Reviews (4)

Disappointing
I eagerly anticipated this book, since there is so little published information on the subject, but I was disappointed when it finally arrived.It appears that it was never proofread.I read a lot, and this is the worst job of editing/proofreading I have ever seen in a book.This may sound like nitpicking, but there were places where I could not figure out what information the author was trying to convey it was so garbled.It is FULL of typos, grammatical errors, and garbled sentences.
A wealth of insights and tips on how to construct - and maintain - a natural garden pool
NATURAL SWIMMING POOLS: INSPIRATION FOR HARMONY WITH NATURE offers a wealth of insights and tips on how to construct - and maintain - a natural garden pool. Surprisingly they are less costly to maintain than traditional chemical pools, save on water, and beautify a garden area more than less ecological offerings. Full-page color photos throughout illustrate such pools, surveying a range of designs and options and discussing biological conditioning, ecology, regeneration zones, and construction choice alike. It's the multitude of options and in-depth coverage on these options, paired with the color photo coverage, which makes NATURAL SWIMMING POOLS an extraordinary survey.
Long overdue book on an overdue topic
I have been keenly interested in the topic of natural swimming pools for about 5 years, but have been frustrated by the lack of information in English on the topic (there are several books in German - the homeland of the concept - but only a single manual in English).
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. House & Home    4. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    5. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    6. Swimming pools    7. Water gardens, pools   

Reviews (4)

Agreed
After doing my own research, I ended up purchasing this book. I agree completely with the other reviews - its the best book, its the only book you need, and I congratulate the author on making this a flexible yet thorough resource that guides you pictorally through every step of the process. Just plain awesome, and I just finished my deck and I love it - it exceeds my expectations and its due to the advice in these pages.

best deck building book I found
I am planning to design and build a large (40x15) deck, and I bought several books to learn about the process.This is far and away the best of the lot.Plenty of detail for each part of the deck.Great diagrams and pictures.Lots of great "tricks of the trade."Very readable.Highly recommended.
The Best Book on Design and Construction of Decks
I've been researching decks and screen porches for the last few months, with the intention of building a 16'X 34' elevated deck and screen porch on my home in Southern CT. I've done many home construction project big and small; however, I'm not in the construction business. Scott Schuttner's Build Like a Pro book on decks, is by far the best book on decks, period. It is clearly superior to the other books I've read on the subject (and I've purchase over four of them and flipped through a lot more). This one was really the only one I need to buy; unfortunately, I came across it after studying the other books and still not feeling that I had a full understanding on deck construction and design options. Schuttner's book lives up to its opening dedication: "...to all those who desire to do the best they can."Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Decks (Architecture, Domestic)    3. Design and construction    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Home Maintenance And Repair    7. House & Home    8. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    9. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - Patios & Decks    10. Outdoor Structure Construction    11. DIY    12. Greenhouses, conservatories, patios    13. House & Home / Design & Construction   

Reviews (18)

making concrete garden ornaments
this book is so easy to follow! i have made so many cool things!if you think concrete is just for sidewalks,think again.this book really opens up new horizons you had never thought about.

I love it!
This is a great book, with lots of information. Even if you have never worked with concrete before this book makes it easy. I highly recommend this book! I was right out the next day making things. ENJOY!

Great!
I am a true beginner working with concrete.I wanted information on making stepping stones and I found this information and a whole lot more!It was written for anyone to be able to understand and start projects immediately.You won't be dissappointed if you purchase this book.I love it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Do-It-Yourself    2. Do-It-Yourself - Masonry    3. Garden Furnishings    4. Gardening / Horticulture    5. House & Home    6. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    7. BG-JUVENILE PROP - BG-JUVY ACTIVITY    8. Building skills    9. DIY    10. Garden design & planning    11. House & Home / Outdoor & Recreational Areas    12. Sculpture   

Reviews (1)

Provides everything to know bout adding a new barn, shed or garage to a property
Co-authors John D. Wagner and Clayton DeKorne's Barns, Sheds And Outbuildings: Plan, Design, Build provides everything to know bout adding a new barn, shed or garage to a property. Over 800 photos and illustrations aid in the process, from choosing an appropriate design for needs and placement to step-by-step photos of the actual construction process. Competing titles focus on options more than construction techniques and tips. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Design & Construction    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    6. House & Home / Design & Construction   

Subjects:  1. Do-It-Yourself    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. House & Home    4. Landscape    5. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    6. Garden design & planning    7. Gardening / Landscape   

Reviews (15)

Colorful!
A clean and accurate book filled with great color pictures and illustrations.Scotts is a good lawn company and it shows in this educational book.I was able to analyze my grass type and disorders with this book quite easily.

