5 comments about The New Cottage Home: A Tour of Unique American Dwellings.

1. As an avid cottage fan, and living in one while designing a new one to build for myself which is even more zen and simple, I found this book to be one of the best books on cottages around. Although I also admit what was considered a cottage when my place was built someone hundred years ago and what is considered a cottage in 2006 is around five square feet more in size.
   
   Of course I am a purest and go by what my dictionary says a cottage is which is 1 : the dwelling of a farm laborer or small farmer 2 : a usually small frame one-family house. Small being reduced in size. So I was surprised that on page 112 they show a French Hunting Lodge from the Pacific Northwest. Not a cottage at all.
   
   What does make this good sized book useful for anyone looking for ideas on cottage styles is the vast array of examples given. From the coastline of Maine to the San Juan Island of Washington State, to rural Kansas to Massachusetts to favorite areas here in California.
   
   And wonderful examples of simple to elaborate. One of my favorites because of its really simple zen style is the Pumphouse on pages 52-59 on San Juan Island in Washington State that was made into a smooth lined, all in one cottage which I and other minimalists would love to own. Or the wonderful Salvage Yard cottage in Franklin County, Kansas on page 156-161 that would fit in just about anywhere where clean lines and environmental desires are important.
   
   There is even an off the grid cottage and some communities of nothing but cottages like those on Lopez Island in Washington State beginning on page 196, where the cottages are part of a land trust that was set up to allow people on moderate incomes to build small abodes with common greenbelt areas in and area where expensive homes were/are the norm. Heck, this made the book worth the price in itself.
   
   Each cottage is shown inside and out complete with basic blueprints of each cottage so one can see how the space sits and works. The photography and text meld well and makes this a book that is hard to put down.



2. This book is great if you want gables and a structure with more character but more expensive. I am looking for simple structures. I do like the book a lot.



3. the used bookstore wouldn't even want this rubbish- about 5 pages of decent information. it's all coffee table fluff and I don't drink coffee- Boo



4. Some books you love and race right through them. This one I loved so much I dawdled over every page, scrutinized the photos, and extracted every bit of info I could from the written descriptions.
   I pictured myself curled up on the windowseat reading a book. I imagined walking through the woods to my camp cottage, or lounging in the adirondack chair on the porch with an ocean view. This book will fuel any dreams you have of owning a second home, a special retreat from the real world.
   The cottages are grouped into these categories:
   *Cottages by the water
   *Cottages of the forest and mountains
   *Cottages in the field
   *Cottages in town
   The final section covers designing the cottage home (26 pages).
   Each cottage gets 4 to 6 pages. The book describes the owners' vision and tells how the architect created their dream cottage. It might be 500 sq. ft. or 2,000 sq. ft. but each vacation home is a pleasure to view. Besides numerous color photos, there's a floor plan for each cottage. These combine with the descriptive text to give a pretty good picture of each home.
   Savor this book. Even if you never have a cottage, you can dream.



5. I thought it was a little dated for being called "New cottage homes". I know some of the houses built and they were built over 13 years ago. So not so "new" if you know what I mean. If you buy it I am sure you will understand.

5 comments about Home Recording Studio: Build it Like the Pros.

1. I've read a number of "build your own home studio" books, and this one has impressed me the most by far. It contains tons of useful and very practical information about how to build a good home studio. The info covers everything - acoustic theory, design of the space, material choices, construction techniques, HVAC, lighting and electrical, safety, etc. etc. He goes in-depth into each of these topics too. Some of the content *is* targeted for big studios on big budgets, but most of it also applies to the do-it-yourselfer, so I don't count that as a minus. For example, I will not be cutting existing concrete slabs and excavating and installing footers under the edges, nor will I be floating a new slab over an existing one...but I like knowing how these things are done for a professional studio. He does reference a number of brand names, but I don't count this as a minus either - brand recommendations (from someone with experience) are useful to someone new to studio construction.
   
   Bottom line, the guy is a former contractor, and it's obvious from reading the book that he knows how these things are not just designed, but actually *built*. He covers everything in more depth than most of the other books put together. This book is money well-spent.



