This is a very well writen book with plenty of pictures, but it is for people with limited construction experence. I bought this book because I need rafter tables, specificialy jack-hip rafter tables. This book does not have any roofing tables and gives three paragraphs about reading a jack-hip rafter table (but does not have the table). If you have more than three years of residential construction experence, you should already know everything in this book. Ultimate Guide to House Framing (English and English Edition)
"Ultimate Guide to House Framing, 3rd edition" is a well written reference manual for how to frame a house or garage.
Well written - If you plan to do any building a must own.
What I liked:
-1/3 of the entire book is diagrams showing "how" to.
-book covers many different types of framing, and shows several different techniques.
-It points out where you should consult your local building codes to see if certain items apply ( i.e. do you need hurricane straps)
-well organized into logical chapters.
-A high emphasis is placed on safety and the proper use of power tools.
-The author take the time to explain the basics and tell you how to do thing properly.
What I didn't like.
- nothing.
Probably the most common framing job a homeowner is likely to tackle is an unfinished basement but there is nothing for them here. Chapter 14 covers basement framing with steel - not lumber! For a lot of homers that makes this book a big fat zero. As for the rest of it, I'm not sure this book is suitable for anyone. Half the book is written for someone whose almost ready for their contractors license and the other half is written for someone who has never picked up a hammer. It really feels like it was written by more than one person. The switch occurs suddenly and is jarring, confusing, and annoying. The first chapter covers extremely basic stuff most DIY guys already know (e.g., what is pressure treated lumber, common lumber dimensions, etc.). Then chapter 2 gets technical (e.g., glossaries of blueprint abbreviations and symbols and discussions of engineering stuff like sheer forces and live loads, etc.). The next two chapters get extremely basic again, describing tools you'll need in detail (nearly an entire page devoted to framing hammers) and a few chapters later you are into gabled roofs and shed dormers. The book aspires to provide all the engineering and construction knowledge you need to frame a Victorian house from professional architectural drawings by someone who has never actually held a screwdriver before. Ridiculous.
Before I used to think building a house was impossible. I had no idea what went into it. It seemed much too difficult or complicated for me. This book has helped open what before seemed like a black box.
The book is chock-full with pictures. It starts with safety suggestions, tells you what tools you'll need, talks about some engineering basics and goes into great detail on floors, walls and different kinds of roofs. There are additional sections on stairs, basements and bay windows.
If you're new to framing and want to build your own home, or at least understand how a lot of it works, you will enjoy this book.
This is not an "ultimate guide" to house framing, but rather a beginner's introduction. I bought this book to understand the attic framing in my 1950s house a little better, but there were some things I couldn't find in the book. For example there is just one short paragraph that talks about collar ties. When I searched the web, I found long articles written about the pros and cons of collar ties, and that helped me a lot more than this book. If the word "ultimate" is changed to "beginner's" in the title, then this book is allright.
This book has helped us design and construct a new outbuilding/playhouse and it is very clear and easy to understand. Great illustrations and invaluable suggestions from professionals make the project go much faster and be better quality that it would have been otherwise. Highly recommend.
This book isn't just for framing new houses, it includes tons of info on how to remodel existing structures safely and securely. There's even "green" chapters on using eco-friendly materials. What's nice is that this book explains why things are the way they are, e.g., why blueprints come in several staged steps rather than one complex drawing, why it's important to understand different "loads" and how you can screw them up. This could serve as a textbook for a basic course in framing; however, if like me you watch those "remodeling" shows on various networks, this book more than any other will acquaint you with the argot. Worth every penny.
I had looked at several books on framing before ordering this book and another. I am handy and been involved in some repairs and remolding in the past. The current project is a large ground up multi-floor workshop area. While my area has no building code I want to go with generally accepted building practices. This book covers most areas extremely well. The pictures and diagrams are very clear and easy to understand. - Do It Yourself - Carpentry'
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