Highly Recommended
I'm a first-time lawn owner and this book has been the greatest resource I've found yet. It has detailed explanations of every important topic regarding your lawn. The color pages and pictures are more than just window dressing; they make the topics easier to understand. I've tried several other books and not found anything as useful as this. In fact, a guy just joined my department at work who studied turf management in college (as part of a golf sports degree) and every tip he's given me was already covered in this book.
Probably the Best
"Holy caRRRnations, Mary. Take a look at this!", you might exclaim for seeing this book the first time. "Look at the clever propaganda of Scotts trying to sell us more of their products!" Well, you might think that . . . but you're wrong. You and I have the advantage -- yeap, GREAT advantage -- of living in the Information Age. And in the process of trying "to sell us more of their Scotts products" -- for those of you for who the glass is half-empty -- Messrs. Nick Christians and Ashton Ritchie have provided us not only with probably the best book on lawns, but invaluable information on lawn care from A to Z.
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Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Lawns    5. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    6. Reference    7. Gardening / Lawns    8. Gardening: plants   

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Barbecues (Fireplaces)    3. Design & Construction    4. Design and construction    5. Do-It-Yourself    6. Garden Furnishings    7. Garden ornaments and furniture    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. House & Home    10. Kitchens    11. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    12. Outdoor Structure Construction    13. Outdoor kitchens    14. DIY    15. House & Home / Outdoor & Recreational Areas   

Reviews (3)

Review from someone who's not known as a handyman
I bought this book to build a 6' privacy fence.I didn't know the first thing about building a fence but this book takes you by the hand and walks you through each step.The author does a great job of keeping things simple for the reader/beginner and includes illustrations and photos to help you envision the process.I keep referring back to sections of this book as I continure to build.Highly reccomend this book to all beginners.

Fences:In thought, word, and deed.
"The Fence Bible: ..." by Jeff Beneke is an excellent, comprehensive guide. The title says it all, and the author delivers.Whether you want to build your own fence, or contract the project out this book can help you get it done right.

Fully lives up to its name
Jeff Beneke is an expert woodworker, house renovator, gardener, and author of more than a dozen highly commended home-improvement books designed specifically for the non-specialist general reader wanting to renovate, remodel, or otherwise improve their home and property values. The Fence Bible: How To Plan, Install, And Build Fences And Gates To Meet Every Home Style And Property Need, No Matter What Size Your Yard is Beneke's latest (and in many ways) his best "how to" title to date. This 272 page instruction manual is superbly illustrated with full color photographs and exemplary illustrations from cover to cover. If you want any kind of fencing on any kind of property, then The Fence Bible is the complete reference on how to build one whether you choose wood, stone, brick, concrete, mesh, wrought iron, living hedges, or anything else. Also available in a hardcover format (1580175864, $34.95), The Fence Bible is one reference that fully lives up to its name! Also very highly recommended from Storey Publishing is Peter Jeswald's How To Build Paths, Steps & Footbridges: The Fundamentals Of Planning, Designing, And Constructing Creative Walkways In Your Home Landscape (1580174876, $19.95, paperback; 158017-5759, $29.95, hardcover)
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Subjects:  1. Design and construction    2. Fences    3. Garden Furnishings    4. Gardening    5. Gardening/Plants    6. History    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    9. DIY    10. Garden design & planning    11. Gardening / Garden Furnishings   

Reviews (4)

An excellent choice for building your shed
This book takes you through the steps of constructing an attractive, functional and well-built shed.The sheds are designed for New England snow loads, so they should stand up anywhere you build it, for a long, long time.Anyone with basic carpentry skills should be able to build most of the sheds shown in the book.The gambrel shed in the book is the most complex style mentioned.The shed styles explained are aa Lean-To Locker, a Saltbox Potting shed, Colonial style (shown on cover) and the Gambrel shed.
THIS BOOK IS MOSTLY FOR THE EAST COAST BUILDER
I purchased this book and read many parts of it. I was most interested in pouring a concrete slab foundation. This book covered every foundation but concrete slab, so I was disappointed in that. The sheds that are covered are very elaborate and built to last. I thought a better job could have been done in covering things like roof slope, and altering it from the sheds built in the book. Giving other options in different phases of construction. The pictures are good but there sure could be more of them(this book is nicely printed and color pictures are expensive). I am a picture kind of guy; a picture is worth a thousand words to me. The "pro tips" highlights are good and provide very usefull info at different stages of construction.
Shed Building In a Nutshell
what separates this book from the other riff raff shed building books is its title, its author, and publishing date. shed building is an american pasttime as long as building barns. In fact Truini delineates a nice history between the shed and the barn, two architectural cousins, who, having some rough times in the past, have reconciled. Shed Building cannot be seen as anything other than the construction of a shed with four walls, a roof, an at least one entrance.Shed building is also an activity that boils down to one thing, building a shed. Truini examines the etymology of the word shed, from its incorporation into Indo-European languages by Finno-Urgic nomads in the 6th century b.c., with the word schiiedde, which meant miniature house that looks like a house. Its interesting how in chinese, the word for shed is quang xi, which interestingly enough has a pictogram that looks like a shed, interestingly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Construction - General    3. Design and construction    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Do-It-Yourself - General    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    9. Outdoor Structure Construction    10. Sheds    11. Building construction & materials    12. DIY    13. House & Home / Design & Construction   

