of an American public that cares little for art and architectural education. Dominic also doesn't discuss the written text, which, for a book that looks like it's designed more to entertain rather than to educate, is well done, with detailed histories of the six buildings in the book, and comments by Wright himself about how he designed the project.
   
   Even if you don't buy it, if you're a fan of Wright's, you should at least seek it out for the sheer fun of watching the paper pop-ups of Wright's buildings. The book discusses six of Wright's most notable buildings, such as the Johnson Wax building, Fallingwater, and the Mayan style house in L.A. (unfortunately I don't recall the name of the owners). The choices of buildings are a good selection to represent the full diversity of Wright's work, which ranged from personal residences to major corporate complexes. Overall, this is an interesting and fun and informative book on Wright that should be of interest to any Wright afficionados or fans of pop-up books (the most fun books after all--check out the Kama Sutra one I saw once some time. :-)).



3. I bought this gift for my boyfriend who loves Wright's work. The pop-ups are really amazing. They captured several of the Frank Lloyd Wright structures perfectly. The book also has a lot of good information about the architect.



4. Not a serious architecture book by any means, but it is neat to look at and keep on your coffee table. Other reviewers seem to take it too seriously (and maybe themselves also).



5. this was purchased as a gift for my niece. she is showing an interest in architecture