5 comments about Martha Stewart's New Old House.

1. This book chronicles the renovation/restoration that Martha Stewart completed on a historic New England farmhouse. It is very specific about many of the tasks that she completed, and gives some general how-to information (how to hire a contractor, create a landscape design, etc). I was disappointed because I was looking for ideas to restore and renovate my "new old house" and didn't really find much inspiration here. Much of the decorating revolved around painting murals and designs on the floor, which is something that I don't plan on doing. If you are planning a major renovation project to a large, historic home, this book might be a good starting place but I wouldn't rely on it for all of my information. Although it didn't really help me with my specific plans, it was an interesting, sometimes sketchy, read.



2. The Photos and the home are beautiful! Maybe not good for ideas to restore, but the federal colonial farmhouse was done in wonderful taste and style. I reccomend it to anyone who loves old homes. It's my favorite book. How nice!



3. As a recent purchaser of an old house, I really enjoyed the first few sections of this book and thought it might really be helpful for our remodel. However, it quickly turned into a big spend-fest, as other reviews have mentioned. Get this only for the nice pictures and commentary, certainly don't expect advice on how to do anything yourself.



4. On one hand I liked seeing step by step how an old run down house was saved and restored (be kind to your handy man and all contractors-- they're heroes) but I really didn't like how Martha kept reminding the readers in what seemed to be every chapter how tacky the previous owner was. That didn't seem particularly kind and it was not necessary to the success of the book.



5. This is one of my favorite books for inspiration when I'm feeling stuck on a project in our own "new old house." It's definitely over the top for most homeowners, and I didn't like the jabs at the previous owner, either. But the pictures are gorgeous and there are great decorating ideas.

5 comments about Barns, Sheds and Outbuildings: Plan, Design, Build (Ultimate Guide).

1. this is a good book for learning how to build from a small shed on your property to a barn. gives you all the information and materials.



2. A good book on basic info plumbing and electrical and structure but very little on plans



3. Nicley done, introductory how-to book for those wanting to undertake a barn project themselves. It does not give adequate guidance for sizing your project to meet varying needs. Therefore, you really have to have done your own field investigations to understand what size(s) different functions require, what heights and depths make sense for different equipment, animals, sports uses, etc. Useful, but not as comprehensive in the planning process as it could have been.



4. I bought this for my Dad when he was building a new lean-to to store his new tractor. He read the thing cover to cover and used it as a guide not only for the lean-to but also for the addition to the garage for his woodworking area.



5. This book provides a thorough review of the building techniques that go into constructing a variety of outbuildings, with clear illustrations and very good detail. Following presentation of the techniques, it provides plans for a number of buildings. As a homeowner with intermediate skills, I found this book extremely useful, and I'm looking forward to putting my new skills to work on my new shed.

2 comments about The Concrete House: Building Solid, Safe & Efficient with Insulating Concrete Forms.

1. ICFs provide cost-effective ease of construction, energy efficiency, quiet, and long-term sustainability for any location (mountain, coast, valley, flood plain, frequent tornadoes, cold and hot, arid and humid). The use of steel studs on interior walls provides strong structure and reduces thermal breaks. ICFs work for basements and multistory structures. They are insect-proof.
   
   Anything you can design and build with typical "boards and sticks" construction you can do much better with ICFs. ICFs can be used for floors, ceilings, walls and roofs or SIPs (structural insulated panels) can be used. ICFs are suitable for the tropics or high elevation snowy mountains. Want a house that will still be there after a severe tornado? Look into ICFs.
   
   How do you introduce a contractor to ICFs who has been building the same way for 25 years with the motto, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" (resistant to changing methods of construction) - give your contractor a copy of this book. Spend one 24 hour in an ICF house - feel the ambient temperature, listen to the sound, look at the natural and artificial lights, then demand high quality, sustainable ICF construction for yourself, your business, schools and church.
   
   Houses are expensive and costly to operate, regardless of climate. ICFs require good thorough thinking in advance (you're not going to move a window or door easily later on). Want sustainable cost-effective construction in and above ground? Build ICFs.



2. The Concrete House, by Pieter A. VanderWerf. It is an interesting book to read if you are considering building in this manner. It is witten from an American perspective, for the American market (I'm Australian), but as it doesn't get too technically involved, it translates quite well. This is not a "how to build" book. It is written in question and answer format, and is aimed more at those who have heard of the ICF style of building but want to know more about the features and benefits, and basic construction details of it.

5 comments about Trim Idea Book.

1. Nothing defines a room like trim, and Trim Idea Book offers not just wall trim ideas, but tips on handling doorways, ceilings, stairs, mantels and more. Enrich and add color to different kinds of ceilings, trim a door to frame a view, and understand how informal and formal casings affect appearance in a photo-packed idea book which covers all kinds of styles and options.