2. This book is a must have for anyone considering building a studio in their house. The focus of the book is most certainly *building* a studio, and not so much quick and easy ways to make the spare bedroom a pro studio. If you are serious about building get this book!



3. Generally this is an informative book, I've found it very valuable and am glad I purchased it...but it does deserve a few dings. Rod assumes at least some familiarity with construction jargon. For construction illiterates like me, some of his explanations leave me wondering what he is saying and it is at least in part due to terminology I'm not familiar with. A glossary would help. I also wish he'd deal a little more with how to work around, or options for improving, existing construction, like an existing window or door you might want to keep.
   
   Overall, this book is well worth the price for the wealth of detail about materials and construction techniques alone. It will be a great reference book.



4. I'm building a basement studio. My starting point was bare concrete walls and open ceiling with joists from the floor above. In my case this book was invaluable. Even though there is a wealth of information (and much of it very good) on-line in regard to studio construction, understanding the general concepts, and judging whether the information is from a truly knowledgeable source can be quite overwhelming. Rod is highly respected in every aspect of studio construction and his advice is sought after by the big boys. In my project, the high priority items have been 1) Sound isolation - How do I keep sound from entering and leaving the space and 2) Once isolation is achieved, how do I treat the space acoustically so it is conducive to recording and mixing music? The book addresses these issues and others very nicely. It gave me a solid understanding of the principle of these issues, then building on those principles, went into specifics regarding construction and product options for achieving these goals. In my opinion it's important to note that many times Rod would offer multiple options varying from least expensive and reasonably effective, to most expensive and extremely effective. It is written in plain, clear language and includes excellent illustrations, and examples of how particular techniques are used in large studios. In most cases, it provides more information than you need to achieve these goals. I also find myself well educated enough from this information to more easily determine whether information I find on-line may be credible or not. This book is an easy and interesting read, and a wonderful reference applicable for any project similar to mine, or more involved. My copy is becoming worn out from being referred to so often!



5. Best book on the subject I've read (out of 3 or 4). I continue going over the details of the different sections to try to internalize the materials and layout of each piece of the project puzzle.
   
   When I showed this book to a professional acoustician friend who works for a internationally recognized acoustics firm, he agreed that many of the construction materials that were reviewed in the book are in fact the very same ones that they recommend in the building of performance spaces and recording studios. I thought that was the best recommendation of all!

4 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 comments about More Small Houses (Great Houses).

1. I just love the small(?) houses in this book. I'm one of those people that dream of one day being able to build my own home, and therefore have numerous books and magazines with house plans. This book is the best by far that I have. The plans and pictures in this book are just brilliant. I love the fact that most of the houses are different to the normal square or rectangular shape that is so prevelent these days. All though most of the houses in the book aren't really that small, at least not to me, there are some wonderful designs. The detail provided about each design is thorough. The Energy-Efficient Houses and Craftsman-Style Houses books are terrific as well.



2. Fine Homebuilding does a great job of highlighting unique architecture. My only wish is that it wouldn't get recycled over and over again in hardcover. My plea is for Fine Homebuilding is to keep searching out fabulous homes to keep it fresh. My admonishment is to Taupin Press for boring it's very attentive audience. I now look through a book before I purchase it, I usually find that I already own 20-30 of the pics that I find interesting.



3. If you want a picture book to leaf thru, I guess it's okay. As far as practical ideas, forget it. Most of the homes here are very site-specific, and most are multi-story. I didn't really see any innovations or adaptable ideas that I could actually use in my own home construction, which was why I bought it.



4. I am going to build a small house and found great ideas in this book. I like this book a lot.



5. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the small home movement! Like its predecessor "Small Homes" this book is full of great ideas and wonderful photography of details and explanations of building theory. The book presents each building as a case study and looks at cost per square foot, obstacles in the building process, energy efficiency, and architectural details.

5 comments about Serious Straw Bale: A Home Construction Guide for All Climates (Real Goods Solar Living Book.).

1. I recommend this book with certain caveats. There is certainly some good information in the book and led me to some ideas that never occurred to me before, but the information is uneven, more than a little poorly organized and requires the reader to make some connections to pull the whole together.
   
