Customer Reviews

Foundations and Concrete Work

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This book consists of a collection of articles which have appeared in the "Fine Homebuilding" magazine. As such, it covers the topics which the people who wrote the articles chose to discuss, which implies that some topics are covered more than once, while others may not be dealt with at all. There is not necessarily comprehensive coverage of the subject, which a beginner or student of the material may require.

I purchased this book with the intent on learning about laying my own forms, and pouring footings for a small garage addition. Although there is good information in the book, it is not cohesive, nor does it flow and in fact is quite dis-jointed. I did not learn what I needed to know about form building, but I did learn more than I really needed to know about several other areas of concrete work.

I was really hoping that a "project progression" approach would have been a natural means of writing a book such as this, but I gambled and lost. This book goes on the shelf and I'm poorer for it's purchase.

I bought this book because I'm removing my current driveway and wanted to replace it myself to save labor costs. I did find an article on driveways which was useful to me. I also found several other article of interest becuase I plan on building my own house from the ground up in the future.

As some other reviewers have pointed out, this is not a "project progression" book. There are plenty of others out there, go buy one of them. If you want to find out what's new and innovative in the trade, try this one! I recently went of a "Parade of Homes" in my area (northern Wisconsin) that was supposed to show off homes of the best builders in the area. Was I disappionted!! Only 1 of 16 homes had used any of these new ideas. Nearly every one had a damp/wet basement. People just stick with the same techniques that were used 25+ years ago.

If you are about to build, buy a book like this, get informed and either do it yourself or make your builder, build you a "modern" home.

The book does offer some useful insight into how to lay concrete forms, and I bought it to do that. With no prior knowledge of concrete forms, I poured footings, and walls for a separate entrance to my basement. The only resources I used were this book and what I asked people that worked with concrete. Although I found the book helpful I am looking for one that includes things such as building concrete stairs. Overall the book will show you how to make concrete forms for footings and walls.

This is not really a book per se... it's a collection of disjointed articles all written by different authors. For example, one author says to use brick for "dobies" to space rebar off the ground, then the next author says to *never* do this, then some topics are addressed in 4 or 5 different places with no cohesion. There are definitely better books on the topic, although this may be good recreational bedside reading for some.

After reading this book, I knew everything a DIYr should. In my case, I learned it was too much work and I hired a pro. You can tell if your pro is doing it right without the back breaking work.

If you are young enough and good shape, you will learn what you have to do. If older like me, you will learn what you don't want to do.

Good luck on your project.

If you've poured concrete before, you might already know all the details in here. Would be fine for a first timer doing a simple slab, but doesn't cover advanced techniques like stamping, etc

It really is! Good photos, good basic informations. And yes it's a more of a compilation of articles taken here and there. But the book references by the author are gold! I'm an architectural detailer in this book help me just a little more in my career. For 20$, it's a good deal.

I almost bought this book. However, although the cover is now Yellow, it looks exactly like the older version from all the page previews I've seen.

This all applies to the older version, which looks identical to me.

I did not like this book.

It only shows an overview. It gives minimal direction on actually doing any of the work.

It is intended for a manager? or homeowner hiring a contractor?

It does not deal in depth with setting beater boards, forms, and leveling, except in respect to basement walls.

I didn't like this book as a California builder, it was practically useless. I already use the Pythagorean theory, and strings... thanks for no good tips.

If you are having a pain setting forms, don't buy this book.

If you are "curious" about the process, buy this book.

It reminds me of the T.V trips to the Lamp Factory with Mr. Rogers.

You see how it's done, but you can't make a Lamp after watching Mr. Rogers.

Especially since all the examples are for pouring basement foundations.

Also there is nothing about stamping and coloring driveways.

This books should not be in the "Pros" series. It should be in the children's section.

Also recycles content from the magazine and "Additions", which I already owned. That made me mad.

I was looking for a book that would help me make better decisions during the construction of my new home. This book had some ideas, but doesn't go deep enough into any of the ideas or issues it raises.