Reviews (1)

STRIKING!
Photographic journal that will definitely spur some new ideas. Most are more modern, but reminiscent of the Frank Lloyd Wright style of architecture with very strong lines. Multiple settings and unique media usage. Every structural artist who plans an endeavor in the garden should have this! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Domestic    3. History - Specific Styles    4. Landscape    5. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    6. Architectural structure & design    7. Interior design    8. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (31)

"A Most Helpful Tree House Guide"
David Stiles seems to know exactly what aspects of building give us would-be owners of tree houses our cold feet.He has organized this book so that our every little fright is answered before it occurs.Every potential problem has, if not a clear answer, at least a path for readers to "whomp up" an answer themselves.I was wonderfully impressed!Come fall, one or two trees in my backyard may be wearing houses themselves!

Tree Houses You Can Actually Build
There's a lot of info in this book that would have been hard to scramble up on my own.And, is presented in such a way that even a beginning carpenter can put together one of these or just use the info to design one's own. I especially liked the info on the "extras" such as rope ladders and other tree house accessories. It's a real "how-to" book and I can't wait to get started!

Critical resource for the first-time builder
I used this book to build a great tree house. I found the line drawings to be much more useful than the photographs in the other 3 tree house books I bought. The drawings offer advice for beginners (including don't saw the branch you are sitting on) that seem frivolous till you start working in the tree. The book gives a few plans, and though none would quite work in my tree, I was able to combine ideas from all of them. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Construction - Carpentry    3. Design and construction    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    8. Tree houses    9. Woodwork - General    10. Building construction & materials    11. Crafts & Hobbies / Woodwork    12. Woodworking   

Reviews (2)

Creating Memories with your Children
My daughter has always been interested in fairy houses since we first watched Kristen's Fairy House.They are delightful little creations that she would spend hours making in the back yard, or we would go on walks and find natural things for her to use in her designs.She is now 8, and still very much into creating unique homes for the fairies.I feel so lucky to see her whimiscal artistic side bloom.She is even creating seasonal fairy house centerpieces for us to decorate our home with.I will always treasure these times with her, and the magical memories that we are making.Sorry if I am long winded.Getting to the point, this book has GORGEOUS photographs of all kinds of fairy houses, in all seasons.It is an inspiration to behold.My daughter and I love to look at the pictures over and over.The authors brought up a really nice fundraiser that they started by having everyone they knew in their neighborhood make fairy houses.What an interesting and unusual idea!Next house tour to raise money for school, can be fairy houses!This book offers the person that would like to get started making houses, lots of ideas, or is a sweet read for the person that just wants to appreciate little bits of beauty.A nice addition to Kristen's Fairy House Video/DVD, and sweet memories for family times together.

Explores the fantasy world of fairies as a fun task with an appeal to readers of all ages
Fairy Houses... Everywhere!, is a compilation of photographs and writings assembled by Barry & Tracy Kane, into an eccentric collection of brief, illustrated descriptions of wild and intricate fairy homes, mansions, cabins, marinas, gardens created by the artistic imagination of the authors. Providing readers with a complete and timeless anthology of a hobby-turned-profession, Fairy Houses... Everywhere! explores the fantasy world of fairies as a fun task with an appeal to readers of all ages. Fairy Houses... Everywhere! is highly recommended for its undeniably entertaining, wonderfully fun, innovative ideals and explorative concepts.
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Subjects:  1. Activities    2. Garden Furnishings    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. General    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    8. Wildlife   

Reviews (1)

For BIG rooms and budgets only
If you are planning to entertain a cast of thousands (or at least a few hundred), own at least ten acres of land, and have unlimited funds (including hefty fees for architects and engineers), then this book offers a few good ideas. Unfortunately, I was looking for something more down to earth, such as ideas for a modest gazebo or shelter that would blend nicely into the back of my modest half acre piece of land - a place for thinking or reading or conversing with a few god friends, a place to escape the rain, or a place for star gazing. This book didn't even come close to my expectations. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Design & Construction    3. Domestic    4. Interior Design - General    5. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    6. Architecture / General    7. Houses, apartments, flats, etc   

Reviews (2)

Ortho's All About Greenhouses
This book was very informative.How to deal with frost and protect plants to their fullest!How to create the style and form we are looking for and do ourselves.Highly Recommended!

