Customer Reviews

Renovation: Completely Revised and Updated

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I rehab 100 year old houses for a living. I do it all from elctrical to plumbing, heating systems, etc. Since I am a jack of all trades, I am a master of none, and when I need to do something for the first time, I reach for this book. Jacking up a foundation? Custom stair stringers? Learned it here.

I also keep it on the job site as a reference. How high should the showerhead be? Where should the kitchen supply lines and drain be? It is all here. Would by another copy immediately when this one gets lost or damaged (which it will).

This is, hands down, the very BEST home renovation book I've ever read. And as former editor of This Old House Magazine (2001 to 2004) I've seen `em all.

Author Mike Litchfield (founding editor of Fine Homebuilding magazine) has written about 7 books on home renovation and this third edition of "Renovation" (completely updated from earlier versions) has got to be his masterwork. Whether you're a homeowner who can't bang a nail or a professional tradesman, you'll learn a lot from this book.

"Renovation" covers the entire home renovation process, from inspecting an old house before you buy it to the hundreds of steps and decisions you'll encounter in the renovation process.

Litchfield clearly knows what he's talking about. He writes in a down-to-earth conversational style that's comprehensive, practical and easy to understand. He also has a sharp wit and a dry sense of humor that makes this book, not only useful, but great fun to read. Excellent drawings and photos show you just the information you need, and the book is liberally sprinkled with pro-tips and insights that will save you time, money and heartache-guaranteed. Case histories of real renovation jobs with first-hand accounts of what worked and what didn't give you the benefit of other people's experience.

Renovating an old house is a big, messy, expensive, emotional process, but one of the most satisfying projects you can tackle in life. If you're even thinking about taking the plunge, there's no better roadmap to follow than Mike Litchfield's book.

David Sloan

Only buy this book as an overview of what you are going to have to do. If you need specifics you'll need more books.

Updated to 4 Stars **** My first review was too harsh. The book is an excellent resource but not always a breath of inspiration. It is not about old house renovation and thus my comparison to the Nash book was unfair. ****** This book is to the George Nash book as a primary reader is to intermediate reading. Useful basic information about tools and materials but lets read Time-Life Books How-To Series for that. When it comes to the nitty gritty of dealing with the tough stuff (foundations, basemants, blueboard, plaster, etc.) it just stops short of the mark. If this book is really new information to you then call a contractor to do the work because you are in way over your head. Might be useful as a vocabulary builder when working with a contractor or subcontractor but as a DIY guide just not quite brown on both sides.

I think this is a good book for reference. We are doing a major home renovation on the inside and out. We have hired a company to complete the outside and we are trying to do the inside on our own. Since we are dealing with contractors ourselves, I have found this book helpful for reference so I at least know what the specifications should be and can talk with some confidence to the contractor. It especially helped with reference to the insulation. Where it is lacking though is on all the new green technology. We are putting in low voltage (12v) lighting, geothermal, water recycling, insulated roof panels, heat energy recovery (ERV) system and there isn't much in reference to that. They should really release another edition soon to cover all of this because it is happening at an incredible pace. There isn't very much out there as far as reference for green technology and I live in an area where it is rather new to most contractors. Sometimes you have to become your own expert.

Now in a entirely revised and completely updated third edition, Renovation continues to be a superbly organized and presented one-stop guide for every aspect of any building renovation or restoration project. Author Michael Litchfield draws upon his more than thirty years of experience and expertise to show how to do electrical wiring, plumbing, finish carpentry, tiling, painting, and wallpapering and many more tasks to improve home aesthetics, functionality, and property values. Color photographs and black-and-white diagrams on almost every page illustrate the extensive instructions. A professional-quality, in-depth resource fully accessible to lay readers, and a "must-have" for anyone considering some serious home improvement elbow grease.

Even though many of us who are in the trades know a lot, we don't do everythig all the time, maybe have never even done a particular job. This is where Renovation 3 comes in. This book could possibly save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars or hours of wasted time by helping to avoid a costly mistake.
The pictures and descriptions are clear and easy to understand, with many helpful tips. No matter how long you have worked with tools there is plenty you can gain by having this book. I am a retired general contractor who now works for Habitat for Humanity.

Good basic book for getting started in remodeling. I would suggest it to anyone buying a house or wanting to remodel. Even if you don't do the work yourself, at least you can understand what will be done and what you may be paying for that doesn't need to be done.

I reviewed a lot of home improvement books and finally decided on this one. I already own a number of similar volumes, but this one is by far the best. This is clearly based on expert feedback. It highlights frequent errors to avoid and important shortcuts and reminders. Every do-it-yourselfer should own this.

This should be required reading for any first time home buyer! Last year we bought our first house.....built in 1912 it has plenty of charm (read: money pit). We fell in love with it! Lots of character (read: money pit). Who do you call? Who do you trust? Who can give you the answers you are looking for? Look no further. This book has helped me TREMENDOUSLY from the first day I got it. It taught me a lot, and just as importantly, it helped me in my dealings with contractors (at least in knowing who did not know what they were talking about or were trying to do things in a cheap manner. The explanations and instructions are very clear and easy to follow. If you know anyone who is buying a house, or is THINKING of buying a house, buy them this book right NOW. They will love you for life. This is probably the only time I would ever say, "This book should get 10 stars."