The Complete Idiot's Guide to Building your Own Home, 2E,9781592573141

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Building your Own Home, 2E

by
Edition: 2nd
ISBN13: 9781592573141
ISBN10: 1592573142
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 2005-01-04
Publisher(s): DK Publishing, Inc.
Upgraded Edition: Click here!
List Price: $21.56

Rent Book

Select for Price
Add to Cart
There was a problem. Please try again later.

New Book

We're Sorry
Sold Out

Used Book

We're Sorry
Sold Out

eBook

We're Sorry
Not Available

Buy from our Marketplace starting at $6.59

How Marketplace Works:

  • This item is offered by an independent seller and not shipped from our warehouse
  • Item details like edition and cover design may differ from our description; see seller's comments before ordering.
  • Sellers much confirm and ship within two business days; otherwise, the order will be cancelled and refunded.
  • Marketplace purchases cannot be returned to eCampus.com. Contact the seller directly for inquiries; if no response within two days, contact customer service.
  • Additional shipping costs apply to Marketplace purchases. Review shipping costs at checkout.

Summary

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Building Your Own Home, Second Edition, is a clear, concise, up-to-date guide on every aspect of home building. It answers every question readers have about building their own residence-and a few questions they may not have considered.

Author Biography

Dan Ramsey is a general contractor and the author of more than 20 books for homebuilders and buyers, including the first edition of The Complete Idiot-'s Guide to Building Your Own Home, The Complete Idiot-'s Guide to Finishing Your Basement Illustrated, and The Complete Idiot-'s Guide to Remodeling Your Bathroom Illustrated. His other books include builder-'s construction guides, contractor business guides, kit home construction, and homeowner remodeling and repair books.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Me, Build a Home?
1(38)
Nailing the Real World of Housing
3(8)
The Truth Will Set You Free!
3(2)
Why Build Your Own Home?
5(1)
Saving Money
5(1)
Bragging Rights
5(1)
Personalizing Your Home
5(1)
Building a Unique Home
6(1)
You Can Build Your Own Home
6(1)
What Do You Want?
7(1)
Do You Have the Money?
8(1)
Surviving the Process
9(2)
Sticks and Stones: How Homes Are Built
11(12)
Rolling Out the Plans
11(2)
Who's the Boss? General Contractor
13(1)
The Unseen Lender
13(1)
Ready: Site Prep and Foundation
14(1)
Set: Subfloor and Framing
15(2)
Go!: Exterior and Barriers
17(2)
Utilities
19(1)
Interior Finish
19(1)
Final Inspections
20(1)
Final Touches: The Yard
20(3)
Exploring Your Housing Options
23(8)
Stick-Built: Conventional Housing Construction
23(1)
Lots of Options: Nonconventional Housing
24(2)
Off-Site Built Homes
26(4)
Big Erector Sets: Precut Kit Housing
27(1)
One from Column A: Panelized Housing
28(1)
By the Slice: Modular Housing
28(2)
Selecting the Best Housing Option
30(1)
Who Wants to Be a Thousandaire?: Home Savings
31(8)
What's in Your Wallet?: Estimating Costs
31(1)
Money-Saving Strategies
32(2)
Add It Later
32(1)
Cut Corners
33(1)
Don't Change Your Mind
33(1)
Forego the Basement
33(1)
Build Up, Not Out
33(1)
Keep the Driveway Short
33(1)
Keep Down the Amount of Trim
34(1)
Even More Ways to Save Money
34(1)
Saving on Contractors
34(1)
Saving on Suppliers
35(1)
Architects
35(1)
Real Estate Agents
35(1)
Materials Suppliers
36(1)
Other Services
36(1)
Computers and Software Programs
36(1)
Add It Up: Estimating Software
37(1)
Write a Check: Money Software
37(1)
Browsing the Internet
37(1)
Are You Insured?
37(2)
Part 2: Designing and Paying for Your Home
39(56)
How Many Bedrooms?: Designing Your Own Home
41(12)
Getting Ideas
41(1)
Get Lost!
42(1)
Make a New Plan, Stan
42(1)
Don't Leave Home
42(1)
Say, Home Book!
42(1)
Assessing Needs and Wants
42(3)
Visualize the Plan
44(1)
