The Complete Idiot's Guide to Building Your Own Home, Second Edition [Mass Market Paperback]

Dan Ramsey (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide | Publication Date: January 4, 2005

Start with a strong foundation.

With even more instructions and illustrations, this revised and updated edition offers clear and concise guidance on every step of home building, from figuring a budget to finding labor and materials to all aspects of construction. This book answers every question readers have about building their own residence—and a few questions they may not have considered.

• Contains a visual dictionary of new construction terms and home components
• Fully illustrated with step-by-step, easy-to-follow instructions
• Sample bid forms, general contractor agreements, and legal advice on building codes and permits
• Includes information on working with architects and drawing up your own plans

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dan Ramsey is a general contractor and the author of more than 20 books for homebuilders and buyers, including the first edition of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Building Your Own Home, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Finishing Your Basement Illustrated, and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Remodeling Your Bathroom Illustrated. His other books include builder’s construction guides, contractor business guides, kit home construction, and homeowner remodeling and repair books.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; 2 edition (January 4, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592573142
• ISBN-13: 978-1592573141
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #638,979 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Just OK, April 26, 2003

By 

misterbeets "misterbeets" (Safe Harbor, MD USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to Building Your Own Home (Paperback)

This book is strong on charm but weak on expertise. For example I think whenever your explain there are two styles of wood framing, balloon (as in light as a ...) and platform, you should point out the former, requiring studs two stories long, was replaced by the latter a hundred years ago, and is virtually unused today. On the other hand he recommends having a portable toilet on site so as not to "upset your new neighbors". Best as an introduction for beginners. You'll need to read others.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars home building 101, April 22, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to Building Your Own Home (Paperback)

If you plan to design and build your own home you?ll need all the help you can get?and this book is a good place to start. Its set-by-step layout, highlighted notes, detailed glossary and clear illustrations make all those thousands of things you?ll need to know very accessible. After reading this book, you?ll have a much clearer vision of whether building your own home is a good project for you.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars okay for general intro, June 8, 2006

By 

casual.remark (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to Building Your Own Home (Paperback)

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Building Your Own Home does okay as an introduction; it is an easy read and has some good tips and refreshing humor too. However, it seriously lacks in its commission when it comes to actually doing anything beyond the 'kicking the tires' stage of building.