5 comments about Building a Straw Bale House: The Red Feather Construction Handbook.

1. I first became aware of straw base houses when I visited friends who had built one high in the Colorado rockies. In spite of the bad winters in that location, they reported that they very rarely used any heating beyond opening the drapes on the south facing windows. I don't know what the R-value of a bale of straw might be, but it is high.
   
   They also reported that in the few years they had lived there they had had virtually no maintenance. I had imagined little cracks in the exterior covering and furry little critters living in the walls. But they reported that nothing like this had occurred.
   
   This book is put out by the Red Feather Development Group. They are a non-profit group chartered to provide low cost but efficient housing on indian reservations. They have been developing straw bale contruction for houses over many years, many buildings.
   
   This handbook is not exactly a complete primer on building a straw bale house, to me it is an idea book. There's not much here, for instance on plumbing, heating, wiring and so on. Fair enough, those things are much the same for any house, and well understood by architects and contractors. What this book does is talk about building the house itself, the wall structure, supporting the roof, the things that are unique to building with Straw Bales. There are lots of pictures, illustrating lots of points that you wouldn't think of unless you had been there and done that.
   
   Highly recommended!



2. This book gives an over view of the process to build a home using straw bale construction that is used by the Red Feather Development Group. Modeled after Habitat for Humanity they help tribal members living on Indian reservations achieve home ownership. The book takes you through the building process with many photos and diagrams. There is also pictures and discriptions of straw bale homes that are still lived in after 80 years, showing that sustainable housing is not a passing fad.



3. This was really a good book and I would recommend it very much.



4. I found this book to be very helpful with pictures and building concepts easy to understand by the layman. The chapters are well layed out on each step of the building process and gives a lot of good tips both in dealing with the building code requirements and common sense ideas to building a straw bale house. While the houses in this book are architectually simple, a rectangle shape, the ideas can be use in more complex designs.



5. Frankly, I like this book, despite my 2-star rating of it. It has some excellent information in it as well as excellent photos, and it is well laid out. However, it is intended for very specific and limited uses, which are not really disclosed in the product description. So, read on to learn what I had to discover about its limitations through trial and error:
   
   This is NOT a book on the theory and history of straw bale construction. It spends very little, if any, time outlining the different styles of bale construction, nor the variety of techniques and details that have been tried over the years, nor the many factors - environmental, structural, practical - affecting a particular construction project that might make the builder choose one technique or detail over another. If you are a new owner/builder at the conceptual stage, trying to decide if a bale house is right for you, or how exactly to build the bale house that is best for you, this is NOT the book you want.
   
   This book focuses on one philosophy of design only. It is a guide, not on how to build a bale house, but on how to build one specific bale house. What I find troubling is that it does not even explain, in most cases, why the methods being described were chosen. If you already know a good deal about bale construction, you will quickly read between the lines to see why the authors consider their chosen techniques most suitable for their situation - I did, and quickly determined that little in the book was applicable to my own situation. Ok, fair enough. But, if you do not already understand the basics of straw bale architecture, I can easily imagine the reader following this book down what might well be the wrong path for his or her own project and, at best, wasting a lot of time in the design stage considering inappropriate techniques. At worst, the reader could end up making some very poor and costly choices without realizing why they are poor.
   
   So, what is this book good for? It presents a straight-forward, step-by-step guide to project planning for a particular type of builder attempting a particular type of project. It does not present enough technical details or drawings to be a comprehensive construction manual (what book does?), so it will not take the place of preparing blueprints or having them prepared for you. But, it is nonetheless an excellent place to start IF AND ONLY IF you are...
   
   1) ...Poor, or otherwise interested in building a small, simple, budget-oriented house for a single family. Don't get me wrong: the house this book describes is perfectly sound, perfectly livable, and should last longer than most conventional houses, but it is definitely "no-frills." Frankly, all Americans should be focusing on more modest, economical, and sustainable housing, regardless of income level. Be that as it may, if you are wanting something bigger - multiple stories, luxury oriented, more architecturally unique - you will not find it here.
   
