The Visual Handbook of Building and Remodeling: The Only Guide to Choosing the Right Materials and Systems for Every Part of Your Home

by Charlie Wing

A treasure of indispensable information for anyone in home improvement, building, remodelling, or designWhen it was first published in 1990, The Visual Handbook of Building and Remodeling won acclaim from both professionals and amateurs. Now, completely revised and expanded with more than 1000 detailed illustrations, this edition provides all the tools a builder needs, such as:
-- Explicit checklists for meeting building codes and standards
-- The latest information on making a home handicapped accessible
-- Special estimating formulas for ordering supplies

This valuable time and money-saver is a must-have.

Genres: Reference, Architecture, Nonfiction, Construction, Design, House Building

512 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 1941

Reviews

[Sakkyoku · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite reference book for remodeling projects. It is kind of hard to describe the book because it's really unique. In short, it's a collection of loads of miscellaneous information needed to complete any aspect of a remodeling project.

Need to know the typical dimensions of counters, sinks, bedrooms, stairs, wheelchairs, or humans? What about the average wind direction in your area at a particular time of year and how/what to plant to create the most effective windbreak? Maximum spans for various types and dimensions of lumber? Typical appliance wattages? Would you like to know the color temperature of a coated metal halide bulb? The names and dimensions of 40 types of cinder blocks? It's all in there and more. I highly recommend this book to anyone working on a house. It's not the only source of information you need, but it's one you will consistently use throughout your project.

[Gomez General · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic resource for understanding the ins and outs of home improvement and construction. The illustrations and explanations are thorough and easy to follow — perfect for homeowners who want to be more hands-on or just better informed.

After reading this, I felt much more confident handling my roofing project. I knew what to look for, what to ask, and most importantly — who to hire. I ended up working with Gomez General Contracting Inc., a local roofing contractor in Blue Bell, and they completely exceeded my expectations. Their team was knowledgeable, honest, and clearly passionate about quality craftsmanship — just like what this book promotes.

Highly recommend both the book and Gomez General Contracting Inc. if you're planning a remodel or need trustworthy roofing work done.

[Rahat Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great visualizations; Tufte would love this. As a layperson thinking about building a home, I mostly found value in the first chapter on Design and some of the passive energy design aspects. At the very least it was a good pointer to Passive design.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a lot of good info in this book. I wish it gave more detail but I understand why it doesn't. At 632 pages already, such a book would be unwieldy.

[Abby]

If you are actually trying to build a house yourself, this seems like a very useful book. To me, it was just overwhelming.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good information book for someone without a lot of experience who wants to build their own house.