Subjects:  1. Architecture, Domestic    2. Construction - General    3. Design & Construction    4. Designs and plans    5. Do-It-Yourself    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. House Plans    9. United States   

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

Reviews (3)

Very useful, in particular the cross-sections, etc...
When I initially flipped through this book, I figured it would be worth having for the bountiful diagrams and appendices alone.It turned out that these are indeed the best part of the book -- Lstiburek's choppy writing becomes annoying quickly, and even confrontational (i.e. "...for those who may not get it, [rant excluded]Get it?")
Direct and informative
Well focused and aimed at the home builder in 6500 degree-day and colder climes, e.g. Minnesota, it contains a complete roundup of insulation, ventilation, and moisture-proofing problems. The basic format consists of a text discussion of a topic, followed by a section containing numerous architectural drawings that illustrate the material. These subjects are misunderstood by many, so it's good to have a book that covers the material in easy-to-understand language and drawings.

Best book on subject
I have reviewed lots of books and magazines on residential building techniques for energy and resource efficieny. There is a lot of confusion and misinformation out there. This book clears it up in one authoritative and concise guide to building techniques.For those who want to know how and why to build it right.Best source available on moisture control and insulation applications. Challenges some conventional wisdom. Concepts demonstrated in great graphics. Listiburek is a respected expert. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture and climate    2. Building    3. Cold weather conditions    4. Construction - Carpentry    5. Design & Construction    6. Do-It-Yourself    7. Dwellings    8. Frozen Ground Construction    9. House & Home    10. House Plans    11. House construction    12. Technology & Industrial Arts    13. Building construction & materials    14. Building skills    15. House & Home / Reference    16. House maintenance   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Country homes    4. Design & Construction    5. Designs and plans    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. House Plans    9. United States    10. Palaces, chateaux, country houses   

Reviews (2)

Self-published diary
I am in the process of building my own post and beam home with lumber we are pioneering from our own property.
A self-help guide to creating one's own shelter
Build Your Own Low-cost Timber And Beam House by wooden timber and beam construction expert William Stephens is a practical, step-by-step, "user friendly", do-it-yourself guide to constructing a sturdy shelter for practical use. From selecting the right materials, to basic carpentry and assemblage instructions, Build Your Own Low-Cost Timber And Beam House is an economical, practical, and straightforward, self-help guide to creating one's own shelter. Indeed, William Stephens' own hand-built house only cost him an estimated a capital investment of $22,000. Highly recommended reading for anyone contemplating constructing their own timber or beam based dwelling, the text for Build Your Own Low-Cost Timber And Beam House is enhanced with black/withe photography and line drawn illustrations. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. General    5. House & Home    6. House & Home / Carpentry    7. House Plans    8. Design & Construction    9. Domestic   

Reviews (1)

Perhaps "retreat" and "getaway" are subjective terms
This book is filled full of great home plans.Lots of them.Read more

Subjects:  1. Designs and plans    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. House Plans    6. Remodeling & Renovation - General    7. United States    8. Vacation homes   

Subjects:  1. Architectural Design    2. Architectural drawing    3. Architecture    4. Architecture, Domestic    5. Design & Construction    6. Designs and plans    7. Do-It-Yourself    8. General    9. House Plans    10. Technique   

Subjects:  1. Do-It-Yourself    2. Home Improvement / Construction    3. House & Home    4. House Plans    5. Remodeling & Renovation - General   

Subjects:  1. Architectural Detail    2. Architecture    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Domestic    5. General    6. House & Home    7. House Plans    8. Interior Design - General    9. Residential Interior Design    10. Home furnishing & decoration   

Reviews (3)

Great book!Much better than others
My husband and I are getting ready to build our own house and as such have purchased a lot of house plan books - learning after the first couple purchased that they all contain basically the same flor plans.This book on the other hand was a great find as we had not seen the vast majority of plans in it, but were also very pleased to find it full of very unique, aesthetically pleasing and even practical building ideas.I highly recommend this book - hands down over any other one I've seen.

Hillside/Sloping lots neglected (somewhat)
This book is great if you're building on flat or very gently sloping terrain.The cross section of plans can fit most lots and the plans are very high quality either as is or as an inspiration for your own design.If you're looking for ideas for a sloping lot this is not the book.The section on hillside homes is really poor especially for a book of 500 plans!

