Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods (Hardcover)

~ (Author), (Author) "A building begins as an idea in someone's mind, a desire for new and ample accommodations for a family, many families, an organization, or an..." (more)
Key Phrases: concrete joist system, concrete framing systems, masonry backup wall, New York, North America, Portland Cement Association (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In the new fifth edition of Fundamentals of Building Construction, Allen and Iano set a new benchmark by incorporating sustainability issues into a mainstream construction textbook, section by section, as in this concise overview from the first chapter. We also look forward to a future edition of their outstanding book in which appropriate sustainability considerations have penetrated every topic and page." (ArchitectureWeek, April 13, 2009)

Product Description

Now in its Fifth Edition, this essential textbook has been used by thousands of students annually in schools of architecture, engineering, and construction technology. The bestselling reference focuses on the basic materials and methods used in building construction, emphasizing common construction systems such as light wood frames, masonry bearing walls, steel frames, and reinforced concrete. New introductory material on the processes, organization, constraints, and choices in construction offers a better look at the management of construction. New sections covering the building envelope uncover the secrets to designing enclosures for thermal insulation, vapor retarders, air barriers, and moisture control. The Fifth Edition also features more axonometric detail drawings and revised photographs for a thoroughly illustrated approach and the latest IBC 2006, CSI MasterFormat, ASTM references, and LEED information.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1008 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 5 edition (December 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047007468X
• ISBN-13: 978-0470074688
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #26,800 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #2 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Architecture > Architectural Standards
  #2 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Civil > Construction > Materials
  #3 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Architecture > Materials

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surpassed expectations, May 28, 2004

By	Kevin Heddy (Chico, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods (Hardcover)

Being a student in Construction Management Edward Allen's book was assigned as our text book. The course entitled materials and methods is intended to teach future construction manajors about the wide variety of materials on the market today as well as tradional methods of constructing with these materials.
The book is chalked full of knowledge most of which would take a person hours, even days of research to uncover with other sources. It is very comprehensive. If you are active in the comercial building construction this book is a must for your refrence shelf. Residential construction owners/workers would gain considerable knowledge from the book it has plenty of useful information however I feel the book is leaning more towards heavy commercial.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book on Construction, April 3, 2000

By	[e-mail] "gsd99dde" (US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods (Hardcover)

Simply put, this is one of the best technical textbooks I've ever read. It's basic stuff for someone just starting out in the discipline of architecture, but I'm keeping it as a reference for future professional use. It is clearly written and well illustrated and worth it's high price. I wish Allen would now write a book on Environmental Control Systems--everything in that field is too dry and too technical.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and informative, October 7, 1998

By	V.M. Williams (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods (Hardcover)

I had this as a textbook for an Architectural Technology class as an undergrad ARCH major. Detailed with illustrations and photos of actual ongoing construction projects, this book was very informative for showing details and connections necessary to the making of a building. While not necessarily written for the layman, it would definitely be useful to anyone wondering "how you put it together." There are moments when it can become dry, but as I said, I used it as a textbook, therefore a lot of my reading was REQUIRED. It's not mandatory that one read this cover to cover, but it would definitely be handy for examining processes and checking details of wall sections.