The Well-Built House [Paperback]

James Locke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 1992

This is the essential book for anyone who is considering building or buying a new house or remodeling an old one--an insider's guide to construction, written by a professional contractor. Many readers will remember Jim Locke as the contractor in Tracy Kidder's bestselling book HOUSE, in which he epitomized the values of the true craftsman.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jim Locke writes and builds in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books; Rev Sub edition (September 28, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395629519
• ISBN-13: 978-0395629512
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #525,564 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of its kind, November 11, 2003

By 

misterbeets "misterbeets" (Safe Harbor, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Well-Built House (Paperback)

I originally thought the author might have been capitalizing on his fame from being the subject of another book: Tracy Kidder's House. I was surprised to find it more intelligent than the competition. And I was put off by the title, thinking the book was only about those things that make a house a work of old-fashioned craftmanship. But it's a complete tour of the housebuilding process, seemingly written from memory, so easily do the words flow.

He shares his opinions, and they're always sensible. Mostly he eschews the cheap stuff, and telling you *what that is* is invaluable. He prefers plywood to OSB, wood to vinyl siding, and steers you away from roof trusses, vinyl windows, wooden countertops (not cheap, but not practical), and fiberglass tubs. He tells you where to install thicker plywood or wallboard, and tries to talk you into a real masonry chimney instead of a metal lined firebox. His style is succinct, never offensive, and witty. Best of the dozen or so I'm familiar with.

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great insights into a builder's perspective, September 16, 2002

By 

Erotica Fan "Gaijin returned" (California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Well-Built House (Paperback)

Sure, there were a few chapters that we skimmed over--too much detail about construction techniques for our current pre-planning stage. But we read the bulk of the book with a "REALLY glad that you mentioned that" mental response.

A major feature of this book is its discussion of design and hardware features in your future home. We will be able, now, to have an informed discussion with our architect and builder about many essential aspects of our home design.

The extensive discussion--occurring throughout the book--about relationships between the owner, architect, builder and subcontractors was worth its weight in gold. MAN, the mistakes we are going to avoid!!

This book gives extensive insight to the perspective of the general contractor, and of problems that the general contractor faces--with the architect, the owner, and the sub-contractors.

As a result of reading this book, we are now contemplating the choice of a builder before we decide upon an architect--directly contrary to our earlier thoughts. As we read and contemplate more, we shall see.

We are planning our first experience in building a custom home--and it is the home we intend to live in until.... So, this is a BIG deal.

We learned SO much from this book. If there is a more informative book on the subject, we would like to know!!

42 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, well-written, thorough, honest, fun, literate, August 28, 1999

By 

Carolyn K. Larson (Lamoine, Maine) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Well-Built House (Paperback)

Of all the books I've bought on building a new home, this is far and away the best. I just wish I could spirit Mr. Locke and his crew up to Maine to build our retirement home and horse barn. It will be the first, and last, home we build, and what I would give to have the craftsmanship of a builder like Mr. Locke to pass on to my son and grandson. An added gift is his humor and literacy - the book is as well-crafted as I suspect are his houses.

Reading it will not make you a good builder - only long experience and caring can do that - but as one who knows nothing from cornice to casings, this book makes me far more comfortable in talking with those who are - or who aren't.

Thank you, Mr. Locke.