Customer Reviews

Graphic Guide to Frame Construction: Details for Builders and Designers

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a former building contractor, I can say that this book offers builders of all levels drawing views that blueprints sometimes do not even afford. There are detailed views of alternative approaches for same-type applications that cover most problems encountered during a building or remodeling project. I initially bought this book as a refresher in anticipation of a planned project on my own home, but it has turned out to be one of the best reference books in my library.

This book is my favorite resource for, well, frame construction. I've used it for as a reference for doing detail drawings and as a reference for doing actual construction. I'm adding on to my house, doing most of the work myself. Whenever I hit a snag or need to do something I only vaguely know how to do (which is more often than I'd like), this is the first book I turn to. The drawings are of excellent quality, the text is extremely clear, and the layout like a fine set of blueprints. Its indexed well enough that you can find what you need quickly. The spiral binding is perfect for taking it to the job site and letting it stay open on the page you need.

I'd highly recommend this book to apprentice carpenters, general contractors, architectural students, architects, and do-it-yourselfers.

Thallon's Graphic Guide to Interior Details makes a nice compliment to this book, though I don't find it as necessary.

"Graphic Guide to Frame Construction" is an excellently illustrated spiral bound 'book' on wood frame construction. It covers all the major elements of home construction, from foundation, to floors, to walls, to roofs. It can be read as a book but is very reference-able. It does however assume some basic understanding of home construction, so it's not an absolute starter book. The text is a bit terse and requires some mulling over, but the drawings are fantastic. If you are considering building an outbuilding, adding on to your home, or perhaps even building your own home, this is one must have book, worth every single penny paid. Did I say that the illustrations are fantastic? They are.

I purchased this book for my husband for Christmas, but after he commented that he wanted to build a shed, I had to give it to him early. He designed the shed he wants to build based on the book, but now has moved onto re-siding our home, again based on the book. This book provides all of the fine details on how to build, frame, and do it all yourself. It contains better detail then most internet sites and very specific drawings.

A great purchase for a do-it-yourselfer who wants to do things correctly!

I am a homeowner and adventurous tinkerer with all things mechancial/technical. I have never swung a hammer for a living, and am fairly clueless when it comes to general construction. (I have installed windows, replaced drywall, repaired plumbing, and run electrical simple lines, never built anything from scratch).

I am about to embark on a complete remodel of a previously converted garage, and wanted to do most of the work myself. Armed with a copy of Visio 2002, I planned the layout of the new room (about 20' x 15') which will include moving some interior walls and doors, blocking an exterior window, installing a new interior window, and extensive removal and replacement of siding, sheathing, drywall, stucco, flooring, etc.

Well, I needed a book that could augment my basic "sense" of the way things should look with some actual technical information. For example, how exactly do you frame an opening for a new window or door? How do you frame up a new wall segment that joins to an existing wall segment? What the heck is a "king stud" any way?

All of this information is laid out very nicely in a textbook-like format, with lots of diagrams. The great thing is the way that the author starts each section with an overview drawing (say of a typical exterior frame of a house), then points to specific features, which are then detailed in subsequent sections.

I would liken this to a "Bentley Manual" for automotive repair; it will not tell the complete novice how to build a wall, but for someone who already knows the difference between a 10d hot-dipped box nail and a 8 x 1-1/4" Drywall screw it is a great reference and can add a LOT of clarity to the way that homes are actually constructed using "best practices". (It will also help point out all the shortcomings of the manner in which your 50's era home was built! :-)

My only complaint with the book is that it is very sparse on "method" descriptions. Essentiallly there are just short paragraphs with brief descriptions that can sometimes be a bit cryptic. These would be very clear to a professional builder, but for someone like me, they require a bit of head scratching and guessing at times.

I had great fun looking at the diagrams, then pulling off wall paneling and seeing the relationship between the drawings in the book and the actual construction of my home.

This book is great for learning about general framing. It's a good book to have around. Wish it had more detail (or should I say any at all regarding the subject of roofing and stairs. I don't regret buying this, I will keep it as a reference, but if you plan to work with roofs or stairs you need to purchase a another book.

I had to replace a small shed roof (15'X4.5') on the back of a sun room and was very disappointed in ALL of the responses I received from the local contractors. Northern Virginia has been a hot spot for home renovations the past 5 years and apparently, these guys simply do not have to try to get work. Their complete lack of professionalism, responsiveness, and outrageous prices convinced me to do the project myself and thankfully, I found this book before I started. It provided clear, concise drawings and pictures that showed me, a beginner, how to frame, flash, and roof my entire project. The room is dry as bone now and I can't tell you how often I hear, "You did that yourself!". Great book.

This book gives the skinny and does it quickly. You can see at least 2 and sometimes 4 or 5 options for framing and trimming out most every situation you will encounter. As a professional I can say I have used this book not only for my own refrence but as a guide when training new apprentices. Very detailed and well labeled drawings.

As a home-owner, I've always believed by doing the job yourself, the result would be far better than one could receive by hiring someone to complete it. The only thing lacking for this to succeed is a knowledge of construction details. This book provides that and more. If you work on your home, you need this book.

Start at the beginning... The spiral metal binding is great, a real manual, easy to keep page being referenced open infront of you. Graphically the pages are consistent in their layout and composition so that the important information is easily seen. Not like many references where drawings,details and notes from different sources are obviously pasted into pages. It reminds me of the famous Architectural Sheet Metal manual published by SMACNA, that is a part in nearly every architect's reference library.
Organized generally in 5 Sections/Systems: Foundations, Floors, Walls, Roofs, Stairs, the information is clearly drawn, diagramed and noted. It is organized and referenced to show the relationship between different conditions within framing systems, and the details at specific locations, both within the 5 systems and conditions between one or more systems. Clearly diagramming the actual construction joining, with cuts, material and fastening shown at specific, critical points in that constuction.
Good general reference information as well re: standard types of prefabricated structural lumber assemblies such as I-joists and trusses and information on type and use of lumber grade designations.