Living Inside the Box
44(1)
Who Did Your Decorating?
45(1)
Life Is Compromise
45(1)
Gimme Some Space, Man!
45(1)
Uh, Anything Else?
46(1)
Don't Stop Thinkin' About Tomorrow
46(1)
Making Rough Plans
46(1)
Sketching by Function
47(1)
Sizing Functions
47(1)
Architects Do It by Design
47(1)
House #12940267: Using Stock Plan Services
48(1)
Volunteering for a Drafting Service
48(3)
Using Design and Plan Software
49(2)
Analyze This!
51(2)
Making Your Home Energy Efficient
53(8)
Back to the Drawing Board: Designing for Efficiency
53(1)
Understanding Heating and Cooling Systems
54(3)
Turn Up the Heat: Heating Systems
55(1)
Baby, It's Cold Inside: Cooling Systems
55(1)
HVAC for Owner-Builders
55(1)
Old-Fashioned Heat: Fireplaces
55(1)
Natural Heating and Cooling
56(1)
Let's Get Active: Solar Heating and Cooling
56(1)
Choosing the Best HVAC System
56(1)
Saving Energy with Smart Materials
57(2)
Blankets and Batts, Oh My!: Flexible Insulation
57(1)
Getting Loose: Fill Insulation
58(1)
Bouncing the Heat: Reflective Insulation
58(1)
By-the-Sheet: Rigid Insulation
58(1)
Other Insulating Stuff
58(1)
Choosing the Best Insulation
59(1)
Using the Latest Ideas
59(2)
Where to Live: Choosing a Location
61(8)
Where Do You Want to Live?
61(1)
Considering Your Location Options
62(1)
Summer in the City
62(1)
Moving to the 'Burbs
62(1)
Goin' to the Country
63(1)
What Are You Moving Into?
63(1)
I'm Your New Neighbor!
64(3)
Zoning Issues
65(1)
Covenants Are Our Friends
65(1)
Architectural Review Board
66(1)
I'm Okay, You're Okay: Making Compromises
67(2)
Selecting a Building Site
69(8)
Where, Oh Where?
69(1)
Is the Lot Buildable? And Other Burning Questions
70(2)
What's It Cost to Build Here?
72(1)
Fair Market Price
72(2)
Plunking Down the Money
74(1)
What Happens Now?
74(3)
Wallet Blues: Estimating Construction Costs
77(10)
How Much Is That Shanty with a Window?
77(1)
Making a List, Checking It Twice
78(1)
You Can Quote Me!
79(3)
Digging In to Excavation
80(1)
A Good Foundation
80(1)
You're Being Framed
81(1)
On the Side
81(1)
Walls and Ceilings
81(1)
Finishing Up
81(1)
Other Stuff
82(1)
What Am I to Bid?
82(1)
Scheduling for Success
82(1)
The Right Tools
83(4)
Financing Your New Home
87(8)
Anything to Declare? Assets and Liabilities
87(2)
Selling Your House
88(1)
Selling Other Valuable Stuff
89(1)
Understanding Lenders
89(1)
How Loans Are Processed
90(2)
Negotiating the Best Loan
92(1)
That's a Wrap!
93(2)
Part 3: Hiring Some Help
95(36)
Codes, Permits, and Legal Stuff
97(6)
Deciphering Codes
97(1)
Getting Your Building Permits
98(2)
The Legal Side of Building
100(3)
Signing Contracts
100(1)
Good Deeds
101(1)
What's a Mechanics Lien?
101(1)
Changing Your Mind
102(1)
Hiring a Contractor
103(8)
What Does It Take to Be a GC?
103(2)
Picking Your Partner
105(1)
Calling for Bids
106(1)
Getting Your GC to Work Hard for You
107(1)
Your Relationship with the GC
108(1)
Builder Beware
109(2)
Being Your Own Contractor
111(6)
Can You Really Be Your Own GC?
111(2)
Understanding the Contractor's Job
112(1)
Considering All Your Options
112(1)
Do You Really Want to Do This?
113(1)
Working With Inspectors
114(1)
Getting Adequate Insurance Coverage
115(2)
Builder's Risk Insurance
115(1)
General Liability Insurance
115(1)
Worker's Compensation Insurance
115(2)
Hiring Subcontractors and Laborers
117(8)
Hiring the Best and the Brightest
117(3)
Grading Contractor
117(1)
Foundation Contractor
118(1)
Plumbing Contractor
118(1)
Electrical Contractor
118(1)
Framing Contractor
119(1)
Roofing Contractor
119(1)
Drywall Contractor
119(1)
Flooring Contractor
119(1)
Painting Contractor
119(1)
Mechanical Contractor
119(1)
Other Contractors
120(1)
Making Sure Your Contractor Is Licensed
120(1)
Finding Qualified Contractors
120(1)
Motivating Your Contractors to Do Their Best
121(1)
Managing Contractors Day to Day
121(1)
Hiring Good Laborers
122(3)
Two-Off-Ten: Hiring Suppliers
125(6)
What Suppliers Do You Need?
125(1)
Drafting a Good Architect
126(1)