500 House Plans
I think this book was great,and encourage people looking for houses to buy it. I'm looking for a new house and it helped me. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Designs and plans    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House Plans    6. Interior Design - General    7. United States    8. DIY    9. Houses, apartments, flats, etc    10. Reference works   

Editorial Review

When you remodel or build a house, you have what can seem like a million options. Knobs, handles, or finger grooves in the kitchen cabinets? Self-rimming sink or drop-in? Top vent fireplace or direct vent? Often you're at the mercy of a contractor whose eye is on getting a bigger cut of the eventual cost, so you can end up with the most expensive--and not necessarily the best--choice. Myron Ferguson diagrams and describes the options efficiently and helpfully, and straightforwardly states when and why a certain choice is best. This simple, pragmatic guide will be worth its weight in gold to the first-time remodeler and builder. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Grandiose checklist
This book is about the pieces-parts (as the commercial used to say).There are little sections on just about every piece in the house: plumbing, countertop material, HVAC, security etc.It also talks quite a bit about proper design, such as: which way a door should swing,; when to use pocket doors; where to put the dishwasher (better yet: where NOT to put the dishwasher); how to vent the dryer; what size kitchen hood to use; etc.
A Must read if you are building a home!!!
I've been nothing but impressed with this book! It gives you a complete comprehensive guide of what and what not to do when building a home. The author discusses HVAC types, stove vents and their installation, where to place the light switches, types of doors and why and a complete breakdown of the kitchen from cabinets to dishwashers just to mention a few topics. (He covers it all) The things you honestly wouldn't think about and items often missed or ignored by a builder. If you are planning on building your home give this a read, it could save you a ton of money and certainly squash quite a few common mistakes that make a big difference after you move in.

Linoleum isn't vinyl
Hey Michael Bird - learn what linoleum is before talking about it like it is vinyl.There is a big difference. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture / Domestic    2. Building Failure Or Defects    3. Buildings    4. Construction - General    5. Defects    6. Do-It-Yourself    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. House & Home    9. House & Home / Design & Construction    10. House Plans    11. House buying    12. House construction    13. Houses    14. Real Estate - Buying/Selling Homes    15. Reference    16. Technology / Construction & Construction Trades    17. Fiction anthologies & collections    18. HOME IMPROVEMENT/CONSTRUCTION    19. Home Design    20. Modern fiction   

Reviews (2)

Okay, Ive seen better
This work is a well written primer to log home building, covers all major points of building, but does not go far into depth. Tends to strongly discourage owner-builders (although this may not be a bad thing. This is more difficult than a bird house.) This book is far from a step by step construction manual. For the curious may be a good pace to start.

log home from scratch or kit
i think this bok was the one of best books i ever got on log home it show you all differnt ways to build and there are some many really nice picso you cane see what they are doing. i think this book is worththe money ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Carpentry    2. Construction - Carpentry    3. Design & Construction    4. Design and construction    5. Do-It-Yourself    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. House Plans    9. Log cabins    10. Log cabins and houses   

Reviews (1)

An in-depth and comprehensive presentation of 325 new home plans
New Home Plans For 2006: Updated Classics For Today's Homeowner from the collection of Hanley Wood Home Planners is an in-depth and comprehensive presentation of 325 new home plans, each of which offers an innovative design as a contemporary structure. Introducing and exploring new design showcases houses, summer homes and cottages, rustic getaways and retreats, farmhouses and ranches, urban designs and traditionals, homes with historic inspiration, English and Provencal manors, Mediterranean and Spanish styles, as well as second master suites, extraordinary baths, spectacular outdoor living spaces and space-saving laundry and storage areas, New Home Plans For 2006 is an expertly presented compendium of inspiring and interesting home-design very strongly recommended to professional and academic library Architectural Studies reference collections.
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Subjects:  1. Design & Construction    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. House Plans    6. Architectural structure & design    7. House maintenance    8. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (3)

Direct and informative
Well focused and aimed at the home builder in areas where average winter temperatures drop below 45 F (disregard back cover, which says "above 45 F") with 20 inch annual rainfall or more, e.g., Washington D.C., St Louis, or Seattle, it contains a complete discussion of insulation, ventilation, and moisture issues. The best book on the topic I've seen, because the author explains in simple terms concepts that many builders--and even architects--often get wrong. It's purely qualitative though; you won't find tables of R values, for instance. Full of useful detail drawings that illustrate the topics--you'll see variations for vinyl/aluminum and wood siding, and brick veneers--and are ready to apply directly to your house plans.

