Carpentry & Construction

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.

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.

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.