2 comments about Start-to-Finish Sheds & Gazebos (Ortho Books).

1. I am a novice builder and bought the book as it had the plans for a shed I wanted to build and also basic carpentry skill information. The plans were going along fairly well until I got to the roof, a hipped roof. The measurements were clearly not for the eight foot by twelve foot building. The first board I cut was about a foot and a half too long. I had half a building constructed with really no idea how to build the roof. I went ahead with it and I am now faced with a completed roof frame that will not allow the sheathing to be put on because the hips are at the wrong angle at the corners. There are also several areas in the book where they contradict themselves on material thickness or size. Poorly written and even more poorly edited. You should be ashamed of yourselves for putting this book out.



2. Extremely frustrating.
   A. The material list for the Basic Garden Shed doesn't include all the material...eg Nails, roofing felt, and who knows what else. I haven't finished the shed.
   B. The pictures have errors. The short walls have extra boards in the corners that don't show up in other views and do not make sense.
   C. The dimensioning is given on some perspective views where they should have been given on top views to avoid confusion.
   
   Otherwise, this book has a lot of good information. It seems to have been released without having been proofread.

2 comments about Quick Guide: Pool & Spa Maintenance: Step-by-Step Repair and Upkeep (Quick Guide).

1. This is a simple book with a great deal of information. It provides basic information without a great deal of fuss.

   The simple line drawings and hands-on approach help lead to a clear understanding of the topic. A practical book for this subject.




2. If you are looking for detailed information about how to maintain the quality of your spa water ... forget it. It's not there. This little book only has the most cursory information on maintaining water quality in a spa.

   For me, the book was an utter disappoitment.

No comments about Better Homes and Gardens Deck and Patio Projects You Can Build.

1 comments about Grounds for Improvement (DIY): 40 Great Landscaping & Gardening Projects (Diy Network).

1. This beautiful book is a joy to read for anyone dreaming about improving their home's landscape. I'm a big fan of the TV show and am delighted they've come out with a book that captures the projects so well. Its premise is that everyone deserves good design and you don't have to be rich to get it. There are so many great ideas packed into the book with before and after photos, lists of materials, and clear instructions on installation techniques. I've purchased many residential garden design books only to be left disappointed by pretty pictures of plants and boring text. This book takes a step back and starts with a client's problem and how good design can solve it. Dean Hill is a very talented designer and Jackie Taylor is an enthusiastic co-conspirator. Together, they've created an interesting and informative book about real projects belonging to real people.

1 comments about Ticks Off! Controlling Ticks That Transmit Lyme Disease on Your Property.

1. Ticks Off! Controlling Ticks That Transmit Lyme Disease On Your Property is a practical guide for homeowners and others seeking to control Lyme disease transmitting ticks. Covering personal protection against tick bites, identifying whether blacklegged ticks (deer ticks) exist on one's property, strategies for keeping down infection rates by monitoring and influencing the animals that serve as tick hosts, and more fill this brief yet extraordinarily accessible and practical quick-read resource.

No comments about Ultimate Guide to Gazebos & Other Outdoor Structures (Ultimate Guide).

5 comments about 2 x 4 Projects for Outdoor Living.

1. Neat things that you can make to have a great backyard/patio/whatever. All it takes is some time. . .



2. I have built, the 2x4+1x4 chairs (a bench to match the chairs, as well as foot rests that slide under the bench "all my designs"), the small table and the barbeque table from this book and have to change all the measurements. She has the back supports for the chairs wrong, they don't work, you must use 17 or 17 1/2 inch back supports. Also the seat is too high for the arms so you must either lower the seat or shorten the legs (front and back). They are also uncomfortable for seating as built, I have found that lowering the back of the seat 1 1/2" makes them much more comfortable. After building the chairs, I just used the basic ideas and worked out the measurements for what I wanted since I couldn't trust the ones in the book. I have build some nice things from her basic ideas but they are not her plans but mine.



3. 
   Informative Read ........ Recommended 5 stars
   
   The Review
   The work is a how-to book filled with glossy photos, step by step directions and a layout of various objects to be made using simple tools, easily gotten wood and a minimum of building expertise.
   
   What caught my eye first is the lovely porch swing on the cover of the publication. The swing appears usable and used in addition to being sturdy and very, very inviting.



4. While the ideas in the book are certainly good ones, the true basis of a woodworking book is the instructions, measurements, and plans. I started the Adirondack sofa and found that the hardware list did not match up with the instructions or what was actually needed. In addition, the picture of the sofa does not match their instructions...which can be very confusing if this is the first one you've tried. In my opinion, these guys had good ideas but did a poor job of proofreading their work. They really need to fix things and put out an updated addition.



5. Before today, I'd never operated so much as a power saw. But I've had this book for a few months now and have been eyeing the adirondack sofa. And I'm thrilled to report that I finished the entire project in only 5-6 hours today, following the instructions given. It looks really great!
   