Great Fun and so easy -
Very nice picture book. Not much info on greenhouse growing but good info on greenhouses of ten years ago. The newer greenhouse have been left out. So much has changed in the last few years, double poly roofs, hydroponics, heating under tables, steal construction, shading, cross ventilation, all were left out of this new edition but nice color pictures and a good beginner book. If you want a up to date greenhouse book see, Secrets to a Successful Greenhouse and Business. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction - General    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Greenhouse gardening    6. Greenhouses    7. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    8. Gardening / Greenhouses    9. Greenhouses, conservatories, patios   

Reviews (8)

Like being in the garden.
The beautiful photographs in this book will take you away.This book is all about the pictures.The text is limited.I liked that.The book is a nice size.Easy to pick up and look through.Recommend it.

Amazing Mexican Book
I love this book a LOT! It contains lots of Colored Photographs. I am planning on fixing our house which has been left unfinished for the past 13 years and will get Ideas from this book.

Perfect Book For My Choice
I actually ordered this for a friend of mine who needed some ideas on decorating her house. So when I recieved it in the mail, I fipped through it and was really, really happy with my choice. The pictures are colorful, and there are so many pictures to give ideas to anyone wanting to decorate their home mexican style.My friend loved the book as well, she kept thanking me for the next two weeks. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Domestic    3. Garden Design    4. Gardening / Horticulture    5. Gardens    6. General    7. Interior Design - General    8. Mexico    9. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    10. Outdoor living spaces    11. Patios    12. Pictorial works    13. Subjects & Themes - General    14. Gardening / Garden Design    15. Landscape art & architecture   

Reviews (7)

Excellent coffee table book
This book has some excellent pictures of treehouses. I love it! It is one of my favorite treehouse books. It is not for someone looking to build a treehouse; for that, i recommend "Home Tree Home", by Peter Nelson. Back in 1999, I built my own treehouse, primarily using ideas from "Home Tree Home" and prior treehouse building experience. I lived in it for 5 years.

a question for "A reader from NY"
I've looked for this "original" the treehouse book by david stiles, and can't find it.... WHO SAYS TREEHOUSES ARE JUST FOR CHILDREN!
What a delightful book filled with mystical wonder and beautiful photography.We generally associate treehouses with children and the exuberance of youth, but....I want one!My own space, a private place to recapture lost youth, a place to dream, recollect thoughts, be at one with the stars and the universe - how magical life could be.There is no question my talented husband could build one; though not a professional, he truly is talented at that sort of thing as a hobby.But, there is a chance I would appear in the backyard on a bright summer's morn, only to hear him exclaim, "Treehouse?You wanted a treehouse? I thought you said "birdhouse," and then I do have a problem because how would I ever fit through that that tiny little round hole in the centre? Even if he did get the plans right, there is also the off-chance my family would insist on building a safety net around the treehouse, just in case dear old granny fell OUT of her tree!Possibly, they would insist the resident counsellor also have her own "branches checked out," just in case she was missing a few twigs off the upper branch.Read more

Subjects:  1. Architectural Design    2. Construction - General    3. Domestic    4. Gardening    5. Gardening/Plants    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    8. Tree houses    9. Trees    10. Wood Construction    11. Woodwork - General    12. Architectural structure & design    13. Architecture / General   

Editorial Review

This is a delightful book that promises to deliver loads of fantasy and fun for anyone in need of a rustic place to rest, relax, and retreat from the speed and stress of modern living. The Stiles provide more than 20 step-by-step plans for low-cost outdoor buildings, among them a grape arbor, a hillside hut, a water gazebo (floating!), a log cabin, tree houses, a wigwam, a garden pavilion, a yurt, and a river raft. A bit of individual creativity can make any of the plans described and diagrammed into unique personal statements or fantasies. Many of the plans are so simple they can be built in a few hours or in less than a day, and most do not require high levels of carpentry or building skills (though all will be useful as "learning projects" for the uninitiated). If you built forts as a kid--or wanted to--here's your chance to play at it again as an adult! Read more

Reviews (11)

I can build that!
I'm glad there are no photos in this book. Get an imagination!The drawings are fun and lively.They also give important aspects of the project that a photo rarely illustrates.Now I know how (in detail) to construct a tipi, or put together a simple door or roof that really would hold up to nature.The primitive shelters section is great.So are the tree houses. Not that all of these projects are practical homes, but now I have ideas for that "fort" in the back acre my kids are bugging me about.Thanks for a great book to just read, or get us outside with a saw and hammer.

creative ideas, not for children
These are true rustic retreats for adults. Just know this is not for children's tree houses or play houses. These are very rustic retreats, such as a lean-to to use as a nature retreat, or for the shack-like building the size of a garden shed for sleeping in as a weekend getaway,(sans electricity or toilets). Good ideas No Photos except Cover
I don't get why you put a beautiful photo on the cover of your book and all 2nd rate hand drawn pictues inside. It's deceptive! Won't help you with Country Home ideas. Maybe good for a kids Fort or a Bowhunting stand... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Construction - General    3. Design & Construction    4. Design and construction    5. Designs and plans    6. Do-It-Yourself    7. Do-It-Yourself - General    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. House & Home    10. House construction    11. Houses    12. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    13. Second homes    14. Building construction & materials    15. House & Home / Design & Construction    16. Housing & property for the individual   

Reviews (5)

Makes everything so clear
Clear writing, accompanied by excellent illustrations for all the steps.Everything is included:planning, foundation, material, tools, foundation, windows, wiring and finishing.If you're a newbie, you're not wasting your money by buying this.

Covers all of the essentials of 'how to'
This book is written with simple jargon, clear illustrations and concise instructions.A great spring-board book for those new to construction.
great book
I never built a building before, I did help build a deck.Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Barns    3. Design and construction    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Do-It-Yourself - General    6. Farm buildings    7. Garden structures    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. House & Home    10. House Plans    11. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    12. DIY   

Reviews (9)

Great information!
Very thorough.Just the information I needed to determine what type of dock to build on my lakefront property.

Something Missing
Yes, this book provides a well-illustrated overview of approaches to dock building and choices of materials. But it doesn't go far enough if you have a significant tidal range or if the wind blows. What's missing is any introduction to engineering. How to make sure the ramp doesn't fall off your float when the tide goes out. How to figure the static forces on your dock caused by 4 knot currents. How to estimate the wave heights and dynamic forces in 80 knot winds. And how to design a dock that will survive this abuse. You might want to involve a professional engineer in these situations, but that can be true of pretty much anything to do with docks. A book with this title should at least introduce you to these subjects and provide references for the gory details. Like some others, the author believes books like this should be peppered with jokes. Personally I find this annoying, but I must admit his jokes are above average. So if you want a funny introduction to building docks in gentle places, this book is for you.

Excellent DIY dock reference
I gave up trying to find any useful information on dock building and then happened across this book not long ago.Max Burns has written a very comprehensive reference book that covers almost any imaginable dock/shore situation including the one I was looking for .If you're thinking of building your own, add this book to your library! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Coastal Engineering    3. Construction - Carpentry    4. Design & Drafting    5. Design and construction    6. Docks    7. Engineering - Hydraulic    8. Handbooks, manuals, etc    9. Home Improvement / Construction    10. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    11. Home & House Maintenance    12. House & Home / Outdoor & Recreational Areas   

Reviews (4)

Useful for maintenance, not for purchase of a spa
This is helpful to understand the operations and "guts" of a hottub/spa, but not helpful in making decisions on which brand or type to buy initially. Once you have one, it is helpful in doing repairs yourself, and optimally maintaining it.

This is a must-read!!!
This book told me everything I needed to know about spas and more.It was informative, well-written, and just plain great for anyone who owns or is thinking of getting or building a hot tub or spa.I've already loaned my copy to a friend, and just bought a second one for myself.If you want to know ANYTHING about the world of spas...this book is a must-have.

Easy to read and understand.It answered all my questions.
I own all of Tamminen's excellent pool and spa books.While I'm not a pool professional, I am a do-it-yourself person.Any question I have about installation, maintenance, and upkeep, I find the answers in Tamminen's books.I recommend this book to anyone with a spa or a hot tub.You'll find what you're looking for every time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Do-It-Yourself    2. Do-It-Yourself - Plumbing    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    6. Remodeling & Renovation - General    7. Repair    8. Building construction & materials    9. House & Home / Outdoor & Recreational Areas