Trim Carpentry & Built-Ins (Taunton's Build Like a Pro) [Paperback]

Clayton DeKorne (Author)

Book Description

Series: Taunton's Build Like a Pro | Publication Date: October 1, 2002

Installing trim requires precision and know-how. This is the book that shows how to handle all common trim projects, including window and door casings, baseboards, wainscoting and crown molding -- and get professional results every time. This is a complete do-it-yourself book written by a professional carpenter and presented in a highly accessible format.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561584789
• ISBN-13: 978-1561584789
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Carpentry
  • #81 in Books > Professional & Technical > Architecture

More About the Author

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

130 of 131 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great balance! Great Book., December 29, 2003

By 

"anthonya29" (McLean, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trim Carpentry & Built-Ins (Taunton's Build Like a Pro) (Paperback)

I'm a "advanced beginner" carpenter, and this book is BY FAR the best book I've read and used to give good, practical information and tips on finish carpentry. I orginially borrowed from the library, but liked it so much I bought it.

It's got a great balance between being accessible and detailed. Unlike most books of this genre, it doesn't assume you've got thousands of dollars of woodworking tools in your basement, but does assume that you know a bit about what you're doing, and are looking for someone more experienced to get you through some tricky projects. The best part is page after page of expert tips that help you do things more quickly and efficient, based on the author's 25 years in the business. The pictures and illustrations are also top notch, again, a great balance between detailed and accessible. A lot of thought went into writing this book and it shows.

135 of 137 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, concise, informative, August 30, 2003

By 

Richard Mastello (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trim Carpentry & Built-Ins (Taunton's Build Like a Pro) (Paperback)

There are a lot of carpentry books out there, and most of them fill you with extraneous details that you don't want to read about, and don't tell enough about what you need to DO. DeKorne's book is a rare exception. He gets right to work, and much of the work of describing what to DO is accomplished with fine photographs and illustrations. I'm an engineer and think I know how material's put together, but I learned far more about how wood goes together (and will perform over its service life) than I ever expected. DeKorne doesn't just parrot the theory of woodworking, but takes you beyond the bench with details that allow you to trim out an old house with expert precision, even where nothing is square or plumb. There's nothing about dovetails, or mortise and tenon (what a relief!) but plenty about practical joinery. The sections describing compound miters are the best I've ever read. Finally I feel like I understand how to make an elegant crown fit in an old house.

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Resource but not a Step-by-Step Guide for all project, January 30, 2006

By 

Sonya "readaholic" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trim Carpentry & Built-Ins (Taunton's Build Like a Pro) (Paperback)

I really like the Build Like a Pro books. I find them very informative about subjects I have no clue about. Whether you are a DIY or plan to hire someone, I think the information is a good basis for being able to understand how things should or might be done.

There are some projects that DO show step-by-step instructions with photo's, i.e. Making an Outside Corner when cutting baseboard (pg 59). There are Pro Tips and What Can Go Wrong scattered throughout the book. The format is very easy to follow and there are lots of drawing, illustrations and great photographs.

One of the main reasons I picked up this book is for the section on crown molding. I've seen lots of decorating shows but in the ones that give the most detail, the people seem to have been doing it for ages. I've found that if the DIY show says 2 hours, it probably is going to take me double that because of my lack of experience. The Crown Molding section talks about the various crown styles/profiles, gave Trade Secrets and how to cope with problems like sagging ceilings are wavy walls. Basically, it covered every aspect that I could think of when installing crown.

The only thing this book is missing is a appendix of terms, which would have been helpful to understand terms that are unfamiliar to me as a novice. Some terms might have been covered earlier in the book, but if you are reading just one topic or chapter, you might have missed the explanation. Because of this I am giving it 4.5 stars.

Definitely work purchasing.