   The authors give an overview of many ways to do things, but almost never come to any conclusions on how things should be done. Many systems are discussed, some in detail and some not. The interactions of these systems the readers are considering should be explored as well as certain combinations are sure to cause problems in construction or in the life of the building. Of course as the authors note many times this style of construction is experimental and that is half the fun but I am buying the book to get the benefit of others experience.
   
   The authors' ideology is evident in many parts, as well as an assumption that their readers have similar opinions. This can get a little annoying as they wax rhapsodic about the spiritual connections to the materials and decry modern industrial techniques. In some cases they probably make good points, but for those to whom straw bales are a means to an end- comfortable, efficient and non-toxic housing- space in the book would be better reserved for technical opinions than spiritual ones. Thankfully they do everyone a great service by disabusing fellow travelers of a few romantic illusions about straw bale and other edgy building techniques.
   
   Illustrations in the book are an annoying aspect. Some are good and clearly depict what the authors words have trouble with. Other times they will start talking about a technique without defining it, or when they did define it I found my self wishing they just gave me a good picture.In a few cases, they give a picture, they give a discription, but are missing a label or other indicator that would easily tie it together and make sense. A well detailed sketch is worth at least a page of prose.
   
   Finally for a book that extols the beauty of bale construction, they would do well to get a better photographer to do their pictures. Most of the photos in the book are awful and if readers are not already familiar with some bale buildings they may be more scared than attracted. One might get the idea that bale buildings are dark, dingy, dreary and populated by scary strange people. They are not (usually).
   
   Sadly, this book is more useful than most on the subject of straw bales. If you are considering working with bales, I would recommend this book before starting any project... just don't let the pictures scare you away.



2. Everything you ever wanted to know about building a straw home from the ground up can be found in this manual.



3. I've been doing research for a house I'm hoping to build in 5 to 10 years, and straw bale is one of the wall systems I'm seriously considering. This book was extremely informative. I confess I often skimmed past sections dealing with cold, wet climates (I live in Arizona), but sometimes I read through them just because they were so interesting. If you're considering using this wall system for your own project, this book is a good place to start.



4. This is a great book and for anyone thinking of building in a damp climate a must have. Great information about the various ways of doing things, allowing the reader to make the best choice for their site, budget and level of skill. Covers wet weather considerations better than most other books. A good addition to your straw bale library.
   
   One warning, in this book the straw bale slab system is detailed but has since been shown to be a not so good idea so I would reccommend separate research on that subject.



5. I hope to build a natural house some day and am still in the research stage, looking at various alternatives. Straw bale is of course a serious contender. I am not a builder or a handyman; as a lay person I found this book satisfyingly detailed. "More Straw Bale Building" by Chris Magwood is another worthwhile read on the subject and balances this ones anti-Nebraska and pro-cement stucco biases somewhat. Anyway, what both books do is make it clear that building with straw bale isn't like Lego. It is serious stuff and requires a professional builder, and the money to pay them.
   
   One other thing: I really liked this book's introduction to other alternative building materials. It has given me other things to research.

5 comments about Building Stone Walls.

1. Compact and concise, John Vivian's "Building Stone Walls" is a book that you can take with you while collecting (or buying) stone for your project, preparing the location, and building your wall. It offers a good overview of stacking stone, as well as a couple of less common ways of using stone (re-channeling moving water, for example). Best of all, it has some very practical, timesaving tips, particularly advice about when it is necessary to start with a trench and gravel base and when it is not.

   With our particular project - building a retaining wall with field stone recycled from decaying fences around our house in the Catskills - we found that Vivian's book did not include quite enough detail. He only supplies a few paragraphs on the construction of a retaining wall, though to be fair, what information he gives is practical. By itself, however, this would not have been enough to guide us through the project.

   For more detailed information on retaining walls, we turned to "The Granite Kiss", "Stone in the Garden" and "The Art and Craft of Stonescaping." Keep in mind, however, that the latter two books are more lavishly illustrated, a cross between a how-to book and a coffee-table book, so you probably would not take them out in the field.
   
