The Stonebuilder's Primer: A Step-By-Step Guide for Owner-Builders [Paperback]

Charles Long (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1998

Writer Charles Long has a well-earned reputation as one of North America's self-sufficiency experts. More than 20 years ago, he and his wife, Elizabeth, fled city life and conventional employment for the country, and have flourished there ever since. Now back by popular demand Long's The Stonebuilder's Primer is a highly readable account of the couple's successful effort to build "a house that will outlast anything made of wood."

Developing a compromise method of stone construction that is both simpler and truer to the stonemason's art than the popular slipform method, the Longs built an aesthetically satisfying home of stone on a limited budget and no previous construction experience. In this classic how-to book, the author describes the complete building process in clear, easy-to-follow steps and, in so doing, dispels the myth of difficulty that surrounds stone construction.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This volume is a fine, if concise, introduction to the joys and problems of constructing living spaces with stone. In 11 chapters and an epilog, Long details the basics of building with field stone, taking each step in the rough chronology of the building process. His prose is open and friendly, and the illustrations, both line drawings and photographs, deepen the text. Long's "compromise method" of construction provides a simpler method of construction than has otherwise been traditionally embraced with stone. A delight and an important work for the aspiring nonprofessional stonemason. Highly recommended.AAlexander Hartmann, Bloomsburg Univ., PA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

[A] fascinating account.... The book provides detailed instructions that will enable anyone to build a stone house. (Desert Sun )

A delight and an important work for the aspiring nonprofessional stonemason. Highly recommended. (Alexander Hartmann, Bloomsburg Univ., PA Library Journal )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Books; Revised and Expanded edition (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552092984
• ISBN-13: 978-1552092989
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Masonry
  • #35 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Home Design > Design & Construction
  • #39 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Home Repair

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Truly a "do it yourself" guide to building with stone., December 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Stonebuilder's Primer: A Step-By-Step Guide for Owner-Builders (Paperback)

I bought this book because of the author's review -- he described wanting to build a house from stone the easiest and cheapest way possible. He and his wife did the homework to learn how to do it -- first by research, then by doing -- so I bought the book, hoping it would give my family the information we needed to get started on our rock house. It did. The book provides easy to read narrative that takes you through each step of the process. It tells you what supplies you need, how to pick a site, how to pick the best stones, where to find stones, and what hardships you will encounter while working. It also explains away the mysteries of stone building and provides techniques for handling details such as windows and doors. The best thing the book gave us was the confidence to get started on our project to build our rock house. We had talked about it for months. Now, since we've read this book, we've cleared our site and have started our first wall!

51 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very readable, not engineering., July 10, 2000

By 

David Ewald (Norristown, Pennsylvania USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Stonebuilder's Primer: A Step-By-Step Guide for Owner-Builders (Paperback)

This is an entertaining, well written book by an amateur stonemason, who (with his wife) has built his own house and other projects in stone. The book is encouraging for the amateur and seems likely to produce excellant results. It covers many aspects of stonework, from collecting stones to actual construction.

Mr. Long discusses the "slipform" method, which he rejected for the cost of the lumber, the time spent in preparation,the appearance of the finished work (which, he argues, resembles veneer), and its limitation to modular designs. (From his description, apparently slipforms are moveable forms in which stone walls are built, which forms are slipped up to the next level to build the wall higher.) He acknowledges that the slipform method inspired him in developing part of his own method, which uses an interior frame wall and a loose sheathing piece as a form for the back of the stone wall.

The BOCA National Building Code, which applies in my town, requires that rubblestone walls be a minimum of 16 inches thick. Mr. Long recommends substantially thicker walls (dependant on height of the wall), although he refers to an unidentified building code that allows 12 inch walls to 35 feet in height. To me, it seems to be a great waste of space and energy to build build stone walls thicker than they need to be. I have ordered more books on the subject, as I believe it is easier to read an extra book than to gather, stack and mortar an extra 20 tons of stone. However, I expect that this book will be of use to me if I ever actually get around to building in stone.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a really well written book, January 13, 2005

By 

John S. Grady (Hawaii) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Stonebuilder's Primer: A Step-By-Step Guide for Owner-Builders (Paperback)

I rarely write a review despite the fact that I read so many books, but felt this one deserved special attention. I am looking to build a log home in Southeast Alaska and wanted to have a nice rock wall foundation and a spectacular fireplace. After reading this book I am confident that I can do most of the work myself (except the footing for the foundation) and feel confident that it will look totally professional (and be bomb proof). The book is well written, very readable, has good photos, and is probably the only book you will need to do any and all stone work. It is not a book on slip form and it is not a coffee table book - it is for building in stone.