Ultimate Guide to House Framing [Paperback]

John D. Wagner (Author), Home Improvement (Author), How-To (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2009

Ultimate Guide to House Framing, 3rd Edition, leads homeowners through the steps of building a structure by means of platform framing, the most popular style of framing in use today. The book also covers the latest in eco-friendly materials as well as green framing techniques. Ultimate Guide to House Framing is the most up-to-date source for framing information. Beginning with background information, the book provides readers with everything they need to know about building, including structural loads and how they interact, sizing lumber, working with tools, and reading blueprints. The book then takes the reader through the framing process-from foundations to floor framing, wall framing, roof framing, sheathing, and more. This expanded and revised edition ends with three project chapters: building stairs, finishing a basement with steel studs, and framing a bay window. Each chapter covers both construction and design information.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

Ultimate Guide to House Framing, 3rd Edition, is the most up-to-date source for framing information. Beginning with background information, the book provides readers with everything they need to know about building, including structural loads and how they interact, sizing lumber, working with tools, and reading blueprints. The book then takes the reader through the platform-framing process--the most popular style of framing in use today--from foundations to floor framing, wall framing, roof framing, sheathing, and more. This expanded and revised edition also covers the latest in eco-friendly materials as well as green framing techniques. The book ends with three project chapters: building stairs, finishing a basement with steel studs, and framing a bay window. Each chapter covers both construction and design information.

From the Back Cover

Over 750 illustrations and photos to help you build your own home or use the information when remodeling, building a room addition, finishing a basement, or installing doors and windows.

- Environmentally friendly building products and techniques

- Step-by-step guides for building walls, floors, and roofs

- Extra projects include building and repairing stairs and installing bay windows

Tools and materials listed for each project

Frame floors, walls, and roofs like a pro

Over 55 construction sequences

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Creative Homeowner; Third edition (February 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580114431
• ISBN-13: 978-1580114431
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,468 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Home Design > Design & Construction
  • #57 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Do-It-Yourself

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Only For Beginners!, August 22, 2010

By 

Ray - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ultimate Guide to House Framing (Paperback)

This is a very well writen book with plenty of pictures, but it is for people with limited construction experence. I bought this book because I need rafter tables, specificialy jack-hip rafter tables. This book does not have any roofing tables and gives three paragraphs about reading a jack-hip rafter table (but does not have the table). If you have more than three years of residential construction experence, you should already know everything in this book.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good how to text book for Framing, October 10, 2009

By 

J. Carlisle "Mechanical Engineer" (Canton MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ultimate Guide to House Framing (Paperback)

"Ultimate Guide to House Framing, 3rd edition" is a well written reference manual for how to frame a house or garage.
Well written - If you plan to do any building a must own.
What I liked:
-1/3 of the entire book is diagrams showing "how" to.
-book covers many different types of framing, and shows several different techniques.
-It points out where you should consult your local building codes to see if certain items apply ( i.e. do you need hurricane straps)
-well organized into logical chapters.
-A high emphasis is placed on safety and the proper use of power tools.
-The author take the time to explain the basics and tell you how to do thing properly.
What I didn't like.
- nothing.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Nothing for basements!, April 9, 2011

By 

Truman Sparks (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ultimate Guide to House Framing (Paperback)

Probably the most common framing job a homeowner is likely to tackle is an unfinished basement but there is nothing for them here. Chapter 14 covers basement framing with steel - not lumber! For a lot of homers that makes this book a big fat zero. As for the rest of it, I'm not sure this book is suitable for anyone. Half the book is written for someone whose almost ready for their contractors license and the other half is written for someone who has never picked up a hammer. It really feels like it was written by more than one person. The switch occurs suddenly and is jarring, confusing, and annoying. The first chapter covers extremely basic stuff most DIY guys already know (e.g., what is pressure treated lumber, common lumber dimensions, etc.). Then chapter 2 gets technical (e.g., glossaries of blueprint abbreviations and symbols and discussions of engineering stuff like sheer forces and live loads, etc.). The next two chapters get extremely basic again, describing tools you'll need in detail (nearly an entire page devoted to framing hammers) and a few chapters later you are into gabled roofs and shed dormers. The book aspires to provide all the engineering and construction knowledge you need to frame a Victorian house from professional architectural drawings by someone who has never actually held a screwdriver before. Ridiculous.