The Owner-Built Home: A How-To-Do-It Book

by Ken Kern

A wonderfully written book with valuable information regarding building a home off the grid, without building codes, but fully functional and within a persons means.

Genres: How To

374 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1975

Reviews

[Aikoch]

A good overview of the subject. It has a tendency to gloss over some subjects, but that I guess is to be expected. I found Lloyd Kahn's Shelter to be more fun and down to earth on the subject, but Kern had better explanations for some of the building techniques. Get Shelter first if you are just becoming interested in the subject. Kern's The Owner Built Homestead is very good though as is The Work Book (a book detailing owner builder experiences, sadly out of print)

[Salem]

Informative? You bet. Engaging? Eh. Ken Kern is a carpenter, a builder, and has a visionary spirit, but no one is going to mistake him for a poet.

[Robert Mack]

Ken Kern's The Owner-Built Home is an invaluable guide for anyone interested in hands-on home building! The book covers everything from planning to construction with practical, easy-to-follow instructions. Kern’s expertise and enthusiasm make it accessible, even for beginners it is Home Shading Solutions. A must-read for aspiring builders looking to create a personal, sustainable home

[James]

Kern used a sliding form to build his circular and spiral structures, very funky!