From Sand Castles to Dream Houses: A Planner for Building or Remodeling Your Home (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A resource book for anyone considering Building or Remodeling their home, with a planner for keeping track of the project before, during and after its completion.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 300 pages
• Publisher: Hanley-Wood (August 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0924659874
• ISBN-13: 978-0924659874
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,136,671 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let This Book Be Your Construction Compass, March 26, 2003

By	K. Hauk "gottabekate" (Barrington, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Working within the industry, it is painfully clear how difficult it is for people 'on the outside' to make informed decisions, know what they are getting into and understand what they should be getting out of products, contractors and procedures. This is a good compass for the journey of building or remodeling any project. It helps you get organized, think through the process before you begin and 'trains' you to remain in charge to the very end. Recommended to me by an architect who worked with homeowners who followed this book. It's beneficial for both sides of the process.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book saved my life!, December 27, 2002

By	Lucy Hedrick (Old Greenwich, CT United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am embarking on a major re-do of my house -- knocking down walls, re-assigning space, re-positioning doors and windows -- but felt 'at sea' as to how to begin. Thanks to "Sand Castles and Dream Houses," I now have a plan. Koones' valuable guide will help me stay organized and on track with the project.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! A treasure box of info and sound advice, April 6, 2007

By	NewEnglandScene (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews

I am in the early design stages of my house ...and this book arrived none too early to help me through the rest of the process. It is a veritable primer in the process of building a house. Full of lists, tables, and all sorts of things to consider. Commentaries on product and services selection, design considerations, project management ...basically all the decisions in the design and construction process. I thought I knew a lot when I went into the process, and this book reinforced the good things I was doing. Happily, it also suggested a whole bunch of things I could be doing and thoughtful approaches to make the process go better.

I usually consider 'how-to' books facile and almost silly. I purchased this book on an impulse on Amazon (along with a whole bunch of less useful picture books), and I was really shocked how valuable it is. It is a little treasure box of information. Dollar for dollar, I think this is probably the best investment I will make in my new house ...and I am sure that I am not alone.

Why learn the hard (and expensive) way when this book will save you from mistakes? No exaggeration to say that this is a 'must have' book for people considering a new home or extensive renovation. Sure, buy your picture books for the coffee table ...but this is the real stuff you need to know.