No comments about Building Dry-stack Stone Walls.

No comments about Stone Landscaping (Ideas & How-to).

2 comments about The Art & Craft of Stonework: Dry-Stacking, Mortaring, Paving, Carving, Gardenscaping.

1. As a landscaper and stoneworker I have found this book inspirational and informative. Full of new ideas and the full color photos present works of art that can be followed just by viewing their example.



2. Probably the best book I own on stone masonry. I bought a lot of stone-masonry/stone-scaping books over the past 5 years and most of them do not come anywhere close. These books have a good chapter or two, or maybe some good photography, but most of them fail in one respect or another. Reed's book is very good throughout and is very suitable for both beginners and pros. An excellent section on tools and basic techniques. Detailed chapters on free-standing walls, retaining walls, single/two-faced walls, dry-stack/mortared, hidden-joint/visible-joint, dry/wet paving. The author could probably improve the book (for the beginners) by adding a chapter on stone types with good pictures illustrating the various types of stone as well as examples of walls with different stone/technique combinations.
   Anyway, I own most of the other books listed on the "Customers who bought this book also bought..." page and this is the one to get. Overall, if you plan on getting involved with stone you should own this book.

1 comments about Design Ideas for Decorative Concrete and Stone (Design Ideas).

1. I bought this book looking for decorative concrete ideas. It has very little material on that subject and the ideas are tailored for ultra expensive houses making this book worthless for the average homeowner. Anyone who can afford the ideas in this book would have an interior decorator and thus wouldn't need it. I am returning the book

4 comments about Masonry Skills, 5E (Masonry Skills).

1. A text book aimed at persons studying to become professional masons. The writing is clear and readily understandable by professional and non professional alike. The technical information presented goes far beyond that found in most books in this field which are aimed at DIY and semi professional builders. It makes a wide range of tasks such as arch and fireplace construction accessible to anyone able to mix cement and position a brick.



2. I need to build a stone wall and stone patio, stone walk way and a stone trail path, so I choose this book, but I find this book is a thorough brick textbook, even someone called a stone masonry master book. What a dispointing!! Be careful when you choose this book!



3. I am a craftsman skilled in telephone, electrical and concrete work. Masonry is a new skill that I am working to acquire.
   
   We renovate rental properties. Recently, we purchased several older properties which require substantial work. We are also adding space for bathrooms and laundry areas. The exterior of these properties is brick. We wish to use brick veneer for the addition to blend the addition into the original structure.
   
   We understand the need to do things right the first time. I also have a great love for high quality craftsmanship. This book emphasizes both.
   
   The book is well written and illustrated. The information is applicable to masons working for large contractors or mom and pop shops. The author coaches the reader and describes how to develop job skills. The author also warns the reader of potential problems and how to avoid them.
   
   The experienced masons that I work with have also learned from this book.



4. I've been a mason for 15 years. And there are alot of benefits to the brick portion of the book. But the impression they leave, which is why I bought the book in the first place, lacked. Their blueprint reading section leaves much to be desired. Granted it does show some symbols, but it never explains what those symbols are or how they are used in a commercial setting. I was also under the impression that I was getting the 5th ed. and was sent the 4th edition. I don't know how much more they updated their book, but the block they use in their pictures, and the legends they use for the prints are way out of date. Perhaps they were masons in the 1950's or something. I really wouldn't recommend this book unless you know nothing about masonry, block, brick or print reading. But if you are green, this book is for you. You could build something successfully by the instructions of this book. But if you are serious about progressing in masonry as a career...find another book.

1 comments about Step-by-Step Masonry & Concrete ("Better Homes & Gardens": Step by Step).

1. This book i chose to read speaks about masonry and concrete. Masonry is a part of construction that i was always interested in because it has somthing to do with building. This book helped me out alot because it spoked about the aspects of masonry and concrete. This book will tell you about how to mix mortar and is also known as concrete. Concrete is mixed with water and sand and dry cement. This mixer has to be at a cetain amout of ingredients to be a well mix.When the mix is done then the laying brick proccess can be done. Masons should be able to lay the bricks to the line that they use to keep the bricks straight and leveled.When they are done laying to the line they have to use the modular ruler to make sure that it is levled and that the joints are at a 3/8'.

No comments about Complete Patios & Masonry (Stanley Complete).

No comments about Masonry Skills, Sixth Edition (Masonry Skills).

1 comments about The Forgotten Art of Building a Stone Wall: An Illustrated Guide to Dry Wall Construction (Forgotten Arts Series).

1. Curtis's method of building with stone is unique. Contrary to other techniques, the author focuses on keeping stones level at all times. He describes how to split and trim stone as well as the tools necessary to do the job. The author remindes the reader how to pay attention to drainage and how not to hurt youself when handling large stones. He gives an excellant description on how to build corners.
   Curtis was fortunate to have an ample supply of flat Mica Schist. I'm not as fortunate, I had to make my supply of rubble flat and his method of splitting stones with the grain helped me make my round rubble flat. There is no mention on how to cut stone against the grain. This book is a classic on my shelf.

4 comments about Complete Masonry: Building Techniques, Decorative Concrete, Tools and Materials (Sunset).

1. Sunset has published several books on this subject, 3 of them called "Complete Masonry" with different subtitles and a basic one, possibly others. This is the only one that I've actually gone through cover to cover and it is superb. I have the Black and Decker flavor of Complete Masonry too and this one is far better at 1/2 the price.

   The projects described are quite a bit more appealing than the B&D's plain cookie cutter boring wall and walkway offerings. More importantly this book offers better techniques of design that can be applied to your own unique design.

   Another of my favorites on the subject of concrete that is also applicable to walls, walkways, flooring or whatever else you wish to conjure is a book called "Concrete Countertops: Design, Form, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath" It actually offers much more than what the title leads you to believe and suggests concrete as a very versitle replacement for standard brick and tile uses of the past.




2. 
   I bought Sunset's "Complete Masonry" because I am thinking about using concrete for my next kitchen counter top. I had heard on a radio home improvement program that concrete kitchen counters are popular in some other countries. Complete Masonry has one chapter on concrete counter tops, but the example they give is an outdoor barbecue, not a kitchen. The techniques can be adapted to a kitchen, but it's not the same as having illustrations of specifically what I want to do.
   
   Other than that, Complete Masonry has lots of information for the home gardener or handy person. You get pictures and details for laying out and construction of walks, stairs, patios, walls, ponds, rock gardens and all kinds of decorative and imaginative masonry work around the home. It's aimed at the home improvement market, not for the professional mason, although a professional might get some creative ideas from it's illustrations. Complete Masonry starts with very basic teaching such as "what is a shovel" and works up to include all the details you would need to construct the projects in the book. Like a lot of Sunset books it's full of ideas and examples of very elaborate projects, though the projects appear to have been done by skilled professionals. Even so, with a little practice you could probably finish any of the projects if you have a little construction skill and are willing to do the work. It's a good idea book, and a practical how-to home improvement book.



3. I was looking for a book on how to build a brick mailbox. This did'nt help much. Thanks anyway.



4. This is a very well done book, and I enjoyed it very much. It has nice projetcs that you really can do by yourself. The pictures are wonderfull, and full of great ideas and details. The instructions are so clear, so anybody can understand easly.