Before you drive that first nail, this is the guide you need--thousands of hints, tips, and professional tricks of the trade

Authoritative, detailed, and fully illustrated, Rules of Thumb for Home Building, Improvement, and Repair gives you all the inside information you need to make your home improvement project go faster and easier. For this all-in-one volume, do-it-yourself experts Gene and Katie Hamilton, founders of the online service HouseNet, have distilled the best professional home repair and remodeling information.

Rules of Thumb will help you avoid the costly headaches that can result from using the wrong materials, amounts, or measurements. Here in plain English are all the technical standards and specifications for lumber, fasteners and adhesives, carpentry, plumbing, electrical wiring, painting, walls, ceilings and floors, doors and windows, weatherizing and climate control, exteriors, asphalt, concrete, masonry, and more. Plus, you'll discover time-tested procedures that get you the results you want every time.

Whatever project you're about to begin, Rules of Thumb for Home Building, Improvement, and Repair is the first place to look for professional advice.

Acclaimed do-it-yourself experts Gene and Katie Hamilton are the authors of many successful books and magazine articles on remodeling and repair. In addition to their nationally syndicated newspaper column, "Do It Yourself--Or Not?" they are the creators of HouseNet, an online home improvement service on America Online (keyword: housenet) and on the Internet (www.housenet.com). They have been on the Today show, Dateline, and CNN and have been written about in Newsweek and other national publications. TheHamiltons live in Maryland.

Originally published in 1797, this was the bible of the building trade in New England during the beginning of the nineteenth century. The book was the first American-grown collection of designs published in America, and through its publication, Asher Benjamin popularized an American style of architecture. Illustrated with new and useful designs of; Frontispieces, Chimney Pieces, Tuscan, Doric, Ionie and Corinthian Orders with their Bases, Capitals and Entablatures: Architraves for Doors, Window and Chimneys: Cornices, Base and Surface Mouldings for Rooms: Doors and Sashes with their Mouldings: The Construction of Stairs with their Ramp and Twist Rails: Plan, Elevation and one section of a Meeting House with the Pulpit at Large: Plans and Elevations of Houses. The Best Method of finding the Length and backing of Hip Rafters: Also, the tracing of Groins, Angle Brackets, Circular Soffits in Circular Walls. Correctly engraved on thirty copper plates: with a printed explanation to each.

Originally published in 1909, the first part of the book covers the general sanitation of country houses, brings a comparison of life in the city and in the country from a health point of view, dwells on the advantages of country life, and gives a condensed summary of the essential requirements of healthfulness in country houses. The soil, the subsoil, surface drainage, aspect, healthful surroundings and those which are objectionable, the cellar of the house, the lighting, heating and ventilation, the water supply, sewerage and plumbing, are briefly discussed. In the second part detailed advice is given as to how to procure a satisfactory water supply. The sources of water, the various modes of raising it, the storage in reservoirs, elevated tanks or underground pressure tanks, and finally water distribution, are dwelt on at length and illustrated by actual examples from the author's engineering practice. The third part discusses the all-important question of the sewage disposal for houses not in reach of sewers. Particular attention is given to the latest development in disposal methods, to the so-called biological or bacterial purification systems, including septic tanks, cultivation tanks, contact filter beds and sprinkling or trickling filters.

Mit jedem Baufortschritt verandern sich die Gegebenheiten auf der Baustelle. Baumangel kann man dadurch spater schlecht feststellen oder nachweisen. Der Ausgang eines Bauprozesses hangt oft davon ab, welche Beweise im Einzelfall erbracht werden konnen.
Der Autor beschreibt alle wichtigen Punkte der Beweissicherung. Viele praktische Hinweise aus der langjahrigen Berufspraxis des Autors fliessen in die Ausfuhrungen ein und machen das Buch zu einem wertvollen Ratgeber.
"

Das zunehmend schwierige Branchenumfeld am Bau fordert von mittelstandischen Unternehmern vermehrt Kenntnisse in den Bereichen Recht, Betriebswirtschaft, Finanzierung, Unternehmensfuhrung in der Krise, Beschaftigung auslandischer Arbeitnehmer usw. Hat ein Unternehmer hier Wissensdefizite, kann dies schnell zu existenzgefahrdenden Schaden fur das Unternehmen fuhren. Das praxiserfahrene Autorenteam - drei Baujuristen, eine Wirtschaftsstrafrechtlerin, ein Unternehmensfuhrer eines grossen mittelstandischen deutschen Bauunternehmens, ein Bankdirektor, ein Steuerberater und ein Spezialist fur Krisenpravention - greift exemplarisch immer wiederkehrende Probleme aus dem Alltag des Bauunternehmers auf, versucht Problembewusstsein zu entwickeln und zeigt Losungswege auf. Hierdurch soll es den Verantwortlichen eines Unternehmens - vom Geschaftsfuhrer bis hin zum Bauleiter - ermoglicht werden, uberflussige Kosten und Auseinandersetzungen zu vermeiden.

