3 comments about The Contractor's Legal Kit: The Complete User-Friendly Legal Guide for Home Builders and Remodelers.

1. This book is the best one I have found on this subject. It's well written and very user friendly. This book will teach you what you need in your construction documents. I read about 4 to 5 books a month on a variety of construction subjects and this is the best one I've found on legal documents



2. As a Remodeling Contractor, I've purchased many books over the years and this is truly one of the best. Worth the price times 10.



3. I haven't completely read through the whole book but from what I have read I can see that I've gotten more than my money's worth.
   Seems as though you can just pick through what pertains to you with help from the author.
   The CD it comes with obviously is also the big selling point. You can then easily print out your legal forms.
   Amazon BTW was a lot less expensive than anywhere else for this book/CD

2 comments about Rooms Outside the House: From Gazebos to Garden Rooms.

1. If you are planning to entertain a cast of thousands (or at least a few hundred), own at least ten acres of land, and have unlimited funds (including hefty fees for architects and engineers), then this book offers a few good ideas. Unfortunately, I was looking for something more down to earth, such as ideas for a modest gazebo or shelter that would blend nicely into the back of my modest half acre piece of land - a place for thinking or reading or conversing with a few god friends, a place to escape the rain, or a place for star gazing. This book didn't even come close to my expectations.



2. What beautiful photos and illustrations! There are many unusual ideas...saunas and studios as well as pool houses. I have a vivid imagination, so I had no trouble envisioning a lower budget version of these ideas. I think the visions are inspiring and can be adapted to fit your budget with a little ingenuity. If you don't have the space for 1000 square foot structure, adapt to 500 square feet! The pictures alone are worth the purchase of this book. Of particular interest to me was the music room...perfect for an artistic retreat!

5 comments about Sensual Home.

1. This book teaches us how to feel calm and organized, how to embelish and refine our senses with the best home arrangements. I loved it!



2. I love this book. I found it on a small interior design store in Italy,and It was love at first sight.I judged it by it's cover(and thought the idea of the velvet cover was great) but when I read it I was transported by its contents.Its absolutly great! Everyone should have it!



3. And the text makes you think about things that you are probably never going to think about in today's madcap and rushed society, simple things like natural lighting, linen textures, plants for detoxifying your environment, etc. There is just one thing that frustrated me about this book. On pages 54 and 55 there is the most amazing sofa I have ever seen, but there is no mention of where it came from or how to get one like it. Some of the references are clearly European and cannot be found in the States. But the overall philosophy is simple- we are animals and we need to slow down and rediscover our sensual being. And once you have found this simple mindset, you will see ways to make it happen all around you.



4. i have many, many home decor books and this one by far and away is my most favorite and has the best philosophy. and the cover is fuzzy and pleasant to handle AND nice to look at.



5. I have owned this book for about 3 years now and it by far the most helpful home book I have ever owned. I think this is a book for people that are very aware of their five senses and want a home that is intimate, simple, nurturing and pleasurable. Crawford cover the five senses, examining how to enhance your home experience with fabrics, textures, smells, sights, sounds, tastes and sights. She focuses on using natural materials rather than chemical ones. Cotton, silk, cashmere, natural stone, aromatherapy, flowers, etc. are all discussed. There is a great directory towards the end on what businesses she recommends finding the best, natural materals discussed in the book. I also love that the cover of the book itself is textured. I always ome back to this book for guidance on what I really need in my home to make it a warm, intimate, senual, pared down and happy place.

1 comments about Patios and Walkways 1-2-3: Design and Build Beautiful Outdoor Living Spaces (Expert Advice from the Home Depot).

1. This book made me feel good about doing things right. Hint: Ignore your "King of the Hill" neighbors who stand around mumbling, "Yep, nope, kinda low over there." And my favorite, "I don't need to see a measured drawing, I got it right here in my head."
   Seriously, just get selections from the tools you need list; get a 30' tape measure, and a long level, a string level, and a cheap calculator (for figuring how many cubit feet and how many yards of crushed lime rock and SRI sand (gritty yellow sand) you need to buy for a depth of 4"-6".). Try the basket weave brick design b/c it is easy and pretty to boot.
   You might want to buy another book on designing pathways and such like as a design idea supplement. If you can paint a wall you have the skills to lay bricks on a sand base. We don't need no stinking mortar!

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.

No comments about Kitchen Design Guide (Better Homes and Gardens).

1 comments about Home Plan Doctor: The Essential Companion for Anyone Buying a Home Design Plan.

1. I found the book to be quite helpful with explaining the basics of developing a well designed home. It stays away from technical issues and instead focuses on design aesthetics and making sure your plans fit on your lot, in your neighborhood, and with the way families use space. In some ways, another book - What Not To Build: Do's and Don'ts of Exterior Home Design - delves deeper into exterior design aspects than this book. But this book gives a well rounded overview of making the best use of space and $$ both inside and outside of your home.

4 comments about Construction Project Management (2nd Edition).

1. This book was written by my old professor at wentworth institute of technology. Although he only gave me a B in the class i have to say the book was written very well ;). It is designed to give the reader important information of construction management in a very basic way. If you are a beginner in the construction business you can not go wrong with this book.



2. Great book to learn Enviroment Systems. Gave me an A in the course. Easy to read, and follow. Filled with much needed charts, tables, and pictures. I recommend for this subject



3. This book uniquely covered the traditional construction management subjects of estimating, scheduling, control, then added preconstruction activities and project delivery methods, followed by construction law and safety. These subject, which are integrated together in the work world, are usally found in 3-4 different books.
   
   Some additional depth, such as adding order of magnitude estimating, and estimating by assemblies, was a welcome addition.
   
   A little more "this is how it is really done in the real world" would have been helpful.Choosing Project Success - A Guide for Building Professionals



4. The condition of the book was great. They only thing is that it arrived one day later then expected. Not really a big deal.

5 comments about Building Screened Rooms.

1. This book helped me to understand that there is much more involved with building a screened porch than I could handle myself. The directions were clear enough that I think any do-it-yourself-er with some experience under her belt could do a fine job. Not as many examples as I would have liked to have seen.



2. A great book, Many picture, giving great ideas and also many helpful notations for builind one.



3. This book has good information, nice pictures and usable designs for building screened rooms. Excellent "how to" methodology along with lumber specifications, loads and design detail. Best book I've found for screened room subject matter.



4. I bought this book specifically because it said it would show you how to build a screened room. From the book's front cover, "A complete how-to guide." I had been turned off by other books which simply said if you want a Gazebo, buy a kit and here's how to put it together. I don't have the budget to build from a kit. I need to put in the sweat equity. I bought Building Screened Rooms because I saw that it did have directions and a material list. I took it to the lumber yard to buy the materials. They explained that there was not enough detailed instructions or material specs to be able to build this. He said, "If you have a really knowledgeable builder, he may be able to figure this out for you." Not everyone is rich enough to just drop a wad of money on some architect, landscaper, builder, gardner and step back and watch them do the work. There are real live people out here who need directions because we are willing to work to attain what we want and can't just buy everything. I am so completely and hopelessly disappointed!!!



5. I purchased this book to see if I could learn how to put my own screened room. Tons of ideas.

1 comments about New Asian Home,The.

1. I borrowed this book from my library and loved it so much I bought it. Although most of the homes are actually in the USA there were plenty of details in the styling that gave me inspiration.
   M Fountain NZ