Measuring, Marking & Layout: A Builder's Guide [Hardcover]

John Carroll (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1998

-- Provides simple techniques for accurate measuring using a number of basic tools

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The common and sensible dictum among carpenters--"Measure twice, cut once"--is only the beginning for Carroll, who manages to take some very complex information and distill it into readable and understandable form. There are chapters devoted to laying out foundations, frames, roofs, stairs, masonry units, and finishing materials, and many little-known tricks of the trade and shortcuts. Carroll covers all the basics of tools and techniques, shows how to measure larger dimensions on projects while working alone, and shows that one needn't be a master mathematician to assure accuracy in projects, nor use space-age, high-tech equipment to achieve near-perfect results in a building project. From the simplest how-to project for a home handyperson to constructing an entire house, proper, accurate measurements are the very foundation of a successful result. Using common sense and care in measuring can save time, materials, and money on any home repair or construction plan. This is the book to tell you everything you need to know before you get started. --Mark A. Hetts

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561582263
• ISBN-13: 978-1561582266
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,363,575 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Have, July 11, 2004

By 

David Somers - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Measuring, Marking, and Layout: A Builder's Guide (Paperback)

If you're planning on building any of the hard parts of a house like footings, foundation, floors, walls, ceilings, roofs, stairs, masonry or shingles, you will want this book so you can figure out how to make them plumb, square, level, and evenly distributed. (I think that covers most of the carpentry sections)
He shows a few options for arriving at each layout, typically mathematically, from charts, and from pictures, so if you have trouble with one of them you can try another.
Octagons aren't very popular in my neighborhood, but if those (or other polygons) appear in yours, you'll find he has good information on them too.
I'd recommend a read through the book for suggestions when you first get it, (I did that in a long evening) and if you're a really good student you can follow along with all the examples. (I wasn't). But keep it by your side and read the chapter you need as you build. It will pay for itself in saved time and straigher work on the first job.

76 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful for learning or reference, April 18, 2001

By 

Todd J. Niblo (Portsmouth, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Measuring, Marking & Layout: A Builder's Guide (Hardcover)

I am a project manager for a commercial / industrial contractor. So many times I am changing gears, direction . . . in coordinating the project. Calls from other contractors and or the field keeps you busy and frequently having more to do immediately than you feel you can do in days. But this book is useful. While much of it relates to residential construction, simple layouts and thought processes do not change. While so many times I am challenged with laser layouts and trades that swear their layout is on the money, a few time proven methods and understanding can prove the " sure money " wrong. This book is well organized, clearly written and the compilation of formulas and calculations is helpful. This book will prove to be very useful for a do it yourselfer or anyone working within the trades or offices alike. I certainly recommend this book.

59 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this is a keeper, March 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Measuring, Marking & Layout: A Builder's Guide (Hardcover)

This book is well thoughtout and covers all the details a builder needs to do accurate layouts. I would recommend it for both those learning and the professionals in the building trades as a reference source. I have seen and purchased some of the authors other books and would not recommend them to building professionals.

I liked that this book is hard covered. The diagrams used to explain the concepts are accurate and concise. It is not "exotic" in the types of layouts it covers but covers the basics well. Lead carpenters and journeyman layout carpenters won't find much new here. But for apprentice and carpenters and builders still learning there trade it has merit.