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The Stonebuilder's Primer: A Step-By-Step Guide for Owner-Builders
 
 
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The Stonebuilder's Primer: A Step-By-Step Guide for Owner-Builders (Paperback)

~ (Author) "FIELDSTONE IS AN IDEAL MEDIUM for amateur builders..." (more)
Key Phrases: amateur mason, sill gasket, backup wall, Special Touches, National Research Council (more...)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

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The Stonebuilder's Primer: A Step-By-Step Guide for Owner-Builders + Building with Stone + Art of The Stonemason
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  • This item: The Stonebuilder's Primer: A Step-By-Step Guide for Owner-Builders by Charles Long

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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This volume is a fine, if concise, introduction to the joys and problems of constructing living spaces with stone. In 11 chapters and an epilog, Long details the basics of building with field stone, taking each step in the rough chronology of the building process. His prose is open and friendly, and the illustrations, both line drawings and photographs, deepen the text. Long's "compromise method" of construction provides a simpler method of construction than has otherwise been traditionally embraced with stone. A delight and an important work for the aspiring nonprofessional stonemason. Highly recommended.AAlexander Hartmann, Bloomsburg Univ., PA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Review

[A] fascinating account.... The book provides detailed instructions that will enable anyone to build a stone house. -- Desert Sun, Palm Springs, California

Product Details

  • Paperback: 128 pages
  • Publisher: Firefly Books; Revised and Expanded edition (October 1, 1998)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1552092984
  • ISBN-13: 978-1552092989
  • Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #92,181 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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

    #12 in  Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Civil > Construction > Masonry
    #26 in  Books > Home & Garden > How-to & Home Improvements > Masonry

More About the Author

Charles Long
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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Stonebuilder's Primer: A Step-By-Step Guide for Owner-Builders
66% buy the item featured on this page:
The Stonebuilder's Primer: A Step-By-Step Guide for Owner-Builders 4.5 out of 5 stars (13)
$13.57
Stonework: Techniques and Projects
11% buy
Stonework: Techniques and Projects 4.5 out of 5 stars (11)
$12.89
Art of The Stonemason
8% buy
Art of The Stonemason 4.4 out of 5 stars (13)
$16.50
Building with Stone
8% buy
Building with Stone 4.3 out of 5 stars (7)
$12.21

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
67 of 68 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Truly a "do it yourself" guide to building with stone., December 28, 1998
By A Customer
I bought this book because of the author's review -- he described wanting to build a house from stone the easiest and cheapest way possible. He and his wife did the homework to learn how to do it -- first by research, then by doing -- so I bought the book, hoping it would give my family the information we needed to get started on our rock house. It did. The book provides easy to read narrative that takes you through each step of the process. It tells you what supplies you need, how to pick a site, how to pick the best stones, where to find stones, and what hardships you will encounter while working. It also explains away the mysteries of stone building and provides techniques for handling details such as windows and doors. The best thing the book gave us was the confidence to get started on our project to build our rock house. We had talked about it for months. Now, since we've read this book, we've cleared our site and have started our first wall!
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45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Very readable, not engineering., July 10, 2000
By David Ewald (Norristown, Pennsylvania USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This is an entertaining, well written book by an amateur stonemason, who (with his wife) has built his own house and other projects in stone. The book is encouraging for the amateur and seems likely to produce excellant results. It covers many aspects of stonework, from collecting stones to actual construction.

Mr. Long discusses the "slipform" method, which he rejected for the cost of the lumber, the time spent in preparation,the appearance of the finished work (which, he argues, resembles veneer), and its limitation to modular designs. (From his description, apparently slipforms are moveable forms in which stone walls are built, which forms are slipped up to the next level to build the wall higher.) He acknowledges that the slipform method inspired him in developing part of his own method, which uses an interior frame wall and a loose sheathing piece as a form for the back of the stone wall.

The BOCA National Building Code, which applies in my town, requires that rubblestone walls be a minimum of 16 inches thick. Mr. Long recommends substantially thicker walls (dependant on height of the wall), although he refers to an unidentified building code that allows 12 inch walls to 35 feet in height. To me, it seems to be a great waste of space and energy to build build stone walls thicker than they need to be. I have ordered more books on the subject, as I believe it is easier to read an extra book than to gather, stack and mortar an extra 20 tons of stone. However, I expect that this book will be of use to me if I ever actually get around to building in stone.

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36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars This book promoted many a daydream..., April 7, 1999
By A Customer
In pursuit of my pipe dream of building a stone house, I picked up this book. Dangerously, it fed into my (previously-thought) unrealistic plans. The book is well-balanced between science and art; it doesn't stray too far from the "how-to," or science of building a stone house, but it does provide a good measure of humor & pictures. It's quite readable and supportive of the whole daydreaming process, but I get the feeling that if I ever get around to building the stone house, it would also be an excellent reference.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Witty, humorous and informative; a pleasure to read
I just finished this book by Charles Long, which I read thru in just a few sittings. The authors witty and humorous voice comes thru in a way that makes it a pleasure it read... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Simon Pereira

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Stone Primer
Good book. Very serious approach to stonework. The author has strong opinions and conveys them as such. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Bill Torregrossa

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful resource!
I was very pleased with the level of detail in this book. I was specifically looking for information on stone fireplaces and chimneys and the author does a fine job of being... Read more
Published on October 17, 2007 by Demetrea

4.0 out of 5 stars "Primer" is probably a good word.
This is an excellent beginning book on building with stone. No mention of necessary information regarding general house building is included. Read more
Published on December 27, 2006 by Bladesmith

4.0 out of 5 stars Diary of self-taught mason
The experiences of Mr. Long will interest many 'would-be' masons, contemplating construction of a stone wall of any form. Read more
Published on April 7, 2005 by Mark Mills

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable book
If you are considering building with stone, give this book a try. I like the author's writing style and he does a great job explaining the process.
Published on April 6, 2005 by B. Aaron

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a really well written book
I rarely write a review despite the fact that I read so many books, but felt this one deserved special attention. Read more
Published on January 13, 2005 by John S. Grady

5.0 out of 5 stars An unusually good book for beginners
A VERY good book which tells you not only the 'hows', but the 'whys' too. Long does a very good job of anticipating the nuts-and-bolts questions, he even describes some of the... Read more
Published on December 24, 2003 by Daniel E. Riebs

4.0 out of 5 stars A good start - lots of photos and basic instructions.


There's a Polish saying that to be a man one has to plant a tree, raise a son, and build his own house. Read more

Published on August 13, 2002 by Jeremiah J. Timmins

4.0 out of 5 stars The Stonebuilder's PRimer
Good practical help on building a home structurally with stone. Never shows the house as a final product! Read more
Published on February 5, 2002 by r_vanneman

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