Reviews (5)

very good all-around reference
I primarily work as a structural-architectural engineer and am becoming more and more involved in civil-site work.This handbook is exactly what I was looking for in terms of something that would quickly get me "up to speed" in the fundamentals of civil-site design. Difficult to follow!
I am in a class at Community College of Baltimore Countyand we are using this book at this time. Our whole class along with the Professor find this book to be very difficult to follow. The book constantly repeats itself making it extremely boring to read and is not fluent at all. They have examples that reference charts that are 3-5 pages apart from the problem being discussed the formulas you almost have to figure out for yourself how they are used and there are alot of typos. A Must Have Pub
Ever since I purchased this publication I can't stop using it.Every civil engineer should have this as part of their reference library, regardless of your area of specialty.It providesmacro to micro scale explanations of general processes, design applications, etc in a very readable format.More times than I can remember I have looked to this book for an answer or at least for some guidance and was throuroughly satisfied.No it is not a definitive reference for civil engineers but its' breadth and usability overshadows any technical shortcomings.If I had to have just one reference book for my area of practice (general civil), this would be it.Yeah, yeah, the "Standard Handbook for Civil Engineers" is a more definitive reference, but I usually find out what I need in this pub.Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Building Sites    3. Construction - General    4. Engineering - Civil    5. Engineering geology    6. Handbooks, manuals, etc    7. Land Use    8. Land Utilization    9. Law    10. Planning    11. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    12. Real estate development    13. Remodeling & Renovation - General    14. Science/Mathematics    15. Surveying    16. Architecture / Planning    17. Civil Engineering, Surveying & Building    18. Property & real estate   

Reviews (18)

Excellent resource when researching builders
I purchased this book as part of my research during escrow on a lot where we plan to build a vacation/retirement home.Even though we would likely not serve as general contractor the information inside is invaluable.It has helped me to understand the right questions to ask during escrow (from surveyors to septic to view to laterals) to ensure the lot, county and sub-division will allow the home we envision.The chapters on foundation, windows, doors, etc are all extremely helpful when it gets down to desiging the home.I'll know what to look out for with the interior and exterior design, drainage and when dealing with the builder.
Great book!
Covering all of the main topics, this book on homebuilding is a must have for any person intent on building his or her dream home.I keep it with me all of the time for easy referral.

Voice of experience--good advice
The best part of this book is its easygoing style. Written seemingly entirely from memory, you'll understand and remember every word. The author skips the commonly available info and writes about the crucial nuts-and-bolts problems of building a house: what do you do if you've drilled a hundred foot well and come up dry? (Keep drilling.) His advice on some details, vapor barriers for example, is OK but you'll want to check the latest thinking on the topic too. Some harmless misinformation is passed along, like that Palladio, eponym for those short-tall-short windows, "invented" them. (He may have invented residential architecture, but those windows date to antiquity. In his day they were known as serliana, after the architect Sebastiano Serlio.) The scientific explanations fall a bit short, and the chapter where he disparages Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's engineering does not show him in a good light. However he does caution you that drywallers, more than any other trade, will try to rip you off with a high materials estimate. Stuff like that you can't get anywhere else. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Construction - Contracting    3. Construction - General    4. Contractors    5. Design & Construction    6. Do-It-Yourself    7. Do-It-Yourself - General    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. House construction    10. Selection and appointment    11. Technology    12. Amateur's manuals    13. Architecture, Domestic    14. Building    15. Design and construction    16. Dwellings    17. Houses    18. Subcontracting    19. Superintendence   

Reviews (10)

Excellent Guide to the Codes.
Being an architecture student, this book, and others by Frank Ching, are more than helpful. It really clarifies the IBC and makes design for studio projects go a lot quicker. Definitely get this book if you're studying architecture.

Building Codes Illustrated: A Guide to Understanding the International Building Code
Francis Ching provides high quality, easy to understand, graphic illustrations of building code regulations. The chapters are well organized for checking construction documents for code compliance.