This textbook comprehensively covers the mandatory units for NVQ Level 2 Trowel Occupations. Written in an accessible style with excellent illustrations throughout, Brickwork: A Practical Guide to Level 2 offers students the underpinning knowledge they need for this qualification in a highly practical way. The chapters are clearly mapped to the 2005 Magenta Scheme syllabus.

Here's knowledge you can build on
Whether you're building a storage shed or your dream house, the same principles govern choosing a site, setting the foundation, erecting the walls, and putting on the roof. This handy how-to guide has been totally revised and updated to cover new building materials and the latest techniques in construction and framing. It's where to find answers and solutions, from the first stake to the last roofing nail.
* Choose an appropriate site and lay out the structure
* Construct a foundation that meets structural needs and weather conditions
* Work with block building materials
* Understand balloon frame, post-and-beam, and platform frame construction
* Calculate rafter length and choose the right roofing materials
* Install skylights, cornices, doors, windows, and various types of siding

What's the best way to study?
The best guarantee of exam success is to know the material and be prepared for the questions you're likely to encounter. This book provides hundreds of questions and answers to help you review, tips for more productive studying, advice on how to approach the exam, a valuable chapter that outlines state licensing requirements for apprentice, journeyman, master, and inspector, and more-all designed to help you face the license exam with confidence.
* Study plumbing drawings, material takeoff pro-cedures, and typical system layouts
* Check your knowledge of plumbing mathematics
* Understand what plumbing installation inspections involve
* Become familiar with regulations for both the uniform and international codes
* Review residential trailer plumbing standards and private sewage treatment facilities
* Refresh your understanding of steam and hot water heating procedures
* Study the specific licensing requirements for your state and your experience level

Many plumbers work hard their whole lives without making the profit that they deserve. Most have never had any real training in how to deal with customers or how to sell products to make a better profit. Many millions of dollars in lost opportunity goes unearned each year because plumbers simply don't know how to spot these opportunities and meet their customers needs to make all of that extra money. This book will give you the skills you need to make much more money starting on your very next job! Whether you work for someone else or are in business for yourself, you will learn how to make more money for your pocket while growing a better customer base that will keep you working and making great profits even when times get tough and others are out of work. The techniques, tactics and skills that you need are all right here in this book. Start here and start putting much more money in your pocket without working any harder than you already are.

Packed with 200 illustrations!

A PRACTICAL, ONE-STEP RESOURCE FOR WORKING WITH WATER WELLS AND SEPTIC SYSTEMS.

Each year, thousands upon thousands of Americans install water wells and septic systems on their properties. But with a maze of codes governing their use—along with a host of design requirements that ensure their functionality—where can someone turn for comprehensive, one-stop guidance? Enter the Water Wells and Septic Systems Handbook from McGraw-Hill.

Written in language any property owner can understand—yet detailed enough for professionals and technical students—this easy-to-use volume delivers the latest techniques and code requirements for designing, building, rehabilitating, and maintaining private water wells and septic systems. Bolstered by a wealth of informative charts, tables, and illustrations, this book delivers:

* Current construction, maintenance, and repair methods

* New International Private Sewage Disposal Code

* Up-to-date standards from the American Water Works Association

* And much, much more!

So, no matter if you’re a plumber, a driller, or a utility company professional, Water Wells and Septic Systems Handbook is the one resource you need to ensure your next job’s success!

This book presents the select proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure Development: Innovations and Advances (SIDIA 2020). The book addresses the issues of optimal resource allocation and utilization, construction cost minimization, budget optimization for infrastructure development in hilly terrain as well as plains, to ensure quality and safety with minimal environmental impact. The topics covered include planning, design and construction of sustainable infrastructure projects, policy and practices to be considered for the comprehensive development which is socially inclusive specifically in developing nations, transportation engineering and management which is performance-based and emerging economical models for partnerships, environment engineering and management for ascertaining the best methods for environmental impacts assessment to capture the true indirect costs of a infrastructure project, geotechnical and water resource engineering using new developments, and utilizing the various technological impacts for ensuring disaster preparedness of any region. This book can prove to be useful for beginners, researchers, and professionals interested in the latest advances and innovations in sustainable infrastructure development.

A must read for anyone thinking of a new home LEARN A CERTIFIED BUILDER'S SECRETS Avoid costly mistakes Reduce frustration Make smart purchases Increase your home appraisal For the small price of a book you can empower yourself to succeed

Originally published in 1910, this unusual book is about making furniture by hand using old boxes and crates. From the author's preface: "Two summers on the island of Spitzbergen taught me, more than all previous experiments, the latent possibilities of a box. Our camp was located seven hundred miles north of the Arctic Circle; Hammerfest, Norway, 535 miles to the southeast, was the nearest point from which supplies could be obtained. Ice and snow cut off the settlement from the outside world for eight months of the year. The provisions and other equipment necessary for the camp of eighty miners and workmen had to be carried in boxes on the ships that came from the mainland during the four summer months. When the portable house which was to be the home of the manager, his wife, and myself as their guest, had been put up and the supplies unpacked, the boxes began to accumulate. ... No lumber was available in Spitzbergen. ... cut off from materials the possibilities of the box seemed greater than ever, and the work, which daily grew in interest, commenced. As I worked in that far-off marvelous land of continuous day, surrounded by mountains and glaciers, I felt anew the truth, so familiar to all, that work to be of real value must be honest, useful, and beautiful..." With instructions on how to make 100 different items of useful furniture from boxes and cargo crates; including jardiniere, plant box, footstool, clock case, wall rack, washstand, bookcases, desk, game table, umbrella stand, nursery table, picture frames, corner seats, etc. etc.

