Affordable Remodel: How to Get Custom Results on Any Budget [Paperback]

Fernando Pages Ruiz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2, 2007

Call him cheap, but Fernando Pages Ruiz enjoys luxury remodeling that doesn't pull at the purse strings. Now he shares his hard-won secrets, revealing the full range of money-saving options available to homeowners today. Many of these techniques and materials the author developed remodeling his own properties over the past 30 years. Others he got by interviewing top remodeling contractors around the country. With the power of insider knowledge, readers too can achieve the home of their dreams without busting their budget. Ruiz simplifies the frustrating complexities of remodeling and points out the sometimes obvious, often hidden, but always effective ways to cut costs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This very practical book by Fernando Pages Ruiz shows all kinds of upgrades, from using a little paint to brighten an entrance way to converting a two-car garage into living space. There are lessons in everything: different kinds of stucco, ways to build a skylight, insulation, cabinet overhauls, crown molding and much more. "--Newsday" (New York)
Fernando Pages Ruiz believes high style shouldn't be limited to those with high incomes. His book "Affordable Remodel "helps homeowners add upgrades without breaking their budgets. Ruiz, a builder and remodeler for more than 30 years, targets his book toward do-it-yourselfers with more desire than dollars. He offers guidance on such topics as budgeting, space planning, construction basics and making affordable choices, and he provides ideas for high-end-looking improvements that can be made on the cheap well, relatively so. --Mary Beth Breckenridge, "The Beacon Journal" (Akron)
Getting into debt in order to remodel your home might not be the ideal way to do it. If money is the only obstacle between you and your new kitchen cabinets, take a look at Fernando Pages Ruiz's "Affordable Remodel: How to Get Custom Results on Any Budget," This detailed guide covers a range of home-remodeling techniques from selecting fixtures to reconfiguring a bath and gives tips on how to maximize quality on a modest budget. Photos, floor plans, illustrations and charts lend support to the suggestions and help homeowners visualize the possibilities. "--Orlando Sentinel"

Review

This very practical book by Fernando Pages Ruiz shows all kinds of upgrades, from using a little paint to brighten an entrance way to converting a two-car garage into living space. There are lessons in everything: different kinds of stucco, ways to build a skylight, insulation, cabinet overhauls, crown molding and much more. "--Newsday" (New York)
Fernando Pages Ruiz believes high style shouldn't be limited to those with high incomes. His book "Affordable Remodel "helps homeowners add upgrades without breaking their budgets. Ruiz, a builder and remodeler for more than 30 years, targets his book toward do-it-yourselfers with more desire than dollars. He offers guidance on such topics as budgeting, space planning, construction basics and making affordable choices, and he provides ideas for high-end-looking improvements that can be made on the cheap well, relatively so. --Mary Beth Breckenridge, "The Beacon Journal" (Akron)
Getting into debt in order to remodel your home might not be the ideal way to do it. If money is the only obstacle between you and your new kitchen cabinets, take a look at Fernando Pages Ruiz's "Affordable Remodel: How to Get Custom Results on Any Budget," This detailed guide covers a range of home-remodeling techniques from selecting fixtures to reconfiguring a bath and gives tips on how to maximize quality on a modest budget. Photos, floor plans, illustrations and charts lend support to the suggestions and help homeowners visualize the possibilities. "--Orlando Sentinel"

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (October 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561588466
• ISBN-13: 978-1561588466
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #72 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Remodeling & Renovation

More About the Author

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Fernando Pagés Ruiz immigrated to the United States in 1970 and became a US citizen in 1984. Over a 30-carear in construction, he has become a dedicated proponent of building innovation in low cost housing. Pagés Ruiz speaks, writes and consults internationally on how to build high-quality, affordable and energy-efficient homes. A builder with 30 years of experience and an expert on how to cut costs and keep quality when building or remodeling, Pagés is the author of two books published by the Taunton Press: Building an Affordable House: A high-value, low-cost approach to building (2005) and Affordable Remodel: How to get custom results on any budget (2007). As a builder, his projects have numerous award, including the 2008 "Green Building Single Family House of the Year" and the 2007 "Workforce Housing Award" from the National Association of Home Builders. In 2006, the Department of Housing and Urban Development's PATH project chose him to build America's first PATH Concept Home, a home that is affordable to purchase and to maintain and while meeting the criteria of LEED for Homes, ENERGY STAR, MASCO Environments for Living, and the NAHB's Green Building certifications.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Publication! Great Ideas!, January 31, 2008

By 

S. Friedman (PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Affordable Remodel: How to Get Custom Results on Any Budget (Paperback)

Love the book. Very detailed, great photo's. Great ideas! This book is very easy to read and understand because they are shown with photo's which really help. it is so well written that I will look at doing projects that I hadn't thought about doing. There are so many things that I do love and the book is so accurate. Page 194 shows a sink refinished with a coating and shows a before and after picture. My friend actually did this to her bathroom tub and tile and it looked NEW afterwards. The mirror trim is awesome too (mirredge) page 198.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful material, June 26, 2008

By 

Decorating Fanatic (GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Affordable Remodel: How to Get Custom Results on Any Budget (Paperback)

This is very useful if you are contemplating a remodel or at the planning stage. It has great photos, ideas and considerations for each phase of the remodel. It is only an overview of the process so you will need a different book if you want a how-to-manual.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful!, January 9, 2008

By 

I. Caputo "BookLady" (N.Y., N.Y.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Affordable Remodel: How to Get Custom Results on Any Budget (Paperback)

I started out by using the book, Affordable Remodel for a redecorating/small renovation project. I wanted to turn a small, nothing room into a guest/office for myself and found it to be a wonderful resource. Well as the project progressed I noticed that I could use the photos as sources for my students' class research project on Homes/then and now. The photos are wonderful illustrations of how far we have come along!