   2) ...Part of a large community or very large family interested in helping you build this house quickly through a massive and intensive volunteer effort. If your access to volunteer resources is more modest and your construction schedule, therefore, more relaxed, you could well run into serious problems trying to follow the path laid out in this book. If you plan on hiring only professionals to build your house for you, well, you probably shouldn't build a bale house in the first place, but at the least you will need to find different books.
   
   3) ...West of the Mississippi and building in a very dry environment. All throughout this book you will find details - 3 string bales, metal rebar inserted into the bales, moderately sized roof overhangs, cement-based plaster with ground-to-ceiling stucco mesh - that are either unique to the West or generally appropriate to a desert or prairie climate. For builders in other areas, most of this book likely does not apply to you.
   
   4) ...Interested in a load-bearing straw bale design. See my note on rebar, cement plaster, and stucco mesh above. There is also much in the book on full structural window and door bucks as well as building a roof-bearing-assembly top plate. Of course, there is nothing wrong with load-bearing bale walls, but in many parts of the country they are no longer the most widely-accepted design solution.

5 comments about Design of Wood Structures-ASD/LRFD.

1. This book is easy enough to understand for beginner and detail enough for experienced engineer. Well structured, cover not only ASD but also the LRFD design. As a complement, reader should also pick up the NDS manual for reference of timber property. And also the ASCE 7-05 for design load.



2. The book came in great condition, looked like it hadn't even been opened. Very fast delivery. smooth transaction



3. We used this in our Timber Design class and it was fantastic. It covers both ASD and LRFD effectively. We also used the NDS as a course supplement in order to find stress values and other important design factors that are not in the textbook. Another supplement that would help is the Minimum Design Loads for Buildings And Other Structures (ASCE 7-05). All in all, a great textbook for students or reference guide for any practicing professionals.



4. Needed this book for a class and it would have ost $50 MORE if I bought it from our bookstore...



5. This book is the required textbook for my timber design course in college, and it does indeed provide the basics needed to address the design of simple structures. The only issue with the book is that the examples cover only the basics with its examples. Anyone who has ever actually done real design would be able to do the example problems from scratch by just looking through the NDS for a few minutes. In order to make this book truly useful, it needs to incorporate examples that are comparable to real world problems, like how to design an eccentrically loaded bolt group, something very common in heavy truss connections. Furthermore, not a single equation is numbered or labeled in any way which make the examples fairly difficult to follow if you don't already know the code (ASCE 7-05) fairly well.
   
   My point is this:
   
   Yes, this is a good book, but come on people it's not that great, a modest 3 star review is the best I can give this book.

5 comments about 2006 International Building Code - Looseleaf Version (International Building Code (Looseleaf)).

1. The newest edition of the IBC has finally come up with an easy-to-read version that allows users to easily access information in a familiar format but also allows quick reference and notes the deletion of important paragraphs and sections. I would highly recommend this book for all those in the construction industry. This book is the future of our profession...



2. Like the loose leaf edition the only complaint is that the holes need to be a little bigger.



3. the book is required for much
   work.
   
   It is a shame that they have to
   charge so much for a book that
   should be almost free.



4. The IBC Code is almost unintelligible. It's circular conditional process of determining code compliance is without doubt the most confusing edition of a building code ever adopted in the United States.



5. the Code is the Code, nothing to say about that, but I like the IBC as a loose leaf binder because you can pull out the ratings charts and review/cross-reference different sections of the code without hefting that cumbersome tome. The soft cover bound edition does not offer that option.

5 comments about Measure and Construction of the Japanese House.

1. If you are an architect interested in japanese constructional systems, this is THE BOOK for you. If you aren't but find japanese culture a fountain of inspiration for living, you must read this extraordinary piece of art. Perhaps it don't shine like a jewel, but once you open it, you'll find the work of a man who decided to share his mastery. In this book, diagrams, materials, craftmanship, even detailed descriptions of the human space requirements are fully explained with precision and simplicity. Every page, and every example in them, is a world that must be carefully examined. And when doing so, you'll find that what the author is showing us, is more than a book about japanese houses: is the heart of the japanese carpenters and architects living in its pages.



