No comments about Building Change of Use : Renovating, Adapting, and Altering Commercial, Institutional, and Industrial Properties.

2 comments about Healthy by Design Revised: Building and Remodeling Solutions for Creating Healthy Homes.

1. Is this book about Healthy Homes/MCS or Envrionmentally Friendly Homes or Energy Efficient Design? It tries to do all three and ends up doing none of them well.

   There is not much current information about toxic building materials/multiple chemical sensivity. If that is what you are looking for, Paula Baker Laporte and John Bower are much better choices.

   The case studies are outdated. Typical of architects, there are a bazillion architectural building details that you may or may not find useful. As a Home Builder, I found this book a waste of time and money.

   On the plus side, there is a lot information about water purification systems. It has the prettiest cover of any of the Healthy House books I have seen.




2. As a new homeowner, I like this book. It deals with older homes, which I have and actually supplies information that I paid someone to give me. Here it is for the cost of the book. I recommend this for people who own their first home and especially if you are chemically sensitive or chemically aware (of potential dangers)..
   There are many books on the market. This one seemed very useful to me.
   The only reason I rated it 4 rather than 5 is that it didn't do the work for me. !!!

1 comments about How to Build a Wind Pump.

1. The book is very well written, clear and would let anyone with a modest range of power tools to make a duplicate. However the wind pump is very small (700mm diameter), there is no auto stowing in a high so the wind mill requires manual dismantling if the wind gets up, the construction is very cheap thus as the author admits will require frequent maintainence. Personally I would not leave this wind pump up unless there was someone on site.

4 comments about Jazz Up Your Junk With Linda Barker: Fabulous Furniture Makeovers from the Star of Bbc-Tv's Changing Rooms.

1. If this book is anything like the show Changing Rooms on BBC America, you will love this book. I personally have not looked at this book, but I have seen Linda Barker at work. She is a great artist and decorator who has an ablity to turn one man's trash to another's treasure!



2. Linda Barker is a wealth of knowledge and know-how. She's got endless ideas that an average gal like myself can do without a second thought. This book allows that dusty junk in the basement to become a great new piece in your home. She's got so many creative and cheap ideas in this book. The amount of creativity is never-ending. Her work is so easy and natural. Great for Everyone!



3. I was horrified by Barker's book. She destroys attractive, and often costly, antiques to make artsy-craftsy pieces which will look dated within ten years. It's hard to believe she purchased the original pieces at bargain prices. I fear readers may destroy even more valuable items now sitting in their attics. If someone owns the necessary power tools, is willing to buy expensive materials and replacement hardware, and has unlimited time to do these projects, they should head to the local unfinished furniture store and use their own ideas and creativity rather than purchase this ill-considered book.



4. Many books I've come across seem to have frivolous unusable decorative furniture makeover projects. Not with this book! I wasn't disappointed one bit, and much of the furniture pieces are items we've all acquired cheaply or simply have stored them in our basements with junk abounding on top of them. Easy to follow instructions and you don't have to be a pro at using tools, materials, etc. I was very pleased with the furniture that I was able to turn into something practicle and useable.

1 comments about Treehouses: View from the top.

1. ...cause this is what this really is. Really good catalog. "Build your own treehouse" has more practical advices, in fact it's photo guide to build a treehouse. No need to have them both.
   This one has general advice about building. And nice pics of built tree houses.
   Overall, nice book, but not a "musthave".

1 comments about Additions Planner (Better Homes & Gardens).

1. Basically a picture book with no consistent theme. Lots of pretty pictures, though.
   
   Chapters
   1. Dreaming and scheming get your project heading in the right direction by gathering ideas and inspiration and organizing in an easy reference file for developing your own design
   
   2 . Basic design strategies consider the option before you decide on a specific strategy . Check to see which illustration and examples best fit your objectives.
   
   3. Assessing your situation: what problems might you encounter? is your site subject to special legal restriction? What are your financing options? Give your plans a reality check before you get over your head.
   
   4. Shaping the design here is how to begin merging your ideas into a rough plan. think about how you want the new space to look, what you want it to do, and how it might affect existing spaces
   
   5. Working with professionals every project is a team effort. who will you need on your team, and where will you find them? How should you interact with them as the project moves forward?
   
   6. Fine tuning your project. As you work with your team , refine your strategy. In this chapter, you'll discover savvy course corrections in design, construction, budgeting and project shopping
   
   7. Gallery of projects: for additional inspiration, tour this collection of recently completed additions. See how homeowners like you solved the space crunch with practical family friendly solution.
   
   About the only comment I noted while reading was this: spend for key eye appeal items or things that will get everyday use (ie it is ok to splurge on an 'entry' look, but otherwise be practical). The text and fabulous pictures hardly mesh at all.

No comments about All New Kitchen Idea Bk (Idea Book (Taunton Home)).

No comments about Do It Yourself: Home Improvement in 20th-Century America.

1 comments about Home Addition & Renovation Project Costs: Planning & Estimating Successful Projects.

1. We were planning on adding a garage to our existing home so I bought this book, not only to see what our costs might be, but also to get an idea of what is involved in such a project. I have to say, this book covers it all. It has great detail about all the various home projects that one could think of and gives some wonderful tips. The only problem came when it was time for the contractors to bid our project. Using the guide in the book, we estimated a cost of about $15K to $25K for a simple garage addition. The contractors had other ideas. The most reasonable bid came in at $45K. So, I'm not sure where the authors think you're going to be building, but I would use this book merely as a reference point and NOT a guide to the actual cost.

No comments about Sweet's Repair and Remodel Cost Guide 2002.