Customer Reviews

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Building Your Own Home, Second Edition

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

My wife and I are working through a construction company to build a new home. This book provided such great, specific suggestions, we are buying the book as opposed to borrowing from the library.

If you want to pick up a hammer and nails and build your own house, this won't get you there. But if you want to negotiate specific terms w/ your construction firm and build a house economically, the book is great help.

Still going to try. Nice materials. Nice layout. Easy to follow. I think I can.

I *love* Dean Johnson's HOMETIME TV show! He makes an idiot like myself figure out how to do repair jobs around the house. Now he has a rival: Dan Ramsey, author of an idiot's guide to building a home. Dean even wrote the foreword to Dan's book! Lots of practical advice on building a new house including whether to, instead, buy a kit home or a manufactured home. Thanks Dean. Thanks Dan!