Reviews (9)

Great Book
I have probably ruined five of these books, due to rain, losing them, etc. I just keep on buying them. After you measure spans you do not have to go back up on the roof. This is the best roof framing book of all. Five stars.

Great book
I had a copy of this book when I worked as a carpenter.I rebought it for my son who is in the trade, and is planning to start cutting roofs in Montana.This will be a very valuable asset !!!

A Carpenter's book with it's place in American history
I learned to be a carpenter from my grandfather, and other master craftsmen that I worked under during my five-year union apprenticeship in Southern California. That was during the time when a lot of the carpentry teachers were still wearing white-bib overalls instead of the toolbelts we wear around our waists nowadays. This book review is derived from many sources: The various conversations I had with some of those long-gone master craftsmen from years ago, the good things that master framer Larry Haun said about this book in his Framing Roofs DVD, the use of this book by master roof cutter Steve Peters in his video series, "The Art of Roof Cutting," and a few other things that I learned along the way while researching this text, carpentry history, and this author.
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Subjects:  1. Construction - Carpentry    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. Home Improvement / Construction   

Reviews (15)

A blend of technique and journal...
This book is a blend of personal insights and techniques that shows not just what it takes to be a master carpenter, but the path this particular one took to get there.The book reads like a cross between tips and tricks of the trade and a diary.

IF YOU LIKE NORM....
I originally bought this book just because Norm Abrams wrote it and I am a big fan of THIS OLD HOUSE and THE NEW YANKEE WORKSHOP.But, it is an engaging read and one I find myself going..."ahhhhhhhhhh" or "ahhhhhhhh, hahhhhhhhhhh!" to. Add it to your "toolbox." It will help you be better at whatever you do.
A Peek Inside Norm's Toolbox
Norm Abram is the much admired and even beloved host of the PBS show New Yankee Workshop and a longtime fixture on This Old House. In Measure Twice, Cut Once, we get a peek inside Norm's extensive toolbox, as Norm simply talks tools -- his likes, his dislikes, and, of course, more than a few helpful tips.
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Subjects:  1. Cabinetwork    2. Carpentry    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - General    5. Furniture    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Woodwork    9. Woodwork - General    10. Woodworking    11. House & Home / Woodworking   

Reviews (27)

Lots of Quick, Easy, Effective Tips
For those of us who are short on time and cash, the ideas in Lauri Ward's Trade Secrets are a life-saver (or rather, a room-saver!). The chapters break things down into sections on how to get a decorator look when displaying accessories, which tricks pros use for making artwork look great, etc.
Helpful but a little bossy...
While I enjoyed most of the suggestions in this book, I did not enjoy the way it was presented. I felt a little like a new recruit in bootcamp! Yipes! And what to do about my beautiful leather loveseat? Throw it out? I did however rearrange my living room so that my fireplace in the corner AND television nearby are both focal points. HELLO... we are real people with real homes and YES we do occasionally watch television in our real home. Color pictures would be great too. Maybe we have all just been conditioned by glossy magazines companies to expect pretty color pictures with our text. Well, we are the demanding and drooling public and WE WANT PICTURES! I'm glad I borrowed this one from the library and didn't purchase it first!

Good book, though more on organization than decorating....
This book consists of lots of tips, think Martha Stewart's "Good Things" but with no pictures. Most of the tips don't need pictures, but some tips definitely could have used them. The tips are all over the map and not necessarily decorating related.
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Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. Interior Design - General    7. House & Home / General   

Reviews (5)

This book was exactly what I expected.
Obviously, since this book is printed by Benjamin Moore Paints, there will be a certain amount of self-advertising following it's advice on choosing the proper paints and equipment (like the recipies on the back of soup cans). I'm still stuck
I have purchased several guides for painting houses in the "home improvements" category.They were fine for learning about painting a house, but I'm hiring painter, so I don't really need that information.What I need is help choosing the right color. Obviously I don't want to make a mistake. I already know that I want a yellow house.But none of the colors I have tested look right.They are all too bright or dark even though they look pale on the paint chips. When I saw this book, I noticed the phrase "choosing paint colors" right in the title, so I assumed it was the answer. But, I felt every bit as stuck at the paint store as I did before reading the book.My expectation was thatI wouldn't have to start going through paint chips anymore, but the information in the book wasn't specific enough to be useful to me. The book did not meet my expectations.