Obwohl die sichere Planung und Ermittlung von Baukosten den betriebswirtschaftlichen Erfolg eines Bauunternehmens ausmachen, ist die Vermittlung der Thematik Baukalkulation in der Lehre oft unzureichend und wenig praxisbezogen. Dieses Lehrbuch moechte die vorhandene Lucke schliessen und die Studierenden einerseits mit den Grundlagen der Projektkalkulation im Bauwesen vertraut machen und auf der anderen Seite mit Projektbeispielen den Bruckenschlag in die praktische Anwendung und in das spatere Berufsleben herstellen. Die Studierenden erhalten einen UEberblick uber die Gesamtheit der Projektkalkulation im Bauwesen. Es werden alle Phasen der Kalkulation eines Bauprojektes anhand von gewahlten Beispielen dargestellt und erlautert.

An absolute must for contractors and trades people from all the construction trades, this is the only quick-access reference that covers--in one handy, portable volume--every aspect of construction and remodeling, from foundations to roof systems. Full of tables, easy-to-use formulae, and charts, the book serves as an essential, at-a-glance data guide that puts everything readers need to know right at their fingertips. It is organized into 30 chapters--each giving insight into a particular topic--and includes a separate chapter devoted to terms and abbreviations commonly encountered in construction.

Instant answers to any construction-related math question. In the office or out in the field, Mastering Math for the Building Trades, by James Gerhart gives you a perfect tool for accurately performing the calculations required in all the major building trades. Down-to-earth explanations, easy-to-memorize tips and tricks of the trade, worked examples, illustrations and tables make everyday number crunching easier, giving you the step-by-step help you need to complete estimates, meet deadlines, and satisfy new customers. Whether youre an old pro or apprentice...contractor, tradesperson or supplier...whether youre building, repairing, or remodeling...youll find ready answers for: grading and excavating; concrete and other masonry work; septic systems; fluid mechanics; metal framing; engineered beams; fiber optic cabling; estimating software; floor framing and covering; roofing; finishing interiors; heating and cooling; plumbing; electrical; more!

The only all-inclusive, accessible reference for all aspects of building with masonry and concrete for residential purposes - ideal for residential builders, contractors, remodelers, and other professionals

Part of the Complete Construction Series, this design-it, specify-it, and build-it source aids decision-making and construction performance by illustrating and explaining the function and behavior of each material

Provides problem-avoiding insights into installation, construction, storage, and cleaning techniques - filled with tables, graphs, and over 100 illustrations

Out of all the books on Egypt, this one reveals much of the highly detailed methods the Egyptians used in building their stone constructions.

We often marvel at the incredible structures they built, not knowing exactly how it was done. The Great Pyramid's construction still remains a mystery to many people as far as the lifting of the stones to such great heights is concerned. To this day interesting theories abound, but no absolute proof, or a recreation of the true methods used, have ever been demonstrated. The authors openly state that their explanation of the Great Pyramid's construction is not the final answer and that many mysteries still remain, yet do a fascinating job in detailing how the huge stones were dressed and laid out.

Even though the ancient Egyptians did not have high speed drills, they still had used drills that were adequate enough to do such absolutely perfect work -- as depicted in a 5th Dynasty temple in Abusir (found later in the book). Many mysteries are cleared up in this incredibly detailed book, which includes over 250 sketches and pictures that back up the author's claims.

Any serious researcher into ancient Egyptian structures should not be without this book. It seems at first glance that many of the incredible monuments of Egypt were built and raised almost by magic. The structures are absolutely awe-inspiring, but the authors strip away much of the "magic" to reveal how hard work, creative ingenuity, and an advanced knowledge of mathematics and physics account for some of the amazing architectural feats performed in early Egypt. At the same time, when a mystery still remains for the authors, they do not hesitate in admitting it.

Builder's Guide to Cosmetic Remodeling is packed with creative, cost-effective ideas that can make even older homes look like a million bucks, without expensive structural changes. It covers everything from disguising an ugly foundation to giving a new look to the roof line - and every room in between. You'll find information on new and most-requested finishing and cosmetic techniques - and how you can cash in on them; refacing and refinishing techniques that provide an affordable alternative to high-cost replacement; case histories from the author's own experience - some amusing, some illustrating the real risks that contractors need to avoid; and a room-by-room analysis of the options open to you, plus basics like HVAC modifications and electrical options. For any contractor or home remodeler looking to expand business, or any do-it-yourselfer looking for affordable alternatives, the Builder's Guide to Cosmetic Remodeling is a must-have resource.