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

Covers every major aspect of construction. Formulas for estimating shingles, bricks, and drywall-for buying supplies and pricing a job correctly, AND SO MUCH MORE. An invaluable reference source for anyone involved in home building, remodeling, or design-including contractors and those who hire them.

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

594 pages, Hardcover

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.