Foundation Repair Manual (McGraw-Hill Portable Engineering) [Paperback]

Robert Wade Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0070082448 | ISBN-13: 978-0070082441 | Edition: 1

The #1 guide to foundation repair

This book offers the most authoritative source of information on repairing damaged foundations, with excellent advice on maintenance and preventative measures designed to avoid the need for repair. You get state-of-the-art methods in foundation repair; clear guidance on choosing the right methods for the job; up-to-date techniques for preventing, evaluating, and reversing damage from expansive soils; expert instruction in hands-on techniques such as shimming interior pier caps and underpinning perimeter beams; help with mudjacking, deep pressure grouting, and chemical stabilization; foundation troubleshooting tips; preventative measures, including drainage, moisture barriers, and vegetation control; establishing the need for repair - plus help with estimates.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The #1 guide to foundation repair. This book offers the most authoritative source for information on repairing damaged foundations. Also offered is excellent advice on maintenance and preventative measures designed to avoid the need for repair. Based on many years' experience and written by an internationally recognized authority, this book gives you: state-of-the-art methods in foundation repair; clear guidance on choosing the right methods for the job; up-to-date techniques for preventing, evaluating, and reversing damange from expansive soils; expert instruction in hands-on techniques such as shimming interior pier caps and underpinning perimeter eams; help with mudjacking, deep pressure grouting, and chemical stabilization; foundation troubleshooitng tips; preventative measures, including drainage, moisture barriers, and vegetation control; establishing the need for repair--plus help with estimates. Real help for real foundation problems--that's what you'll find in this incomparable handbook. Light on math and theory, and heavy on things you need to know, suhc as how to handle gas, electric, and plumbing conduits and where to place jacks, if's you one-stop ultimate authority for foundation repair.

About the Author

Robert Wade Brown is an internationally respected expert on foundation problems and expansive soils, and the author of six prior books on these subjects. A physical chemist and petroleum engineer, he has developed systems that stimulate oil well production. He owns Brown Foundation Repair and Consulting, Inc., in Garland, Texas, and consults around the world through Brown Consolidated, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional; 1 edition (March 31, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070082448
• ISBN-13: 978-0070082441
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,145,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars decent but not great, February 21, 2002

By 

Eric & Cindy Richter (Knoxville, IA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Foundation Repair Manual (McGraw-Hill Portable Engineering) (Paperback)

This book tends to the technical side of things, which I enjoyed. There are numerous citations of technical sources. The author explains some basic concepts in technical terms which helped my understanding significantly. The author is an experienced foundation repair contractor. I learned much about causes of foundation failures, how to classify a foundation as failed or not, and other general but useful information.
However, this book is poorly written. The author repeats himself frequently. Sometimes from section to section and sometimes from chapter to chapter. Further, in the parts of the book which are obviously taken from the authors own experience and technical knowledge he makes strong claims about the effect of trees planted near foundations and backs up these claims with data and solid theoretical analysis. However, in other parts of the book where he is citing outside sources, he presents information which contradicts his own claims. This happens a couple times. It can be a bit confusing. The photos in the book are literally worthless-most are at least 50% solid black-no contrast. The illustrations are excellent. I live in the midwest where basement foundations are common and was most interested in those types of foundations. The author is from the south (Dallas I believe) and discusses slab on grade and pier and beam foundations extensively, but only mentions basement foundations nonchalantly. The basement foundation section of the book is severely lacking-just a handful of pages. However, the author is honest about this at the beginning of the chapter and tells the reader that he has little experience in the area. I wish I'd known that before I spent nearly $60 on it! This isn't a do-it-yourself or a how-to book. It provides some light technical information tempered with lots of citations of outside sources and lots of professional experience. This book removed any fear I had about working on foundations, I now understand them much better.

3.0 out of 5 stars Maybe for an engineer, pictures suck, December 20, 2011

By 

Michael Duarte "MMD" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Foundation Repair Manual (McGraw-Hill Portable Engineering) (Paperback)

To get the most out of this book I think you would need some engineering background. I think the book works on that level. The pictures are absolutely worthless black and white with zero contrast. This would not be my first choice book on the subject...but I have to admit that I have not been able to find any good books on the subject.