Customer Reviews

The Craft of Modular Post & Beam: Building log and timber homes affordably

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book may well be the "bible" of post and beam log construction. Covers in excellent detail basic to advanced post and beam design and construction. From house design, foundations, floors, walls, doors and windows, and an extensive chapter on roof design and construction. Explains log hewing with a broad axe and the use of other log shaping tools. Covers log joinery in detail. Includes hundreds of illustrations, a portfolio of color pictures of post and beam joinery, 6 appendixes, Glossary, and Bibliography.

The other reviewers of this book allude to the fact that they will someday get around to using the information. I have already done it and wanted to add my comments here.

I used this book as my "bible" to construct a 24x40 log home with a porch wrapped all the way around. It took two years, but I couldn't have done it by myself without the theories and examples in this book. My joinery isn't as pretty as the ones in the book, but I used them and wooden pegs to secure all the posts and beams in the house.

I highly recommend this book to all who have their own 'library' of log home books and need some practical advice that works.

This book covers post and beam, as opposed to timber framing. This is more a practical tip&tricks book than a design or engineering book. It starts with philosophical review of house construction and emphasizes on building cheap, using wood. It covers A LOT of subject, but not deeply. You will find in that book some joinery details, but not a lot and not complete. The focus is on how to build a modern house, as opposed to timber framers who build a classic house without metal. The author doesn't have any problem to build with metal, where and when et makes sense. He will also use wood to wood joinery, where it makes sense.

For all the steps to build a house (with his techniques) he will offer step by step instructions. By itself, I don't think there is enough details in any section to take any non-builder person and make him a builder, but it will give general knowledge for somebody who has minimal manual experience. Then there is always the time and money issue: The book philosophy is to build a house cheaply yourself, which implies a lot of time. If you fit that model, and happen to have a land with a lot of trees on it, this book is perfect for you.

This book is by far the best I have read on the subject of post and beam construction. Lots of nice drawings and understandable instructions. Good advice for average person. Explains wood joinery very well

I first stumbled on this wonderful book in our local library. Read it cover to cover in two weeks and unfortunatly had to return it but, it is on my birthday wish list. This is the most informative book on the subject I have read to date. Mr Mitchell did an excellent job in the chapters covering the details of modular log home construction. Many of which I plan to use in the very near future.

This is a great, well written book that will educate no matter what your level of building expertise. James Mitchell has some great ideas on building that more people should be aware of. I plan on visiting his school in British Columbia and I will be building a post and beam style some day. Probably a plan referenced in this book.

Great book on the subject matter. Out of all the books I have purchased to help guide my timber frame project, I reference this one more than any. I would also recommend reading this one first as it is broad yet thorough on the techniques and process of post and beam construction.

First, I was shocked at how big this book is! It includes extensive details of every aspect of post and beam construction, from tools and materials used, to various methods for each piece of the construction process. The drawings are extremely well detailed and incredibly useful. This is one of the best building reference books I've come across.

This book is excellent. It gave me all the information I wanted/needed plus more.

If you are not building your own home, I don't recommend this book