No career offers better opportunities than construction. Where else can you start with little cash, no special education and no special skills and build a multimillion dollar company in 10 or 15 years? This isn't fantasy. It happens regularly—not to everyone, but to many dedicated, hardworking builders in every region of the US.

Many of the largest construction companies are run by men and women with little formal education. They learned the building business step-by-step, starting from square one.

It'll take you through:

• The business of building
• A workable house plan
• Speculative building
• Building specifications
• Cutting costs without sacrificing quality
• Math, surveying, and layout for builders

• Always earn a profit
• Always build quality
• Build their reputation with every job
• Keep building their successful company
• This volume covers the basics of construction—the essentials every builder needs to understand. Volume 2 covers the other half of the success formula—how to bid it.

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: The Business of Building; Chapter 2: The Workable House Plan; Chapter 3: Speculative Building; Chapter 4: Building Specifications; Chapter 5: Lumber; Chapter 6: Framing the Floor and Walls; Chapter 7: Framing the Roof; Chapter 8: Insulation and Vapor Barriers; Chapter 9: Designing and Building Stairs; Chapter 10: Finish Carpentry; Chapter 11: Interior Finishing; Chapter 12: Building with Concrete Block; Chapter 13: The All-Weather Wood Foundation System; Chapter 14: Residential Fireplaces; Chapter 15: Residential Chimneys; Chapter 16: Math and Measurements for Contractors; Chapter 17: Elementary Surveying and Site Layout; Index.