   A few things to note, however:
   
   1. While the "cutting list" dimensions are perfect, the "materials" amounts are not. Before you buy lumber, be sure to list out the size of the pieces you'll need and then decide how many pieces of wood you'll need to buy. I knew I was going to buy 6 ft. boards from the hardware, so I figured out ahead of time which pieces I'd be cutting from each board. Buying the proper # of boards saved me a ton of time and headache.
   2. The instructions do require you to think through the steps prior to execution. For the most part the steps were clear and only a few were challenging -- but I was able to find easy work-arounds that accomplished the same results.
   3. I wish the authors would indicate which tools are needed for each project. They seem to assume that the builder owns all tools mentioned in the beginning of the book... but this is clearly unrealistic. I bought a power miter saw to use for the sofa, and while a jigsaw would have also been helpful, I did just fine with the miter saw.
   4. Another reviewer mentioned that the cutting list for the back slats of the adirondack sofa improperly called for 1x6 boards and she had to substitute 1x4 boards. However, she must have had another version of the book, because my cutting list is perfect and even fits together better than most IKEA furniture I've assembled. The back slats call for twelve 32" 1x4 boards. My version was published in 2000, perhaps she had an earlier copy.
   
   Overall, I'm really pleased with this book and plan to make several more projects!

1 comments about Spas & Hot Tubs, Saunas & Home Gyms: Award-Winning Design Ideas, Step-by-Step Installation Projects, Water Care & Equipment (Creative Homeowner Press).

1. I purchased this book as a reference to build a sauna. Containing 37 heavily illustrated pages on saunas alone, I have found this to be a very helpful source for a novice builder. The book contains many detailed diagrams to help with design, foundation work, window and door construction, and roofing. For those planning spas, hot tubs, or home gyms, the graphics are equally detailed. Dozens of photographs show spas and gyms in a variety of settings and styles. Other user-friendly features of the book are a glossary, index, and and lumber conversion chart. In addition, the book has templates of exercise equipment that you can copy to plan your home gym.

5 comments about Ortho's All About Sprinklers and Drip Systems (Ortho's All About Gardening).

1. Although I am stating that this book is a little to basic, maybe what I was looking for was just more then this book was intended to deliver. I was looking for a book to help calculate how many zones were needed, what type of sprinkler heads, etc. This book had great photographs and basic knowledge. If you are ready to design and install your own system you might want a more detailed book.



2. Book does a pretty good job at hitting all the points in planning and installing your irrigation system. Installing a system kind of feels like a major undertaking at first, but after reading the book I feel pretty comfortable about it (although I've only begun my installation, guess we'll see if things stay nice and comfy). I liked some of the side points in the book where it went into a little more detail about certain aspects of the job, however, in other areas I felt there should have been more detail. Book seemed like it might be a little dated as a few topics seemed to stick with more old-school standards (e.g., poly-pipe is now used in many new areas to hook-up from the meter to the house, but the book assumed that you would only find copper, galvenized steel, or PVC (stiff white) pipe for this application). I also think a book like this should provide as many "common mistakes" as possible, this books only has a few.

   Although my gut feeling says 3 stars, I have to upgrade to 4 because there isn't that many books our there like this one and relative to those it seems to be a winner.




3. Just like most fields, irrigation is evolving quickly as regards new materials, products and standards. Overall, I feel the Ortho book gives good solid information for a do - it - yourselfer. There was no "BAD" information per se, and it does demystify the home irrigation system. You can save a lot of money installing your own system. You can also cause a lot of damage doing it incorrectly. This book can give you a good idea whether you can tackle installing a system or not. Use this book along with careful planning, to know what questions to ask either a sprinkler supply distributor or to hire an irrigation contractor.



4. Far too basic. If you want a glossy introduction to sprinklers, but have no plans to actually install a system, this is the book for you.
   
   If you want to install a sprinkler system, there are maybe 5 pages of useful information in this book, and not near enough detail to actually break ground. Find another source of information.



5. I've never done any irrigation work until recently. So I took a one day course from a pro and bought this book. Since a one day course can't cover all contingencies, I found that this book filled in a lot of gaps. My interest has mainly been in drip systems, not sprinklers. I now have a good working knowledge and sound like less of a fool when I order stuff from experts.
   
   BTW, I think with this book and all the free specialized information on the Internet, most folks don't have to go much further to study the subject.

1 comments about Driveways, Paths and Patios: A Complete Guide to Design, Management and Construction.

1. Driveways, Paths and Patios: A Complete Guide to Design, Management and Construction provides an excellent survey of how driveways and paths are constructed, packing over two hundred color photos and drawings with a step-by-step guide for any who would build their own. From basic driveway and path design to choosing proper materials, estimating costs and considering drainage, this is the book to turn to for any driveway or path project start to finish.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch