Practical House Building
Many more people are building their own homes - even though most of them have never done building before. Practical Housebuilding is designed to help them. It gives selfbuilders a clear and comprehensive account of how to build their own homes from start to finish, from finding a plot to laying a lawn.
The main part of the book describes in detail how to build a house. The intention has been to give enough information at every stage that even a complete novice can carry out the work (though more slowly than a professional). However, there is no assumption that the selfbuilder will do all the work himself (or herself). Very few do. From the descriptions of what is involved at each stage, individual selfbuilders can decide what they wish to tackle themselves and what they wish to subcontract. Even when subcontracting, the understanding of the job that can be obtained from the book is useful.
In addition to the actual construction of a house, the book also deals with the management of a selfbuild project. It discusses such topics as: finding a plot, the design of a house, costing, finance, Planning permission, Building Regulations, and subcontracting.
In just one volume, a vast amount of information from many sources has been brought together. (In fact, since house-building is largely learnt informally, some of the information given here cannot be found elsewhere). The book follows the mainstream of building practises. Where there are options, it follows the most popular course. The alternatives (e.g. timber frame construction) may not be discussed, but to describe them all in depth would require many books, not one.
The management of the project is covered in the first part of the book. The second part describes how to build the shell of the house, and the third how to fit it out, (this part also deals with drainage and garden works). The last part describes building techniques in general.
Appendices discuss metrication, examine the physics of insulation, and give some handy data about building materials. There is a very extensive list of further information available to selfbuilders. Finally a glossary helps the novice with the many terms used in building.
The book may also be of considerable use to anyone building an extension or doing a renovation. But it has been written primarily for people building their own home, and many selfbuilders will find this book indispensable.
BuildingBooksDirect note: Please be aware that we feel this book is still the best description we've found of the process of actually building a house (how to lay out foundations etc) but has not been seriously updated for ten years and does not deal with modern techniques and materials such as timber frame construction and beam and block flooring.
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The main part of the book describes in detail how to build a house. The intention has been to give enough information at every stage that even a complete novice can carry out the work (though more slowly than a professional). However, there is no assumption that the selfbuilder will do all the work himself (or herself). Very few do. From the descriptions of what is involved at each stage, individual selfbuilders can decide what they wish to tackle themselves and what they wish to subcontract. Even when subcontracting, the understanding of the job that can be obtained from the book is useful.
In addition to the actual construction of a house, the book also deals with the management of a selfbuild project. It discusses such topics as: finding a plot, the design of a house, costing, finance, Planning permission, Building Regulations, and subcontracting.
In just one volume, a vast amount of information from many sources has been brought together. (In fact, since house-building is largely learnt informally, some of the information given here cannot be found elsewhere). The book follows the mainstream of building practises. Where there are options, it follows the most popular course. The alternatives (e.g. timber frame construction) may not be discussed, but to describe them all in depth would require many books, not one.
The management of the project is covered in the first part of the book. The second part describes how to build the shell of the house, and the third how to fit it out, (this part also deals with drainage and garden works). The last part describes building techniques in general.
Appendices discuss metrication, examine the physics of insulation, and give some handy data about building materials. There is a very extensive list of further information available to selfbuilders. Finally a glossary helps the novice with the many terms used in building.
The book may also be of considerable use to anyone building an extension or doing a renovation. But it has been written primarily for people building their own home, and many selfbuilders will find this book indispensable.
BuildingBooksDirect note: Please be aware that we feel this book is still the best description we've found of the process of actually building a house (how to lay out foundations etc) but has not been seriously updated for ten years and does not deal with modern techniques and materials such as timber frame construction and beam and block flooring.
Product Specifications
| Author: | Bob Matthews |
| Publisher: | Blackberry Books |
| Pages: | 180 |
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