A Better Way to Build
An outstanding book because it offers a different solution (and I believe a better solution) to home construction especially in the insulation and ventilation areas.If you are planning to build a custom home you must read this author's concepts on areas such as attic ventilation.I plan on using many of his concepts in building my own home.This book has convinced me that "normal" home construction needs to be updated!

great illustrations
In Taunton's tradition this book is extremely well illustrated.Many of Lstiburek's points are translated into detailed crossectional drawings that builders and architects can readily adapt into their plans. Advanced concepts dealing with moisture transport in buildings are explained inpractical terms.There's no doubt this book will further the applicationof good building science in residential construction. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Building Construction    2. Construction - Carpentry    3. Design & Construction    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. House & Home    6. House Plans    7. Technology & Industrial Arts    8. Building construction & materials    9. Building skills    10. House & Home / Reference    11. House maintenance   

Editorial Review

First published in 1872 for homesteaders migrating west from thesettled eastern part of the United States, this practical guide to the construction of a variety of homes from wood, earth, and gravel, as wellas outbuildings, gates, a cellar, furniture, and many other necessary implements of self-sufficient rural life, is as down-to-earth today as it was when it first appeared. The quaint language of the original title page reads, "Practical Hints for Handy-Men Showing Clearly How to Plan and Construct Dwellings in the Bush, on the Prairie,or Elsewhere, Cheaply and Well, With Wood, Earth, Gravel. Copiously Illustrated." Well put! A delightful, historic guide that withstands thetest of time. Read more

Reviews (1)

simple building
This is one of many books I bought to learn more about self-sufficient living.The book has a few good points, but the language is hard to understand.The author describes in words how to build log cabins.Hedoesn't draw diagrams or give diminsions.He makes a few good points aboutthings like where to place fireplaces and bedrooms in order to keep a homeas warm as possible. If your looking for a book with hints on building aself-sufficient home, you could get some tips with the book.If yourlooking for a book on how to build the log cabin, keep looking. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adobe houses    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Construction - General    4. Country homes    5. Design & Construction    6. Do-It-Yourself    7. Do-It-Yourself - General    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. House & Home    10. House Plans    11. Residential Construction    12. United States - 19th Century    13. Wooden-frame houses    14. Building construction & materials    15. House & Home / Design & Construction    16. USA    17. Woodworking   

Subjects:  1. Design & Construction    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. House Plans    6. Architectural structure & design    7. House maintenance    8. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Design & Construction    4. Design & Drafting    5. Designs and plans    6. Domestic    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. House Plans    9. United States   

Subjects:  1. Do-It-Yourself    2. Home Improvement / Construction    3. House & Home    4. House Plans    5. Housing & property for the individual   

Reviews (1)

I wish they had negative stars!
Use caution when ordering any plans from Frank Betz. The roof designs will leak over time! Once you order the plans and can see this, Frank Betz will not refund your money. They do not offer study plans (wonder why). They are all advertising and hype!
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decorating - General    3. General    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House Plans    6. Study & Teaching   

Reviews (5)

Cute Book with Dreamy House Ideas
"If you dream of an architecturally distinctive house filled with graceful, beautiful materials, a space that has been customized to fit your lifestyle, but think you can't afford it - you have come to the right book."
You could write this book
The theme is low-cost style and, sure enough, the ten houses featured, many if not most of them renovations, show some examples of this. The problem is, the accompanying text adds nothing--e.g. lower your home cost by eliminating the basement. Isn't this obvious? There's very little information in here, and what there is reveals only a vague understanding of how houses are built and what things cost.
great ideas for saving money
With 8 examples of new construction and 2 remodels/renovations, this book offers up many coherent and sensible ideas for building a well-designed house on a budget. The suggestions and guidelines are presented in a clear, easy-to-follow format, and the featured houses are in a wide range of style, location, and cost. Particularly useful are the clearly written photo captions, which at a glimpse provide the salient details of the house in question. Kodis also includes an Affordability Checklist, which is a useful rundown of the key points to remember when designing/building a house on a budget. There is a focus on materials and well-executed floor plans, as well as numerous lower-cost alternatives to more expensive features and details. The author also describes ways to splurge, even when money is tight. Another bonus: most of the homes in the book are modest in size. This book is an excellent addition to my architecture library. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 21st century    2. Architecture    3. Architecture, Domestic    4. Building    5. Design & Construction    6. Domestic    7. Economic aspects    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. House Plans    10. United States    11. Home & House Maintenance    12. House & Home / House Plans