   That said, if you have never worked with stone, and want to get an idea of what is involved in planning and preparation, finding and moving stone, and building a wall, Vivian's book is a practical and inexpensive book to buy first. Five stars for useful, concise information in a very usable format.




2. Charles McRaven's "Building Stone Walls" is much better. Covers all the material and techniques that Vivians book does and more! Don't waste your time on this book. If you're looking for more detail on working with stone, McCraven's book is the one.



3. I purchased this book to get some basic knowledge before I attempted to build a small retaining wall in my front yard. The book gave me just enough knowledge to have the confidence to attempt and complete the job. I don't know how useful this book would be on a very complex project.



4. I am planning on building a stone wall and as I know nothing about the subject I recently purchased 4 great books. After skimming through them all this is the one I read cover to cover the first afternoon. It is full of practical advice. It was as comfortable to read and follow as talking to a wise old uncle who always seems to be able to do anything. Each of the books I bought seemed to include something the others didn't and each seemed to miss somethings. However this one was almost like reading a novel. I reccomend it for anyone interested in the subject. And it is full of other fun tidbits. For instance I learned what a 'Gad-pry' bar was, that in the mid 70's it was fairly new and cost about $7.00. A quick web search found them for $23 to $29 today. Also reading this first seemed to make the others more 'understandable' for me.



5. I found this book to be much more than I expected!
   The author gave me the technical information I was looking for PLUS HISTORICAL information that gave me plenty of reason to add it to my collection of "eclectic books of antique info"

5 comments about Home Quick Planner: Reusable, Peel & Stick Furniture & Architectural Symbols.

1. I bought this product, as opposed to other similar ones, because of the other reviews/ratings. I thought it was going to be like the Colorforms toys we played with as kids. Instead, the pieces are black and white, very tiny, and hard to stick/unstick. I know it says everything is proportioned but some of the chairs are nearly as large as the fireplace. After trying for about an hour to arrange a single room using this product, I gave up.



2. As an Interior Designer for 20 years, the problem I have with computerized design programs is that you can't take them with you. The Home Quick Planner is one of the few things that really is easier and more efficient without a computer. These planners allow me to easily come up with several different design options for my clients, and perhaps more importantly, gives my clients the flexibility to play around with different layouts and furniture placement on their own. In addition, their 1/4" scale makes them a perfect fit to be dropped right into standard architectural plans. I have found these to be an invaluable, time saving tool. They just work better, and my clients love them!



3. The Home Quick Planner is an excellent way to lay out and discover alternative floor plans, decorating ideas and propose major home remodeling changes. I have found it very helpful.



4. I got this from my husband for my birthday and I was very excited, but once I got to working with the kit I could not finish my project because there were not enough of the wall strips. So if you are doing a large plan this kit may not be what you need without purchasing additional kits, but if you are doing a small plan or single room remodels its fine.



5. I purchased this for my interior design class. This has proven to be a great asset for furniture placement. The templetes are reuseable

2 comments about The Bathroom Book: The Ultimate Design Resource for the Home's Most Essential Space.

1. I am about to totally gut my master bathroom and increase the size by incorporating two adjacent closets. It will still be on the small side but I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book covers the very small to the grandiose in size and style. The author discusses practical considerations when choosing each component of the bathroom and highlights common mistakes and misconceptions. There are lots of ideas and a selection of floor plans and whilst you cannot expect any of them to be tailor made for your house, they are a valuable resource to build upon. I would recommend this book if you are thinking of redesigning your bathroom.



2. I found just what I needed in this book. The photographs are splendid, and the ideas are inspirational. This book works for me.
   As far as resources are concerned however, you are just referred to the designer, so if you're doing some of the remodeling yourself, which I am, you can only use this book for ideas, not to track down the individual products photographed. That said, this book has helped me tremendously with my planning decisions.

5 comments about Modernism Reborn: Mid-Century American Houses.

1. I bought this interesting book because I wanted something that would cover, visually, the best of mid-century American architecture. As another reviewer has said, don't expect a full technical account of the background to these beautiful houses but if you want excellent exterior and interior photos in a well designed and printed book, 'Modernism reborn' is the one to get.
   