Not Current
Warning, this book i smeant to go with the IRC(2000) revision, not the current IRC(2003). The information is still good, but you'll have fun trying to cross-reference sections to the 2003 version of the IRC. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Building Codes    3. Buildings    4. Construction - General    5. Design & Drafting    6. Project Management    7. Reference    8. Specifications    9. Standards, Engineering    10. Architectural structure & design    11. Architecture / Design & Drafting    12. Building construction & materials    13. Financial, taxation, commercial, industrial law    14. USA   

Reviews (3)

Not a basic wiring guide
This is THE guide book for electricians and engineers. Almost 700 pages of useful information. The layout, tables, and ease of understanding have all improved over past editions. But this is not a basic wiring guide and it will only frustrate those without some electrical background. If you need to meet code - you need this book.

National Electrical Code 2002
this book is very helpfull with getting the job done A+++++ book

easy to understand
Book contain useful topics, easy to understand, clear picture, helpful for practical work and passing exam. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Construction - Electrical    3. Electric engineering    4. Electric wiring    5. Engineering - Electrical & Electronic    6. Insurance requirements    7. Law and legislation    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Technical & Manufacturing Trades    10. Technology    11. Technology & Industrial Arts    12. United States    13. Electrical engineering    14. Reference works    15. Technology / Technical & Manufacturing Industries & Trades   

Reviews (12)

If you have the time, you will save money
If you have the time to be your own general contractor, you will save money on your house construction, according to author Smith. This is true; I know two people at least, maybe more, who built their own house in a pricey market and got better results for a lot less. But...they had the time to be a full-time or nearly full-time general contractor.
All the tricks of the trade in one book!
A step by step plan to constructing and saving on your dream home.This book helps to make your dream home even better, by saving money you can put more into it!We can't wait to start our project, and use this book as our guide!!!

Great Motivator
This book was an easy read and really motivated us to contract our home on our own.Has some great suggestions on saving money and planning a home build.Read it before you get too far on your project.Very enlightening. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction - Contracting    2. Design & Construction    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home / Design & Construction    6. House & Home / Remodeling & Renovation    7. Technology    8. Building    9. Building construction & materials    10. Construction    11. House    12. House & Home    13. Housing & property for the individual    14. Remodeling & Renovation   

Subjects:  1. Building Construction    2. Construction    3. Construction - General    4. Construction contracts    5. Engineering - Civil    6. Engineering Construction Management    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Taxation    9. Technology    10. Technology & Industrial Arts    11. United States    12. Construction industry    13. Contract law    14. Law / Construction    15. USA   

Reviews (3)

The IBC more than just another building code
The IBC is the long-time-coming consolidation of the three major building codes in the US and there is nothing "international" about it.Back in the 70's the 3 code organizations formed BOCA and put out a 1 & 2 family dwelling code. The 3 members them gradually made changes to the individual building codes that brought them into similar formats, then they combined them into one code in 2000, the IBC, and modified the dwelling code to be the IRC (Int. Residential Code)and changed the organization's name to the ICC, the Int. Code Council. There little to review about the content since it is either the law in your area or it is not.For comparisons to previous codes and other information try the ICC's website http://www.iccsafe.org/

A Strucural Engineer's Necessity
It is pretty difficult to review a specification that you must have.

49 states are now adopting this Code
Better learn this code.Local codes are being swept away by one standard.Here is Colorado each town had its own test, amendments and licensing system.California is the only state, having revamped its code 2 years ago, to keep its system.Read more

Subjects:  1. Building laws    2. Construction - General    3. Directories    4. Legal Reference / Law Profession    5. Military    6. Reference    7. Technical & Manufacturing Trades    8. Technology / Technical & Manufacturing Industries & Trades   

Subjects:  1. Architectural contracts    2. Construction    3. Construction contracts    4. Engineering contracts    5. Handbooks & Manuals    6. Legal Reference / Law Profession    7. Reference    8. United States   

Reviews (12)

Excellent
I read and re-read this book then handed it over to my sales and marketing manager.A MUST for a faux business owner.