2. Anyone who wishes to build a Japanese tea room either in the garden or attached to their house could do well to start with this book. You can also use this book to design accents for a single room, or to craft an entire house. It was written by a German architect who lived in Japan several decades ago and carefully measured surving older buildings as well as studying architecture there. While there are more detailed books in Japanese, this may well still be the best available book in English.



3. When I ordered this book, I was expecting to see a lot of pictures to help me design my house. But to my dismay, most of the colorless pages just feature blueprints that only an architect would understand. I kept the book for future reference.



4. Simply, with no doubt one of the best books on the subject. I've been studying Japanese architecture for some time and I always get back to it as a reference. Very technical and well illustrated. I'm looking for the complete volume by Heino Engel.



5. I am a professor and I use this book to introduce beginning architecture students to working with a grid system and putting a beautiful space together. It is actually an excerpt from a very old and hard to find volume, which I have seen and I would have to say that this volume does a great job of taking the essentials of how to design and construct a Japanese structure and making it extremely affordable. There are lots of scaled drawings and diagrams, but no pictures (the bulk of Engels' research and work was done a lifetime ago). Great reference book, but not a glossy coffee table book.

5 comments about Inspecting a House (For Pros by Pros).

1. I purchased this book and found that I should have listened to the bad reviews written about this book before buying. The postive reviews are too good to be true - buyer beware. I agree with the comments of some of the bad reviews exactly:
   "The author of this book needs to learn proper home inspection procedures before he sells himself as knowledgable. I have been inspecting homes for 19 years and often give lectures on the topic. After reading most of this book I realized what a waste of money it was because the information was incorrect or incomplete. I can't believe how many mistakes I found in this book. I'm glad I returned it for a refund on my money but not happy I wasted my time reading it!"
   
   Don't wast your time reading it either!



2. While being far from comprehensive, Cauldwell gives you enough information to get started, and with plenty of photo references-- good beginner's guide



3. Informative and easy to read. A great tool for first time inspector and experienced ones. Also a great resource for homeowners to avoid costly problems.



4. 
   A well written book that is a must for anyone studying to be a home inspector. Good system discriptions, and easy to follow inpsection methods.



5. I'm just an ordinary homeowner, but I found this book "for pros by pros" to be extremely understandable. It has great photos and drawings and the writing is clear and concise. It's a great help for both homeowners and people in the market for a home. I recommend it.

5 comments about Estimating Excavation.

1. Very detailed and the writer knows his stuff. So often these type books deal with the easy "all you gotta do" stuff but this book leaves no stone unturned. Great information that any 'dirt' estimator needs.



2. It contains most of the information I need to know in earthwork estimating. The instructions and guidelines are written in clear and simple English that even non-English speaking individuals could easily understand. Excellent reference for earthwork estimators.



3. The book is written for a similar operator to the author, and is devoid of good drawing examples



4. This was suggested reading for the G.C. License in La. I found a lot of useful information and reminders of things that I had forgotten. Very useful if you are new to the field.



5. As an earthworks estimator myself this book is one of the best i have read. It gives step by step instructions from tender stage to executing the job. Ive found since reading this book im making more money for my employer.I now keep it as a reference book.

1 comments about DEWALT HVAC Professional Reference (Dewalt Trade Reference Series).

1. Handy little book to for anyone to keep in their toolbox or on the job!!!

2 comments about Architectural Graphic Standards, Student Edition (Ramsey/Sleeper Architectural Graphic Standards Series).

1. At less than $40 for a used copy, the Student Edition can't be beat, as it provides most of the essential information from the complete Graphic Standards. The information is organized along the lines of Masterspec with additional sections on Energy and Environmental Design and Historic Preservation. It is certainly enough to get you started. It is also important to have relevant code books. Ching's Building Codes Illustrated is a good place to start. It is nice to have so much building construction information consolidated into one book.



2. I was displeased with the description of the item in relation to the final product i recieved.

3 comments about Graphic Guide to Site Construction: Over 325 Details for Builders and Designers.

1. i am so thankful to the authors of this book! they explained everything with such clarity and attention to detail. i am recommending this book to a lot of fellow landscape designers. this book has clear and well drawn details on a lot of landcape structures. it is far far better than a lot of text books on the same subject, and it's worth ten times more than its price.



