Rex Roberts Your Engineered House

This is a timeless classic for anyone designing/building a home. Some items (like "new" materials available) are dated. But the thrust of the book, the concepts discussed, work in any home design since mankind climbed out of the cave and picked a tree to live in. And will work on the moon or any planet.

It is wonderful to update a book, from the past, that has so many good ideas for creating "off-the-grid" design. Wonderful job on the sequel to a fine publication.

Other opinions notwithstanding, Charlie Wing has done a much needed update on a classic, innovative reconsideration of housebuilding. Wing had the benefit of 20 years of hindsight on what worked and what did not work among Rex Roberts many sugggestions for fundamentally changing the basic American house. Wing, educated in physics and experienced in the building trades, helped found an owner-builder school prompted by Mr. Roberts' original book. His buildings and Mr. Roberts are the basis for his update. The tin-foil insulation is not mentioned because it was a disaster -- it did not insulate but it did cause condensate and rotting, even on Mr. Roberts own house. Enough said. If you insist on reading the original, take no action based on it until you determine whether it's included in Mr. Wing's update. Otherwise, enjoyable and thoughtful reading all round. I've built a house based on these principles and thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is a wonderful book. In spite of being written in 1964, it provides insight that withstands the test of time. Unfortunately it's out of print and the publisher says they will not be reprinting it. A few copies are still available if you're willing to hunt for them!