Thank Heaven for Rebecca Pittman
This book gave me everything I need to start my own faux painting business, including confidence!Thank you Rebecca for the insight, the humor and the weekly accounting ledger located in the back.Great, superb, and HIGHLY recommended.

excellent
starting out as a muralist, and i bought the book before i landed my first job. i found it amazing how DETAILED and ENTERTAINING this book was. i knew nothing about how to start being in this business, and this book served as a complete guide. as i was reading it i thought that there were suggestions what i would never never need in life, BUT !!! boy, was i wrong. every word this book has in it is worth the pennies you pay. if you are startin out and have no clue how to manage your own business, this is a must for you!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Careers - Arts    2. Construction - Contracting    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Decorating    5. House painting    6. Interior Design - General    7. Interior decoration firms    8. Management    9. Small business    10. Technology    11. Texture painting    12. Advice on careers & achieving success    13. Fresco   

Reviews (21)

The Complete Guide to Contracting Your Home
Book has many outmoded products and procedures. Needs updating.

complete guide to contracting your own home
Great guide book seem to cover everthing,worth the money

Very specific information on limited areas
I used it to write specification to give to contractors so we can get bids. The specs are detailed but I still added lots of my own stuff to customize it for my needs.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Building    3. Building Construction    4. Construction - Contracting    5. Construction - General    6. Contractors    7. General    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. House construction    10. Science/Mathematics    11. Selection and appointment    12. Superintendence    13. Technology    14. Food & Drink / Cookery   

Subjects:  1. Careers - General    2. Construction contracts    3. Construction industry    4. General    5. Law    6. Law and legislation    7. Legal Reference / Law Profession    8. Taxation    9. United States    10. Business & Economics / Careers   

Reviews (9)

A waste of money
Elementary discussion of land development.Lacks detail and interest.
Nothing New Here
Lets face it......if you know anything at all about developing land, the absolute critical item is actually finding a piece of property that makes sense to wast time pursuing. I bought this book hoping to find some insight into ways of "finding" that elusive "good fit" property that maybe I have not thought of. Nothing new here, just some odball potential sources of finding property that just waste your time

Intro to development that could be half as long
A fairly useful overview that describes the issues a developer has to address, but not much about how to address them.For some reason the author tends to repeat himself.He says something and then restates it.He makes the same point twice.Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Gardening    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Landscape    5. Real Estate - Investments    6. Real estate development    7. Real estate investment    8. Residential real estate    9. Entrepreneurship    10. Management of real estate, property & plant    11. Property & real estate    12. Technology / Construction / Contracting   

Reviews (3)

Codes are Fun!
Could studying building codes actually be fun?Much to my surprise, when you combine this book with the companion study guide workbook it is.The author presents the information on the codes clearly and in logical order.I am studying for my NCIDQ exam and was really nervous about the "codes questions" until I got this book.

The Codes Guidebook for Interiors- professional peer review
I own each of the 3 editions of this book, and have found the information to be a well source of sound, practical advise concerning the application of codes as they relate to interior projects. I am an Interior Designer and I refer to my copy of Codes Guidebook for Interiors regularly for projects I am involved in. This book and the companion study guide are part of the recommended resources for studying and preparing for the NCIDQ examination. I believe this book should be a part of every commercial practitioners library, whether they be an architect or interior designer.

Informative
The Codes Guidebook for Interiors is a simple, straight forward guide to understanding how building codes regulate design.The guidebook builds a chapter by chapter systematic approach to code research and applicationthat can be followed by every practictioner regardless of building locale. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Building Codes    3. Building laws    4. Buildings    5. Construction - General    6. Interior Design    7. Interior Design - General    8. Interior Design - Professional Reference    9. Interior architecture    10. Reference    11. Specifications    12. United States    13. Architecture / Interior Design    14. Building construction & materials   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. General    4. Interpretation and constructio    5. Interpretation and construction    6. Judicial opinions    7. Legal Profession    8. Legal Reference / Law Profession    9. Legal Writing    10. Legal composition    11. Legal research    12. Research    13. United States    14. Business & Economics / General    15. Legal skills & practice    16. Writing & editing guides   

Reviews (1)

Comprehensive, Useable, and Readable
The book was a long read and made some challenging conclusions but provided me with specific, valuable knowledge in serious construction scheduling topics such as extension of time claims and time impact analysis.The examples included are many as are the case studies.The book opened my mind as to the significant capability the construction schedule can have on making or breaking the profitablility of a compressed project or one that is prone to delays.The book is a must read for consultants on the matter but also important to senior project controls staff. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Construction contracts    3. Construction industry    4. Contracts    5. Law    6. Law and legislation    7. Legal Reference / Law Profession    8. Production scheduling    9. United States   

