| Covering everything from hiring the right vendors to choosing fixtures, this information-packed guide is a step-by-step roadmap for building a new home or
remodeling an existing one. The heavily-revised Fourth Edition focuses on the latest technologies, materials, money-saving options, and environmentally
friendly methods, allowing homeowners to save money, get more for their money, maximize their usable space, decrease maintenance costs, and choose from an exciting array of new options.
There are countless reasons why building your own home makes good sense. But for most people, the chance to create the home they have always wanted is
number one on their list. And this all-in-one guide can help you every step of the way toward realizing your vision - from hiring the right vendors to
picking fixtures.
Whether it's basic planning or construction methods, this trusted reference, now fully updated to cover new materials, techniques, energy-saving options
and environmentally friendly technologies and methods, is the most complete source for homebuilding available.
Written by experienced contractors and builders and used by thousands of savvy buyers of custom and not-yet-built homes, How to Plan, Contract and Build Your Own Home will help you with the following:
- Select the right site and supervise its preparation.
- Make wise decisions on floor plans, types of construction, framing and foundations.
- Plan for home office use, communications upgrades, "smart house" technology and a home that will serve your needs throughout your life.
- Choose the newest and most economical and efficient types of insulation, roofing, plumbing, wiring and more.
- Select amenities such as decks, patios, gazebos, sidewalks and driveways.
- Evaluate doing it yourself vs. subcontracting.
- Knowing when you will move in with a helpful calendar-style checklist.
- Select the right mortgage.
You will also be able to:
- Save and get more for your money.
- Pick the perfect site.
- Minimize maintenance costs and effort.
- Maximize indoor and outdoor space.
Excerpt from the Introduction
Over twenty years have passed since the editors at McGraw-Hill received the manuscript for the first edition of this book. Back then they measured it up
and declared it was more than they had bargained for - both in words and illustrations. So everyone looked at it, hoping to find chapters, or parts of
chapters, that could be cut. After awhile it became evident that the book would be more helpful to its readers as it stood. So nothing was cut and the
publisher kindly agreed to put out a longer and more profusely illustrated version than originally planned.
In a sense, the same thing happened with the second edition, which came out in 1991. Except for a few minor changes, little of the original material was
deleted, because almost everything still held true. At that time, additional information was included in many chapters. The book became thicker, packed with new material.
The third edition, published in 1999, received a general overhaul, with numerous chapter upgrades and many new sections. Manufacturers continued to get better at what they do - designing and making innovative home products. Outdated information was stricken from the previous edition, replaced by discussions about better components and construction techniques that gave homebuilders more options than ever before.
That leads us to this, the fourth edition. Like the others, this edition also contains more information than the publisher expected. But we couldn't help
it. Current conditions demanded a concentrated focus on energy conservation. Why? Have you fueled up your car, van or truck lately? If so, remember when paying $1.50 per gallon for unleaded seemed like robbery? Today that would be a bargain. The sad truth is that fuel costs - including home heating and cooling prices - are likely to keep rising. They may back down a bit, for awhile, but competition for raw materials and energy is heating up as countries such as China, India and others industrialize to supply modern living conditions and goods to their citizens. To help ease the pain of rising energy prices, the fourth edition of this book features practical information on construction details that will save homeowners energy and money. Lots of energy and money. Realistic, cost-effective ways of including energy-saving components in your new home are discussed in practically every chapter of this new edition.
About the Authors
Richard M. Scutella has written several books on new construction, home buying, home maintenance and safety, including Homebuyer's Checklist, Second Edition, and the first three editions of this book. He has designed and supervised the construction of many new homes and is a member of the Handyman Club of America.
Dave Heberle is the author of McGraw-Hill's Construction Safety Manual, coauthor of the first three editions of this book and writer of numerous articles on homebuilding. A former realtor who has also designed and built homes, he currently consults on environmental safety and health issues.
Table of Contents
Part 1: What to Build; Chapter 1: A House Divided; Chapter 2: House Styles and Types; Chapter 3: Traffic Zoning and Planning; Chapter 4: Size Planning;
Chapter 5: Prints and Drawings. Part 2: How to Build It; Chapter 6: Footers and Foundations; Chapter 7: Floor Framing; Chapter 8: Wall Framing; Chapter 9: Roof Framing; Chapter 10: Roof Exterior Finishing; Chapter 11: Exterior Wall Finishing; Chapter 12: Stairs; Chapter 13: Windows; Chapter 14: Doors; Chapter 15: Garages; Chapter 16: Fireplaces; Chapter 17: Plumbing; Chapter 18: Electric; Chapter 19: Lighting; Chapter 20: Heating and Cooling; Chapter 21: Insulation; Chapter 22: Wall Covering and Trim; Chapter 23: Burglar-Proofing Your Home; Chapter 24: Bathrooms; Chapter 25: Kitchens; Chapter 26: Floor Coverings; Chapter 27: Home Offices and Work Spaces. Part 3: Where to Build It; Chapter 28: City, Suburbia or Country?; Chapter 29: Selecting a Building Site; Chapter 30: Orientation, Positioning and Landscaping; Chapter 31: Driveways, Sidewalks and Patios. Part 4: Who Should Build It?; Chapter 32: Selecting a Contractor; Chapter 33: Working with Your Contractor. Part 5: Moving In; Chapter 34: Setting Up Your Maintenance Program; Chapter 35: The Final Inspection; Index. |