2. Nothing defines a room like trim, and Trim Idea Book offers not just wall trim ideas, but tips on handling doorways, ceilings, stairs, mantels and more. Enrich and add color to different kinds of ceilings, trim a door to frame a view, and understand how informal and formal casings affect appearance in a photo-packed idea book which covers all kinds of styles and options.



3. Projects and ideas are realistic. They are not handy-man projects but look finished and professionally designed. I got a good idea for a window seat from book.



4. I was marking things in this book and walking him through my ideas for my home. He borrowed it and still hasn't given it back. I guess that means we both liked it.



5. I enjoy that there are several pictures that give ideas of the different directions you can go into with a trim project. I've purchased several of the Idea Books and I haven't been disappointed yet. Each one is referenced often while I'm working on my condo redo. This is a great series for anyone who is a DIY guru or anyone working with a contractor (I've been doing both).

4 comments about How to Build with Bamboo.

1. Very disappointing when it comes to the projects; I found the designs crude and not at all anything I'd want to put on display. The author obviously loves his subject and offers some very good tips on working with bamboo, but the overall style is very dated looking on most.



2. This book was a serious disappointment. Definitely search elsewhere if you want to build with bamboo.



3. I bought this item for my mother-in-law who is interested in making small furniture and decor from bamboo. She states that the book is helpful and has easy to understand directions and diagrams to guide the user through the process.



4. Nice photos and clear dirctions. Several projects will be on my to-do list. Nothing earth shattering but nice hobby-man projects

5 comments about The Classic Hewn-Log House: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building and Restoring.

1. This book is a poor attempt. I've read pamphlets with more usable information in them. The section on Hewing is a joke, as is most all the rest of this book. Very few hints and techniques in this book, which was very disappointing. Lots of self pumping-up, not no real instruction detail. Stick to writing books about stone, Mr. McRaven and give the timber world a sigh of relief.



2. The hewn-log house represents early American architecture - and author Charles McRaven has been building and restoring these houses for sixty years: he's in the perfect position to illustrate each step of the process, from building from scratch to repairs. Learn how to replace rotten logs, notch logs, use vintage logs, or handle floor joists in this step-by-step guide, loaded with black and white photos.



3. The reviewer entitled "hk537" must live on a different planet, (or maybe just jealous and insecure). Not only is McRaven's knowledge of building and construction with both stone and wood exemplary, but in addition, he adds his own touches of humor in the manner of old yarn storytelling. He also includes a large amount of historical information which I found to be endlessly fascinating. If someone were looking for an instructional book with "just the hard facts", be aware that this author's books go way beyond that. A wonderful, educational, and enjoyable read!



4. I purchased and read four books about log homes, in order to to educate myself before buying a small, antique log structure. (There are several firms - some nonprofit and others for-profit - dealing in old buildings that are dismantled, then offered for sale, to be reconstructed.) This book provided me with the most, and most useful, information. It even led me to find a reliable firm that's in the antique log home sales/reconstruction business.
   Other books might be better suited to someone whose intentions are to cut-down trees for logs and build from scratch, but I believe most main stream readers will find this book to be their best source of information. Also, the text is accompanied by numerous good photographs that serve to aid understanding and foster decorating ideas of particular relevance to log home living spaces.



5. I have several books on how to build a log cabin and I must say that this is my favorite. Why? Because this is one of the few books on the subject that you can sit down to read like a story book. It will is no wise bore you as I have seen with other books of its kind.
   This book is not about modern log building (ie. the 5000sq foot home made out of logs) It is about the historical log cabin and what you need to build one. It specializes in the half-dovetail, hewn, chinked log home. It is not a extensive and exhaustive how-to manual with endless calculations and diagrams. There are other books out there for that. But, this book is very simple, straightforward, and to-the-point.
   McRaven has been building these cabins for over 60 years ( more than any other log builder I have heard of ). The pictures of the stonework, hand forged hardware and the entire structural restorations really do prove that. While he points out what was authentic to history,he doesn't build with historical problems. He combines new and improved techniques with old style, antique beauty. He does a good job on explaining what to do and what not to do. He says it like,"Don't do this because years later you will have problems. But do this and your home will last longer and look better."
   The chapter on chinking is a gold mine. McRaven has created an improved way to put in that long plagued chinking. The design it so simple, yet again, is built to last for generations. I would not be surprised that 100 years from now, when these structures are still standing, that this style of chinking is called,"McRaven's Chinking." This chapter alone is worth the book.
   The book is an excellent choice. It is a simple read for those who do not want the exhaustive how-to manual. I highly recommend it.

1 comments about Drywall: Hanging and Taping (Fine Homebuilding DVD Workshop).

1. I had already purchased Myron's essential Drywall book when I happened upon this video at the San Francisco Public Library. If there were one video to learn the basics of hanging sheet-rock and mudding I highly would recommend this video. This video is excellent. You gain enough knowledge from this dvd to get you up to speed. Of course good drywalling takes much practice, but you feel as though you're an apprentice drywaller at the heels of a master. The section on mudding is particularly good in this video, which is the most crucial part of any drywall job. I liked the Taunton dvd on trim carpentry equally as well with Craig Savage. While I would have appreciated a longer video in both regards, the series is very useful, and Myron brings things to life by demonstrating how it's done.