   The fact that these thirty-five houses have all been restored in some way gives the book extra interest. Many of them were featured in the architectural press years ago when they were first built and these are the photos you usually see in books. Some of them were neglected but fortunately the current owners thought restoration worthwhile and this is how Roger Straus photographed them.
   
   An interesting companion book to 'Modernism reborn' is Classic Modern: Midcentury Modern At Home by Deborah K Dietsch, not directly concerned with the architecture but more to do with the furniture, fabrics, lighting and style that made these houses such wonderful homes. If only I could afford to live in one!
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.



2. 
   We are in danger of losing our mid-century domestic architectural heritage.
   
   Yesterday's flat-roof, ultra-modern "home of tomorrow" is often perceived as the cramped and impractical "teardown" of today. Most real estate agents will confide that "Modern doesn't sell," and those modernist homes that are sold are usually fodder for the bulldozer; razed and discarded to make way for another McMansion.
   
   Sometimes it seems that the only folks who have any fondness for "Home, Sleek Home" are advertising directors (who love to feature hip mid-century homes in TV commercials and print ads), and subscribers to Dwell Magazine (and subscribers to the Dwell Magazine lifestyle).
   
   In his book MODERNISM REBORN: Mid-Century American Houses, architectural critic Michael Webb demonstrates that there is a growing appreciation for cutting-edge American residential architecture of the 1930s through the 1960s, and in it he highlights the intrepid homeowners who've assumed stewardship of 35 of these "Contemporary" domiciles of long, long ago. Tersely written, illustrated with floor plans, and enlivened by nearly 200 color photos by noted architectural photographer Roger Strauss III, MODERNISM REBORN explores the unique histories of these homes, and chronicles the research, labor, and expense that the adventurous owners have lavished on their preservation, restoration and sometimes, expansion.
   
   Nearly all of the 20th Century architectural greats are represented here--Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra, Philip Johnson and R.M. Schindler--as well as iconic modernist structures such as Pierre Koenig's Case Study House #21, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House, and Charles and Ray Eames' own home-studio. Webb presents homes that embody various modernist impulses in thematic chapters that prove that there was no one right way (or Wright way) to be "modern."
   
   Webb's survey argues a case for Modernism as a mode (or ideal) of living, rather than a mere style (or styles). Indeed, these light-filled, open plan, spartanly furnished "homes of the brave" imply an enlightened lifestyle of Zen-like purity somewhat at odds with the ever more acquisitive and materialistic American way of life.
   
   Don't read too much into the Modernist rejection of consumerism, however, because these designer homes were status symbols in their day, and to furnish a home with "Modern classics" like Le Corbusier's Petit Confort sofa, the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, and a pair of Mies Barcelona chairs will set you back several grand. Modern don't come cheap.
   
   Ultimately, the stories that Webb weaves about the people that commissioned, designed, built, restored and live in these homes are every bit as enlightening and memorable as the homes themselves. In fact, the author makes their histories seem inseparable, as if house and owner are joined in partnership against philistine taste, obnoxious neighbors, natural (and unnatural) disasters, and metal fatigue.
   
   This is not a scholarly study, but Webb assumes a certain level of cultural awareness and familiarity with architectural terms in his reader. It is a fine book with a fresh look at a perhaps overly familiar subject, and is well worth owning for the photos alone.
   
   Reading MODERNISM REBORN makes one wonder how the home of 1950 will inform and inspire the home of 2050, the mid-century home of tomorrow.



3. The author provides a good overview of the history and restoration of 35 architecturally significant houses
   of the 1930's through mid-century. The only thing keeping it from getting a 5 star rating is it's small format,
   resulting in smallish pictures and smaller floor plans. These wonderful houses deserved a larger page size,
   say 12" x 12", to show them to the best advantage. Still, given it's relatively modest price, this book provides
   a lot of information between the covers.



4. If you want a strong, national (not just LA or Palm Springs) overview of mid-century modern, this is a good bet. Very well produced, beautiful imagery.



