A House Builder's Handbook Building Materials, Construction and Maintenance


Book Description

Building one's own house is a dream entertained by every person, whatever be its size or level of amenities. This book aims to serve as a guide to all those who wish to undertake house construction, in relation to architectural and structural design, selection of the right set of materials for construction, methods of construction and carrying out maintenance as a routine periodic activity. In short, the book tells the reader how much of engineering goes into every aspect of house construction which they ought to know, rather than choosing to remain blissfully ignorant of it. The topics covered include, among others, municipal requirements, engineering design and drawing, types of soils and foundations, cement, steel, timber, ceramic products, production of sound concrete, damp-proofing and water-proofing, painting, plumbing, electrical connections, earthquake resistance and retrofitting, concrete repair chemicals, corrosion inhibition in steel, repair of leakages, anti-termite treatment, rain water harvesting, Vasthu, bar chart, cost estimating, etc. The book also meets the needs of diploma and degree students in civil engineering. It also serves as a source providing the necessary background material for postgraduate students of construction management (as part of the management stream) who may not have the necessary background in civil engineering.




The Bat House Builder's Handbook


Book Description

Since 1994, this handbook has been the definitive source for bat house information. This new edition updates the original bat house plans and includes a new "rocket box" design, along with mounting suggestions, tips for experimentation, and more.







The Home Book


Book Description

Homeowner maintenance reference manual including 380 residential workmanship guidelines covering conditions and maintenance for topics including: floors and ceilings; roofs and gutters; foundations and basements; interior/exterior components; grounds; utility systems; and walls. Homeowner and builder maintenance responsibilities are stated along with the performance guideline and additional information for each topic. Green home construction is also covered.




Building Design and Construction Handbook


Book Description

Provides updated, comprehensive, and practical information and guidelines on aspects of building design and construction, including materials, methods, structural types, components, and costs, and management techniques.




Essential Building Science


Book Description

Down and dirty – a complete step-by-step guide to making, installing and living with beautiful, all-natural earthen floors Poor heat and moisture management are the enemies of durable, comfortable, and efficient housing, and good building design and construction starts with a solid understanding of good building science. Essential Building Science provides a highly visual and accessible introduction to the fundamentals of building science for residential construction. Part one covers the rationale behind high-performance design and the fundamentals of building physics, including thermal dynamics, moisture transfer, and hygro-thermal dynamics such as vapor drive and condensation. Part two teaches the vital critical thinking skills needed to consider buildings as whole systems and to develop thermal and moisture control strategies regardless of the specifics of the design. Case studies and examples from across North American climatic zones illuminate real-life problems and offer builders, designers, and DIYers the insights and tools required for creating better new buildings and dramatically improving old ones. Good science plus critical thinking equals high performance buildings.




NAHB Home Builder's Handbook


Book Description

Meant for home builders to help them streamline their work, save time, and avoid costly mistakes. Including checklists, code information and technical data, this title is aimed at those involved in the home building industry.







Customer Service for Home Builders


Book Description

"Act as if you like your customer," says customer service expert Carol Smith. She shows builders and their management staffs how to make their home buyers' experience a positive one from initial contact through warranty service. Satisfied customers aren't born that way. They're created. A successful customer service program is one of the key elements in closing sales and getting referrals. You can increase sales by developing stronger customer service goals and organizing the activities necessary to reach them. Customer Service for Home Builders explores the fundamental customer service challenges that every service-oriented company faces: - staff - quality - documentation - internal communication - policies and procedures Carol Smith examines the sequence of a builder's relationship with home buyers and shows builders how to initiate service and successfully manage customers' experiences instead of just reacting to issues customers raise. In "Daily Operations: Working with Customers," she focuses on-- - expectations - preliminaries - customers and construction - new home delivery - warranty service The book --with its forms, checklists, documents, and resources guide- provides what you need to give your customer service program new life. It includes what you need to easily institute a comprehensive customer service program. Create satisfied customers every time with Carol Smith's industry-tested guidelines.




Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction


Book Description

The most comprehensive guide to material selection & installation It takes a wise choice of building materials and details to create durable, attractive, and affordable custom homes and remodeling projects. Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction provides up-to-date, field-tested recommendations that help professionals balance cost and performance when designing and building residential projects. Steven Bliss, former editorial director of The Journal of Light Construction and founding editor of Progressive Builder, draws on his extensive knowledge as a practicing builder, designer, and construction editor to help building professionals select the right materials for every job and install them with confidence. This one-stop resource covers the real-world challenges of material selection and installation so designers, contractors, and building owners can make informed decisions for all major building components. Useful to architects, designers, and specifiers--as well as contractors, builders, and developers--Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction features: * More than 200 photos and illustrations of critical residential construction details * Installation tips and cautions that help prevent costly product failures * Descriptions of the latest composites and synthetics that are changing the way we build * Easy-to-use charts for making quick product comparisons * An authoritative guide to indoor air quality and healthy house construction