1 comments about Design Ideas for Decks & Patios (Design Ideas).

1. I love this book. It inspired me to work on my outdoor living space.
   I have incorporated several ideas and designs from the book and my place is looking better and better...can't wait to have my summer party!

5 comments about America's Painted Ladies: The Ultimate Celebration of Our Victorians.

1. i was speechless each picture was so beautiful , i love each and every house. a great book



2. A fantastic book, a must for anyone who is thinking about painting a Victorian house. It was very helpful to me and my husband who had to come up with a color scheme for our three-story Queen Anne built in 1895.
   
   If you're in the same boat, then you know that deciding on a color scheme for a detailed Victorian house isn't easy and takes careful thought and consideration. This book will help you. It will give you countless ideas, and just looking at the photos is inspiring.
   
   And then, the book will appeal to any fan of Victorian architecture as well. I love looking at the numerous photos of the houses and find myself thumbing through it again and again. Every time I look at this book, I see something intriguing that I hadn't noticed before. Such a book serves to keep me inspired during the remainder of our home's renovation, which is trying at times.



3. Believe it or not but the main reason I purchased this beautiful book was for reference material for scale model building (i.e. LEGO, etc.). I was hunting forever for a book on Victorian homes--with pictures of the OUTSIDE (as most of the books on Victorian architecture deal with the classic interior designs, furniture, etc.). LEGO and Victorian homes go hand in hand, as this book's wonderful color pictures perfectly illustrate--who could imagine such combinations would actually look so stunning!? In addition to excellent photography the text is well written, with interesting facts about each home, why it's unique, yet how it fits into the overall "Painted Lady" lineage... excellent. :-)



4. WOW!! This book is truly a feast for the eyes, and that's no exaggeration! There are so many first rate photos and plenty of text. Every page has multiple color photos. It is a very heavy book! The paper is high quality and the photos are extremely high resolution and stunningly beautiful. What a great job they did just in printing this book! If you love Victorian homes, then this book is a must have! I like it so much I think I will eventually buy a brand new hardcover copy of it (I bought a used paperback copy). I plan on getting all the other books in this series too. Some of the very best Victorian homes are in this book. They kind of remind me of Disneyland with all the colorful paint schemes and fanciful shapes and decorations.



5. I purchased this book to get ideas for a dollhouse I was making. This book gave me many wonderful ideas and inspirations! There are so many detailed pictures giving us a true look into the Victorian Era. Not only did I get ideas for the outside of my dollhouse. I got some great ideas for some of the rooms on the inside of my dollhouse. And what a wonderful surprise to find a picture of the bed and breakfast that I spent my honeymoon in!

3 comments about Housebuilding: A Do-It-Yourself Guide, Revised & Expanded.

1. After contracted builders let me down and stole my deposit, I decided to build an extension to my house myself. Having never built anything more than a kids playhouse, I went in seach of books to help. I'd taken out many from my local library, but they only gave brief explanations on various items--nothing from the ground-up. Then I bought this Housebuilding book--it is absolutely wonderful! It covers everything from footings and foundations, walls and sheathing, to the cupola on the rooftop in clear, concise grammer and very easy-to-follow illustrations. It gave me enough confidence to go ahead with my project and it turned out beautiful! Even though my extension is done, I've kept the book handy to help me with my next project--a new shed/workshop. Bottomline--if you want an all-in-one guide and straight forward instruction in quality building, this is definitely the best reference manual you could get.



2. Put 'House Building' into Amazon Advance Search and you'll end up with over eight thousand titles, make it one word and you'll get a more manageable fifty plus. This book is one of the fifty and at the Amazon price for 702 pages I think this is an impressive buy. Luckily for the family I'm not going to attempt to build my own. I bought the book essentially for reference: I wanted something that explains (and reveals through Tom Webster's brilliant illustrations) how a home is constructed.
   
   The twenty-nine chapters cover it all in what appears to be the basics for each area. If I was to built it myself though I reckon I would have a look at books covering some specific tasks like: framing, drywalls, flooring, plumbing or electrics. The author wisely recommends that for plumbing and electrics professionals are hired.
   
   Other books I've seen about house building and DIY use photos to explain things. This book uses very attractive illustrations (nearly 800) which visually do a better job than photos and with the two column format all the information is very accessible. Perhaps it would have been better to include some sidebars about specific things: an illustration showing the range of nails and screws used, types of sandpaper and tapes etc.
   
   For my reference needs I'm very impressed with this book. I'll be keeping it next to Francis Ching's classic Building Construction Illustrated.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.



3. Will this book teach you everything you need to know to build a house? Yeah, pretty much.