5. I was looking for mid-century houses that were more in the middle classes, and you do not get that here.
   
   These are all high-end, very expansive homes, similar to the type one might come across in Dwell magazine. The book is nicely set up, with thick, distinctive paper used, and the book coming encased in cellophane, implying 'you're getting something very sophisticated and special here...', something I neglected to pick up in reality [but again I was looking for something else]. I also did not like the contrived use of marketing (paper and cellophane wrap). Always a bad sign.

5 comments about Setting Tile (Fine Homebuilding).

1. Like most Taunton Press publications, Setting Tile skews abit toward the art side of its trade, and it glosses over quite a few things that an absolute novice, or even a fairly skilled worker in another trade, needs in order to get a good result. As other have pointed out, he doesn't go into using mastics or epoxy-based mortars. But those seem like decisions based on his experience with the materials. He simply uses thinset. Enough said.
   
   One ommission that did seem a little odd was the lack of information about working with wet-wall installations. He only uses backer board, which for a worker/writer who is so thorough and skilled seems strange.
   
   Especially given the fact that he does such a great job of explaining, step by step, how to build a shower pan, which is a fussy, finicky, yet back-breaking job if there ever was one.
   
   One other fault (and this may be a fault of Taunton books in general): he doesn't help me anticipate errors. For example: Mr. Byrne recommeds that you fur out the backer board above a shower pan lining so that the board can hang over the lining without getting bumped out. And he recommends butter the back of the board with thinset where it mates with the lining (since you can't drive screws through the board as it would pierce the lining).
   
   Now a non-idiot (not me!) would know that the mortar would tend to push the backer board out, especially in the corners where the lining is folded to three times its typical thickness. Such a non-idiot would fur out a little extra and use a little less mortar.
   
   But not me: I butter the hell out of the back of the backer board and by the time the mortar set the board's bottom was out of pumb a good 3/16 of inch. Not a huge deal, until you try to make the tials look nice and perfect.
   
   So some idiot warnings would be nice. Sort of a follow my advice, but here are some things to watch out for.
   
   Then again, no taunton book I've ever owned (quite a few) does a good job with newbies.
   
   Regardless, this is a good, solid look at installing tile, especially installing and designing complex patterns. But you might need to augment it with something from Time Life say ;-)



2. Michael Byrne's work in both his book "Setting Tile" and his DVD "Tiling Floors with Michael Byrne" are excellent resources for beginners, and were I an experienced tile setter, I would say so for those folks, too.
   
   As a complete novice I recently completed my first tile project, re-doing my bathroom, some 50 square feet. In my opinion it turned out very well considering it was a first time effort. I relied heavily on Mr. Byrnes's works. That would be small by most accounts, but let me assure you, for me, it was large. I am in the process of doing another 500 square feet of work on a plywood substrate. After that I have another 500 feet downstairs on a concrete slab to do.
   
   He makes it simple for anyone to understand. These works will remain life-long resources in my personal library.
   
   While it is not possible to cover everything in any works like these, some areas I would suggest for improvement are some more clarification on areas around door jams in terms of doing the tiling around those, trimming them. More information on toilet removal and installation would have been helpful. The toilet borders on plumbing and that is a subject unto itself though. One more area that would be helpful is the area of cementitious backerboard. There are several kinds on the market and each has its own idiosyncracies.
   
   But if one is considering undertaking a project like this, you can always rely on Amazon.com for additional material.
   
   Works by Taunton Press, the publisher of these media are also recommended. But again, no one resource can be everything. And finally, there is no substitute to finding reliable people to talk things through.
   
   Again, I rate Mr. Byrnes's work as 5 Star.



3. We recently built our new home & I used this book & Tile Your World to do all the tile work. One of our best & proudest features is the masterbath I built with lg garden tub and oversized corner dual head shower with dual niche all tiled together - We love it. I can't believe I was able to do it all with friends & family and alot of sweat/work.
   
   Saved thousands over best few estimates. I see why the labor is so pricy now....
   
   Recommend both books.



4. Excellent book apparently. I got a copy for a friend who is tiling her bathroom. She thought it was a wonderful and informative publication and a must for anyone who is doing something of this nature.



5. This is a great book for learning to set tile. Don't rely on the info from your local hardware store... Get this book and learn how to do it right!