Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods

I teach a graduate course using this book. It's got a lot of good material and it's a pretty solid 360° view, but it also introduces a lot of things that feel outdated in 2024-- even in the sixth edition. If this book is from 2014, how come all of these photos are from before I was born? Come on, Allen and Iano, do better!

The picture of the book I purchased online had the 5th edition picture not a different book from 1985 version and not the 2009 version I payed for. I got charged $17 and change for something that in other websites go for $5. Its sad but I can't trust these websites not products they offer.. Don't trust these books they're offering, they put two ISBNs and then they'll send you the older version.

I am still using my 1985 Edition! It is a resource you will want to keep around. The technical background and drawings are great! It has some of everything - residential and nonresidential. Thanks Edward Allen-great book.

this book is an excellent overview of construction materials and practices. i really recommend this book to beginning structural/civil engineers who want to know more about construction. I would absolutely recommend this to architects because it's very practical.

Every engineer must have one copy of this book.This is an updated edition of the previous ones.Very detailed description and pictures about construction.

Being a student in Construction Management Edward Allen's book was assigned as our text book. The course entitled materials and methods is intended to teach future construction manajors about the wide variety of materials on the market today as well as tradional methods of constructing with these materials. The book is chalked full of knowledge most of which would take a person hours, even days of research to uncover with other sources. It is very comprehensive. If you are active in the comercial building construction this book is a must for your refrence shelf. Residential construction owners/workers would gain considerable knowledge from the book it has plenty of useful information however I feel the book is leaning more towards heavy commercial.

Simply put, this is one of the best technical textbooks I've ever read. It's basic stuff for someone just starting out in the discipline of architecture, but I'm keeping it as a reference for future professional use. It is clearly written and well illustrated and worth it's high price. I wish Allen would now write a book on Environmental Control Systems--everything in that field is too dry and too technical.