Where are the painted houses?
I thought this book would give me photographs of painted houses and their paint colors.Instead it gave detailed information on the paint process itself with scant few houses where the whole house shows.Its mostly pretty photos like the rooftop of a house with a weatherwane on it, or a window with a window box of flowers under it.Where are the painted houses?I can't figure out what color to paint my house using this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating - Painting/Wallpapering    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. House painting    8. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    9. DIY    10. Home furnishing & decoration   

Subjects:  1. Do-It-Yourself    2. Do-It-Yourself - General    3. Equipment, Appliances & Supplies    4. Home Improvement / Construction   

Reviews (5)

Great book for first-timer and DIY'er.
If you are attempting your first drywall project, haven't hung it in a long time, or want to know how to do it better, then this is the book for you.
Light on the art of drywalling...
This is a great broad overview of the drywalling process.Lots of pictures of these two guys in blue and red.However, it doesn't tell me what I want to know, the art of getting two boards taped together.The taping chapter needs to be tripled in size.

Good Overall Drywall Book
This book gives a good overall treatment of the drywall process.It covers tools, supplies, and techniques.However, a few of the layout drawings are hard to understand, particularly those on ceilings.It could also benefit from including more detail on topics such as finishing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction - General    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. Drywall construction    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Plastering    9. Remodeling & Renovation - General    10. Building construction & materials    11. DIY    12. House & Home / Remodeling & Renovation   

Editorial Review

Sunset Books are known for their great, clear illustrations, plans, and diagrams. This is another of their well-organized, extensively illustrated guides to the basics of home repair. Clearly written and indexed for easy reference, and covering a large range of home repair problems, inside and out, including trouble-shooting with appliances and outdoor equipment, this is a good, basic book for anyone who wants to save some money on home repairs by figuring out how to do-it-yourself. You, too, can become the little engine that could, and this book will get you started! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great book for the do-it-yourselfer!
We own and operate a home inspection & radon testing company in the northern Virginia area and we include this book with each home inspection. It covers all of the major areas of a house. It even includes a year-round maintenance chart at the back of the book. Using this book willsignificantly lower the costs of maintaining a home. Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. Dwellings    5. General    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Houses    9. Maintenance and repair    10. Remodeling & Renovation - General    11. Repair    12. House maintenance   

Reviews (22)

Wow! It's the best.
For the Owner-builder, or others doing very advanced home building/repair. Actual hands-on building, limited designing sections. Very condensed explanations on the various different construction techniques. Does not get 5 stars until it's updated with modern materials; i.e. SIPS and encapsulated concrete walls. Plus more on PEX plumbing and Cat 5 wiring needed. Overall, excellent reference shelf staple.

If you buy only one housebuilding book it better be this one!
Comprehensive!I built myself a house and am now happily working in the construction trade.If you are planning on building a stick-built house this book will serve by itself--if you buy multiple books it will be the one you keep referencing.Sam Clark's "Indepedent Builder" is helpful for design ideas (and is stronger in that area) and general contemplation, but Clark does not provide the details you need to know when you finally put your tool belt on and start building.I don't understand other reviewer's complaints about the (high) level of detail or the lexicon involved.If you are about to build a wall you should want to know everything you can about it--Nash leaves extremely little guess work.Every sentence tells something worth knowing.If you are working with all the various structural and decorative pieces that make up a house you want to know what to call them, and Nash employs a reasonably consistent terminology.The black and white pictures might be a little dark but there are plenty of very helpful and clearly drawn line drawings--parts are labeled and you can get the lingo down quickly if you really want to.Overall, you just couldn't ask for a more patient, thoughtful, and thorough writer--any gripes are so minor they aren't worth voicing.I am grateful to have this book!!

