Showing posts with label buildings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label buildings. Show all posts

2/15/2012

Code Check Electrical: A Field Guide to Wiring a Safe House Review

Code Check Electrical: A Field Guide to Wiring a Safe House
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I suppose if you are already familiar with all of the code sections involved in an electrical code inspection, or at least the portion presented in this form, this would be a helpful form. However, if, even as a building inspector, you need occassional reminders of exactly what an electrical code section involves, this may force the user into guessing what is meant by a particular item on this form.
Unfortunately, as a result, I firmly believe, inspections done using this form will not represent a reasonable degree of accuracy. Some of the diagrams are useful. However, a great deal is still lacking in helping the inspector, layman or professional, in understanding exactly what they are looking for.
For instance, one of the items under "Other Services" in the "Temporary Power Pole" section reads "Identify insulated neutral at both ends". If the National Electric Code Section referenced (200-6b) is accurate, then this actually means that non-white wires in temporary power systems that are #6 or larger, but not the commonly used #8 copper, must be marked with a white identification tape wrapped around the insulation of the wire in the junction boxes in which both ends of the wire terminate. I'm not sure many of my fellow professionals in the building inspection profession, much less the layman, would know these specifics from this short identifying phrase provided in the form. Furthermore, it could take several books, including a copy of the National Electric Code itself, for someone to fully understand what this code section means.
As a result, I don't believe that this form is designed for the layman at all. I don't believe it will be useful to the typical home buyer having a home built. I think they could be much better served by the local code inspectors. If they were not convinced that a local code inspector would be likely to serve them well, for whatever reason, they should consider using the money to help pay for a full-fledged private inspection by a local home inspector who does new construction inspections.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Code Check Electrical: A Field Guide to Wiring a Safe House

With extensive information on electrical code requirements and the principles behind them, Code Check: Electrical summarizes national and international electrical code specifications. The spiral-bound Code Check series, with durable laminated pages, is designed to be used on-site for quick reference and is endorsed by the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO).

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Code Check Electrical: A Field Guide to Wiring a Safe House

1/24/2012

Building Backyard Structures: Sheds, Barns, Bins, Gazebos & Other Outdoor Construction Review

Building Backyard Structures: Sheds, Barns, Bins, Gazebos and Other Outdoor Construction
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is the best book of this type I have seen. Separate chapters cover all the basics, such as foundations, roofing, siding, doors & windows, etc. Good hand-drawn plans and drawings and lots of pictures make it easy to visualize how to proceed. The book includes step-by-step plans on how to build 7 different structures, but it's the background "how-to" stuff that I found really helpful.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Building Backyard Structures: Sheds, Barns, Bins, Gazebos & Other Outdoor Construction

Do you need places to keep the things that make outdoor living so enjoyable? Complete instructions cover the basics of small shed building that are common to all the projects, along with tips on planning, selecting materials, and choosing a style and color that looks good, as well as technical aspects of selecting a site, dealing with grade levels, and water runoff. Construction techniques come with hundreds of photos that show exactly how to lay foundations, set up framing, put on roofing, install siding, and finish doors and windows.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Building Backyard Structures: Sheds, Barns, Bins, Gazebos & Other Outdoor Construction

11/14/2011

Cabins: A Guide to Building Your Own Nature Retreat Review

Cabins: A Guide to Building Your Own Nature Retreat
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This book is an absolutely essential guide for anyone planning to build a getaway home. It takes you, step-by-step, through the process of choosing your site, planning and designing your cabin and then building it. It includes plans, details and do-it-yourself hints on building all types of cabins: pole-frame, A-frame, timber-frame, log, stick and stone. Designs included range from Thoreau's 10'x15' cabin on Walden Pond to a big, comfortable lakeside cabin with all the extras. If you're dreaming of a little place in the country, get this book.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cabins: A Guide to Building Your Own Nature Retreat



Buy NowGet 32% OFF

Click here for more information about Cabins: A Guide to Building Your Own Nature Retreat

11/11/2011

Measuring, Marking, and Layout: A Builder's Guide Review

Measuring, Marking, and Layout: A Builder's Guide
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
If you're planning on building any of the hard parts of a house like footings, foundation, floors, walls, ceilings, roofs, stairs, masonry or shingles, you will want this book so you can figure out how to make them plumb, square, level, and evenly distributed. (I think that covers most of the carpentry sections)
He shows a few options for arriving at each layout, typically mathematically, from charts, and from pictures, so if you have trouble with one of them you can try another.
Octagons aren't very popular in my neighborhood, but if those (or other polygons) appear in yours, you'll find he has good information on them too.
I'd recommend a read through the book for suggestions when you first get it, (I did that in a long evening) and if you're a really good student you can follow along with all the examples. (I wasn't). But keep it by your side and read the chapter you need as you build. It will pay for itself in saved time and straigher work on the first job.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Measuring, Marking, and Layout: A Builder's Guide

-- Provides simple techniques for accurate measuring using a number of basic tools

Buy NowGet 34% OFF

Click here for more information about Measuring, Marking, and Layout: A Builder's Guide

10/30/2011

Building Small Barns, Sheds & Shelters Review

Building Small Barns, Sheds and Shelters
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
If you are a "do it your selfer" you need this book. In my opinion, the title is no accurate. This book contains much more than just info on how to build small buildings. It includes how to build a good fence, how to build a smoke house, how to wire a two way switch, ect. It contains everything that is not common knowledge to the common man, and it has lots of pictures. If you live on the farm and do most things yourself, this book is a required tool.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Building Small Barns, Sheds & Shelters

Covers tools, materials, foundations, framing, sheathing, wiring, plumbing, and finish work for barns, woodsheds, garages, fencing, and animal housing. 264,000 copies in print.

Buy NowGet 32% OFF

Click here for more information about Building Small Barns, Sheds & Shelters