How to Plan, Contract and Build Your Own Home [Paperback]

Richard M. Scutella (Author), David Heberle (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0071346090 | ISBN-13: 978-0071346092 | Publication Date: August 31, 1999 | Edition: 3

Step-by-step blueprint for do-it-yourself home builders. From locating an architect, to hiring workers, to selecting features and fixtures, and more, here's how to build or expand your own home from start to finish--and save! Richard M. Scutella and Dave Heberle's soup-to-nuts guide, How to Plan, Contract and Build Your Own Home, Third Edition, leads you through the perils of homebuilding to make sure you end up with exactly what you want. You get point-by-point tips on choosing a site and style, keeping home traffic patterns sensible, deciding on the right size for rooms, preparing plans, getting permits and more. Unique "quality control" insights into each stage of construction highlight problems to watch out for--foundation, roof, floors, walls, stairs, walkways and driveways, heating and cooling, electrical capacity and wiring, even computer wiring and alarm sensors. From turning the first shovel of earth to the final inspection, this homeowner's construction manual makes sure your dream house will be a dream come true.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

There are countless reasons why building your own home makes good sense, But, for most people, the chance to create the home they've always wanted is #1 on their list. And this all-in-one guide can help you every step of the way toward realizing your vision - from hiring the right vendors to picking fixtures.
Whether it comes to basic planning ("What's your move-in date?") or construction methods ("Wood or steel?"), this trusted reference, now fully updated to cover new materials, techniques, money-saving options, and environmentally friendly technologies and methods, is the most complete source on building your own home available.

Written by experienced instructors and builders, and used by savvy homebuilders to put up thousands of homes, How to Plan, Contract and Build Your Own Home will help you: Select and prepare a site; Make informed decisions on types of construction, framing, foundations, and layouts; Plan for home office use, communications upgrades, "smart house" technology, and more; Design a home that will serve your needs throughout your life; Perform construction tasks safely and efficiently; Install the newest and most economical and efficient types of insulation, roofing, plumbing, wiring, and more; Build amenities such as decks, patios, gazebos, sidewalks, and driveways; Make do-it-yourself vs. subcontracting decisions; Plan when you'll move in with a helpful calendar-style checklist; Select the right mortgage.
Featuring a reader-friendly style loaded with icons and sidebars pointing out safety considerations, problem alerts, and elaboration on specific topics, this one-stop, do-it-yourself home-building package makes any dream house a reality. It even tells you how to maintain and improve your home once it's done!

About the Author

Richard M. Scutella (Erie, PA) is an author of books on new construction, home buying, and home maintenance and safety. He has designed and supervised the construction on new homes.

Dave Heberle (Erie, PA, a former realtor associate, has an extensive background in home-building and design. A professional writer who has authored many articles on home construction, he is currently an environmental and health specialist.

Product Details

• Paperback: 824 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional; 3 edition (August 31, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071346090
• ISBN-13: 978-0071346092
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,358,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Preparation for your General Contractor, September 7, 2000

By 

Gare (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Plan, Contract and Build Your Own Home (Paperback)

This book is lives up to the first two parts of the title - Plan & Contract. It falls short on the building process but if you know you are going to use a Builder or General Contractor, it is a great source of information.

I haven't got the time to manage the building process but I know I can intelligently talk with my contractor. This book gives the reader a firm footing in dealing with the house design and contractor processes.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Great Advice, March 7, 2004

By 

Randy Given (Manchester, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Plan, Contract and Build Your Own Home (Paperback)

This is an excellent book with a lot of great advice. The part of the title that says "build your own home" is misleading -- it does not mean it shows YOU how to build your home, it means it in the general sense of whether people will buy a pre-owned or build-your-own-home. I was fine with that because that is exactly what I was looking for.

I spend a half hour poring over a wide selection of similar books. This one looked best. I spent another ten minutes on it before selecting it as the best. I was looking for specific tidbits that I know that I would give other home builders. After reading the book, I was even more impressed. There is a tremendous amount of good advice in an easy-to-read format. Highly recommended.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How To Plan, Design & Contract Your Own Home, January 10, 2005

By 

G. Reid (Roseland, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Plan, Contract and Build Your Own Home (Paperback)

This book is very helpful for you to work with and speak the language of your contractor. It is not designed for you to be your own contractor, but to work with one that you select. In Part II "How to Build It", the book shows how a house is put together. If you never lift a hammer throughout the entire construction process, it still pays to know how a house can and should be put together. The difference between mediocre and excellent construction involves a ridiculously small materials cost. Knowing construction methods and materials will also assist you in your dealings with whichever contractor you choose.