Great Book for DIY enthusiasts
George Nash has written a number of great books on carpentry around the house. This is a great book to have for those who love to understand how their house is built and how they can fix things. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Construction - General    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - General    5. General    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Home Maintenance And Repair    8. House & Home    9. House construction    10. Building construction & materials    11. House & Home / Design & Construction    12. House maintenance    13. JUVY-BEGIN READERS - EASTRN RELIGN TRD HC   

Reviews (1)

A good read!
In the lives of women everywhere, time is becoming a dearer and dearer commodity. Women have so much to do within limited time. As roles increased, available time did not. 500 Time Saving Hints for Every Woman is appropriately subtitled "Helpful Hints for Your Home, Family, Shopping and More." In an easy-to-read format, Emilie Barnes gives practical hints that all women can use to make the most of the time they have.
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Subjects:  1. Christian life    2. Christianity - Christian Life - General    3. Christianity - Christian Life - Women's Issues    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Do-It-Yourself - General    6. Home Economics (General)    7. Home economics    8. House & Home    9. Management - General    10. Personal & Practical Guides    11. Religion - Christian Life    12. Time management    13. Women    14. House & Home / General   

Reviews (2)

An Excellent Resource
We're refinishing our hardwood flooring and adding laminate to the playroom downstairs, but I wanted to do some research before spending any money.I checked out several books on flooring from the library, and this was the only one that was so thorough I immediately went out and purchased my own copy.Not only does it cover hardwoods and laminates, it covers just about every flooring material you can imagine (leather, rubber, cork, bamboo, etc.).Every material gets a solid description, several pictures, a list of pros and cons, and installation instructions.Also, a big chart in the front tells you which floors can be installed yourself and which need professional installers.It also gives number ratings for the difficulty of the task (should you take it on yourself) and for how much you can expect to spend in comparison with other flooring materials.
A comprehensive guide
This is an excellent book, by far the best I have ever bought on flooring maintenance and installation (I wish I had bought this one first). This book offers great comparisons of different types of materials, well written and simple instructions on how to install them and advice on when to get a professional if your an amatuer such as myself.This book is a great resource and will help you make an informed decision if your putting in a new floor, whether you do it yourself or not. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating - Floors    2. Design & Construction    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - General    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. Remodeling & Renovation - General    8. Floor coverings    9. Flooring    10. Floors -- Amateurs' manuals    11. House & Home / Design & Construction   

Reviews (1)

So, you want to build a house? Watch and Learn how here.
"Framing Walls" by Larry Haun, is the second DVD in a three-part carpentry series that will teach you how to build your own home. Part One is titled "Framing Floors," and Part Three is titled, "Framing Roofs." Each part in this series teaches you the skills necessary to build a home of your own. This DVD edition is a great asset to this classic VHS collection because it allows you to quickly move from one building selection to another, or to review a topic.
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Subjects:  1. COLOR/DUBBED    2. Design & Construction    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - General    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Home Improvement Non-Book    7. House & Home    8. Building skills    9. House & Home / Design & Construction   

Reviews (1)

Not worth the money
Since I was in a hurry and did not read the description of this purchase I paid $3.95 for what I thought to be a book.This is a pamplet.
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Subjects:  1. Compost    2. Composters (Containers)    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - General    5. General    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. DIY    9. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself   

Reviews (1)

Great for Beginners
I liked this book so much after checking it out of the library, that I am buying a copy of it for my sister. The instructions were VERY clear and gave you a shopping list for supplies and tools needed for the projects. I am new to doing these types of projects but I like working with my hands and decorating so I thought I would give it a try.
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Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Bathrooms    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - General    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Home Maintenance And Repair    7. House & Home    8. Remodeling    9. Remodeling & Renovation - Bathrooms    10. Remodeling & Renovation - General    11. DIY    12. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself   

Editorial Review

With this specialty book specifically for those about to embark on a do-it-yourself masonry repair or building project, Kreh, a recognized third-generation master mason, provides all the basics on tools and materials, estimating materials needed for any project, descriptions and diagrams of bond patterns and wall types, fundamentals of laying brick and block, and clear, useful information on masonry repair and restoration for preexisting work. Chimneys, retaining walls, foundations, decorative walks and planters, steps, and all varieties of construction masonry are covered here with excellent diagrams; explanations of terminology, tools, and materials; and photographs that vividly illustrate some of the finer points of masonry work. Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent introduction to brick masonry
This is a valuable guide for novice brick masons. The author is an expert who takes you through the basics of materials, tools, layout, and a good selection of projects for around the house. This is a fairly unique bookand fills a void in the how to do section. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction - General    2. Construction - Masonry    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - General    5. Do-It-Yourself - Masonry    6. House & Home    7. Masonry    8. Masonry Construction    9. Technology & Industrial Arts    10. Building construction & materials    11. DIY    12. House & Home / Design & Construction   