2. What an excellent little book! As a landscape designer (who provides the aethetic overview for the contractor to install), this book has proven extremely helpful in answering my never-ending questions, "how will ____ be built?" As such, it is invaluable in the design process as well.
   
   Aimed at residential design, every hardscape element I need is explained and illustrated in a professional, thorough, easy-to-understand way. Examples of what's covered: retaining walls, steps, drainage, railings, irrigation, lighting, septic systems, paving systems, deck structures, built-in fireplaces, built-in kitchens, water, pools, spas....etc, etc, etc.
   Of the more complicated things (built-in kitchens, swimming pools), the authors kept the details simple, describing the overall concepts, so that a designer can show them, but a skilled contractor would need to fill in. Of the things a do-it-yourselfer can do (e.g. fences, simple paving), there is a more thorough covering.
   
   This book is NOT among the comprehensive construction standards references that must (by necessity of their content) be priced in the $100 to $200 range. This one is focused and kept to-the-point as a quick but thorough reference for all manner of outdoor construction used in residential landscapes.
   
   For landscapers, landscape designers, homeowners, artists--anyone needing professional construction information edited down to the essentials-- I highly recommend this book!



3. This is a great book for detailed inforamtion. Easy to understand, answers questions and gives suggestions.

5 comments about The Complete Guide to Flooring (Black & Decker).

1. I suspect that one of the most insane decisions in my life is deciding to redo my kitchen - on my own. This makes all kinds of practical sense, given what labor costs. But I am incorrigibly un-handy. But in a fit of pseudo-parsimony (you never really save any money doing something yourself - you just buy tools instead of labor) and a determination to recover my macho I have sailed into the unknown of plumbing, cabinetry, plastering, tiling, and, worst of all, flooring.

   No sooner did it become obvious that replacing the floor was inevitable than I realized that I was completely clueless about what to use and how to go about it. Of course there is no lack of people who will tell you what they would do, but this is one of those things that you live with forever and it needed to be wholly what I wanted. At this point I scanned the shelf of the local handyman's heaven and found this little cheery volume.

   For the most part it's quite practical. Chapters on planning, design, and preparation nurse you through the start up and dreaded removing of the old floor stages. Then there are chapters on hardwood floors, ceramic and stone floors, resilient flooring, and carpeting. More follows on finishing and repair. More than enough to answer the basic questions of how to close the knowledge gap and make a sensible decision about how to proceed.

   There are countless photos, and the writing style is clear, even if it is a bit dull. Of course, dull is a good thing when making a major household change. One gets excited when the day is over and the job done, not by unexpected drama in the kitchen. This seems as good a reference as any I've seen, and covers far more than I ever wanted to know. I expect that someday soon my cats will be walking on something entirely new. Complaining as they go, of course.




2. I've only helped a neighbour lay a wooden floor before so I needed all the help i could get. This book is informative with good pictures and ideas. It details everything from the tools you need to the different types of flooring and how to lay them
   I now feel confident to embark on purchasing and laying my own wooden floor. Highly recommended for a beginner



3. I'm a novice DIYer and new homeowner of an old place, and I like to get all the help I can before talking to experts. This helped me get informed on some flooring options, and was certainly helpful with illustrating to my carpenter what I wanted in different areas of my current renovation project. I probably would rate it higher if I've had the chance to do the work myself, but that's for later.



4. This is a great book for the do it yourself person. Great full color pictures. Complete step by step details on how to do a particular job. Have looked at several books like this and the Black and Decker book was tops. Not only does this book give you step by step instructions for a project, it also gives you a list of items needed prior to starting project. FYI I am fenmale and feel I can do any floor job with the aide of this book.



5. I've bought this book for my laminate floor project. The book turned out to be a disappointment: it gives no more information than I found on a leaflet from a laminate crate. With great details and pictures it explains very basic things, like it targeted for a 6-years old doing his school science project. But it omits really important details and nuances: how to calculate a layout so you wouldn't end up with the 1-inch wide last row, where to use which molding and how to install it, and so on. And if some unexperienced and not technically-inclined person starts his project using only this book, he very quickly may find himself in the troubles, with lot of materials and time wasted.