Reviews (1)

An excellent guide for a construction engineer
This book have excellents concepts about the construction industry. I found a lot of examples like cost control systems, construction codes, change orders and budgets. The most important thing is how the book tide all this concepts and give you an idea of the entire situation ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction industry    2. Engineering - Civil    3. Law and legislation    4. Management    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Technology    7. Technology & Industrial Arts    8. United States    9. Civil Engineering, Surveying & Building    10. Technology / Engineering / Civil   

Reviews (3)

An overview ith the details
This book breaks it all down. Time management, budgeting, deaking with staff and technical issues. For those in the field already, its a refresher and a confirmation of what you're doing. For those new to the field, it can serve as an operations manual for guidance. Appendix B that describes the job description is invaluable.

Practical techniques
This book has the basic knowlegde tha every CM must know, its easy to read, and it give you a better and required professional overview of construccion projects.

An essential book for project managers
Easy and comprehensible step by step guide to project management, very helpful for both experienced and entry level project management engineers ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business/Economics    2. Construction    3. Construction - General    4. Construction Management    5. Construction industry    6. Engineering - Civil    7. Law    8. Management    9. Project Management    10. Technology & Industrial Arts    11. Building construction & materials    12. Law / Construction   

Reviews (5)

Handbook of Construction Contracting: Estimating, Bidding, Scheduling, Vol. 2
Good Book with Clear Illustration of Estimation & Bidding for Residential Projects

A Seasoned Veteran
When I started contracting nearly 30 years ago this book was quite useful in moving me from trades person to business person, the required move to be successful. It's still here and just as good for introducing the basics of construction contracting.

A must for construction specialists and tradesmen
This is vol 1 of a 2-vol work that takes the guess work out of estimating,designing, and planning a construction project. Whether building as atradesman or contractor--or even as someonesuch as a homeowner wishing tocontract the building of his house, this book is a must. I have been in theconstruction business for years and these two books are a must in my officeand in my truck. I require all my key personnel to study them, a policythat saves money, time, and eliminates guesswork. On a scale of 1-10, Irate both a 10! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Building    2. Building Construction    3. Building Construction Costs    4. Construction - Contracting    5. Estimates    6. General    7. Handbooks & Manuals    8. Handbooks, manuals, etc    9. Home Improvement / Construction    10. House construction    11. Science/Mathematics    12. Technology   

Reviews (2)

Good book for understanding US Law and preparing Law School
I am from South Korea and now living in Indiana, USA. This book has been Affirmative Action chapters worth the price of book
In the shadow of the upcoming Supreme Court decision concerning affirmative action, I wanted to do some research on the issue. This books treatment is excellant. There are detailed articles about the Bakke and Hopwood cases. There's a summary of the Harvard's affirmitive action policy which was praised by the Supreme Court in the Bakke case as an excellant policy. An article opposing all civil rights laws followed by an artcile that justifies affirmative action are both thought provoking. There is also an intersting article about various ways to look at equality and fairness in treating your children in different situations.Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Interpretation and construction    3. Law    4. Legal System    5. Philosophy    6. United States    7. Philosophy / General   

Reviews (2)

Construction Contracting: A Practical Guide to Company Management , 7th Edition
Valueable & Worst for gaining Contractual Knowledge

Construction Classic !
This book is a legendary classic in the field of general construction and is a must for personnel involved in construction management, general contracting and professional consulting.It covers all aspects ofconstruction from company organization, estimating, field procedures, costcontrol, changes, punchlist, claims, labor relations and safety.Theappendix contains reference standard documents and contract boilerplatefrom the AIA, AGC and others.It would take 20 years of work in theconstruction field to obtain the knowledge that this book can help toprovide.This text is a must for all construction professionals. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction - Contracting    2. Construction industry    3. Engineering - Civil    4. Management    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Subcontracting    7. Technology    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Civil Engineering, Surveying & Building    10. Technology / Engineering / Civil