Subjects:  1. Decorating - Floors    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. Do-It-Yourself - Masonry    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. DIY    8. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself   

Reviews (3)

If you have a Neptune, you will need this book!
I have not read this book but, sadly, I was duped into purchasing a top-of-the-line Maytag Neptune washer.Four years and over $500 later, I can tell you that I wish I had known more about washer repair.If you have one of these machines, BUY THIS BOOK -- and be afraid, be very afraid.If you have not purchased a Maytag, buy something else.Buy anything else.

Maybe so, but...
While he offers an interesting perspective, Mr. Stuart clearly didn't understand the whole point of the book. Redundancy in a spin cycle
redundancy in a spin cycleRead more

Subjects:  1. Do-It-Yourself    2. Do-It-Yourself - General    3. Equipment, Appliances & Supplies    4. Home Improvement / Construction   

Subjects:  1. Do-It-Yourself    2. Do-It-Yourself - General    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. Remodeling & Renovation - General    6. Residential Construction    7. Residential Interior Design    8. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself   

Reviews (3)

Great Intro To Transfer
Makes transferring unintimidating. I don't understand why one reviewer thought this was not a "how-to" book, as directions make it very easyto follow and succeed. Tells you what you need to start, how to set up and how to do it on various surfaces. Book is laid out with list of materials needed, set up and how-to for each surface. Neat ideas to spur your imagination. Very helpful book for those wanting to transfer on fabric, less helpful for those wanting to transfer on ceramic, however, it still has value for teaching the process and leading you down new roads.

Gets to the point with good photos!
While I would agree with the other review that called this book a fun ideas book, I appreciate a book that gets down to it right away.I primarily like this book because it's features many projects with Lazertran transfer paper, as well as 6 or so other methods.A great book if you're looking for an introduction to tranfer techniques.

Major Disappointment!
This book is not the "how-to" I expected so much as a very pretty but generalized "fun ideas" book. Good tag sale item (for selling), ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Decorating    4. Decoration and ornament    5. Handicraft    6. Hobbies/Crafts    7. Photographs    8. Transfer-printing    9. Trimming, mounting, etc    10. House & Home    11. Do-It-Yourself   

Reviews (16)

This book was very good but the new 5th Edition is even better!
Heads Up!The book has been updated.The 5th edition just released in April of 2006 has been fully updated and includes Carl Heldmann's new Web site, where readers can get loan information, daily updates on interest rates, and cost estimate worksheets for planning and tracking building expenses. Other new features include new chapters on renovating and restoring an older house and a Spanish glossary of common building terms.
Not Much Substance
Very little to work with here.Covers everything, but with little detail.For instance, there are only six pages in the book on sub-contractors. Search a little more and you can find a different resource that will be much more detail oriented.

Boring reading with no information, WASTE OF TIME
I read the book since I am building a house soon.The book gave very little useful information.I have been doing my homework on building a home and consider myself above average home building knowledge, but nothing I have learned came from this book.I took the book on vacation this summer to read at the beach and I finished it in a day.If you have some type of home building knowledge, you do not need this book.I can NOT think of ANYTHING positive to say.I wish I had another book to read at the beach.WASTE OF TIME. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Building    3. Construction - Contracting    4. Contractors    5. Do-It-Yourself    6. Do-It-Yourself - General    7. General    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. House construction    10. Selection and appointment    11. Superintendence    12. Technology    13. Building construction & materials    14. DIY    15. Technology / Construction / Contracting   

Subjects:  1. Construction - General    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - General    4. Garden structures    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. BG-HISTORY - BG-AMERICAN HISTORY    8. DIY    9. Greenhouses, conservatories, patios    10. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself    11. Shrubs & trees