Calculating a Qualified Engineer
127(1)
Hiring a Materials Supplier
127(1)
Keeping Your Suppliers Working Hard
128(3)
Part 4: Constructing Your Home
131(122)
What Goes Where?: Planning Construction
133(8)
Plan Hard, Work Easy
133(2)
So What Could Go Wrong?
134(1)
Documenting Construction
135(1)
Contact!
135(1)
Murphy, the Contractor
135(1)
Murphy, the Sub
136(1)
Murphy, the Inspector
137(1)
Murphy, the Supplier
138(1)
Murphy, the Lender
138(1)
Job Site Rules
139(2)
On Your Mark: Site Preparation
141(8)
Safety
141(1)
Storing Materials
142(1)
Surveying
143(2)
Clearing
145(1)
Locating Structures
145(1)
Planning for Utilities
146(1)
Site Prep Resources
147(2)
Excavation and Foundation
149(10)
Excavating for the Foundation
149(1)
Laying Out the Foundation
150(1)
Framing the Foundation
151(1)
Mixing Concrete
152(1)
Pouring Concrete
153(1)
Building Block Walls
153(1)
Installing Piers
154(1)
Making the Connection
154(1)
Installing Good Drainage
155(1)
Excavating for Septic Systems
155(1)
Excavation and Foundation Resources
156(3)
Floors and Decks
159(8)
Floor Materials
159(1)
Installing Sills
160(1)
Installing Underfloor Buildup
161(1)
Installing Girders
161(1)
Installing Joists and Bridging
162(2)
Installing Subflooring
164(1)
Second Floor
164(1)
Framing Decks, Garages, and Outbuildings
164(1)
Flooring and Deck Resources
165(2)
Taking Shape: Framing
167(10)
Framing Materials
167(1)
Framing Walls
168(2)
Framing Doors and Windows
170(1)
Special Framing Considerations
171(1)
Framing Roofs
171(3)
Framing Stairs
174(1)
Post-and-Beam Framing
174(1)
Framing Garages and Outbuildings
175(1)
Framing Resources
175(2)
Closure Is Good: Exterior
177(8)
Exterior Materials
177(1)
Installing Wood Siding
178(1)
Installing Masonry Veneer
179(1)
Roofing
180(1)
Cornice and Soffits
181(1)
Installing Gutters
182(1)
Painting Your Home's Exterior
183(1)
Exterior Resources
184(1)
Power to the People: Services
185(10)
Checking the Master Service Plan
185(2)
Selecting Utility Materials
187(2)
Electrical Materials
187(1)
Plumbing Materials
188(1)
Other Service Materials
188(1)
Installing Electrical Service, Lighting, Appliances
189(1)
Installing Plumbing and Related Services
190(2)
Installing HVAC Systems
192(1)
Installing Other Systems
192(1)
Service Resources
193(2)
Somebody Get the Door: Interior
195(8)
Selecting Materials for the Inside
195(2)
Insulating Your Home
197(1)
Installing Drywall and Plaster
198(1)
Installing Doors, Windows, and Trim
199(2)
Installing Finish Flooring
201(1)
Installing Cabinetry and Countertops
202(1)
Interior Resources
202(1)
Decorating Finishing Touches
203(10)
Making Your House a Home
203(1)
Beautifying with Trim
204(1)
Painting the Interior
205(2)
Adding Lighting
207(2)
Installing Appliances
209(1)
Selecting Furniture
209(1)
Adding the Finishing Touches
210(1)
Decorating Resources
210(3)
Ready for Occupancy
213(6)
Getting Inspected
213(2)
Cleaning Up the Place
215(1)
Getting the Occupancy Permit
215(1)
Ordering Utility Services
216(1)
Walking Through One More Time
216(1)
Preparing to Move In
216(1)
Occupancy Resources
217(2)
Outdoor Options
219(34)
Planning Your Home's Landscaping
219(1)
Selecting Outdoor Materials
220(1)
Landscaping Your New Home
220(1)
Building Good Fences
221(1)
Expanding Your Home with a Deck
222(1)
Installing a Pool
223(1)
Other Buildings
224(1)
Installing the Driveway
225(1)
Making Walks and Paths
225(1)
Outdoor Resources
226(1)
Appendixes
A Home Construction Glossary
227(18)
B Home Construction Resources
245(8)
Index 253

An electronic version of this book is available through VitalSource.

This book is viewable on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and most smartphones.

By purchasing, you will be able to view this book online, as well as download it, for the chosen number of days.

Digital License

You are licensing a digital product for a set duration. Durations are set forth in the product description, with "Lifetime" typically meaning five (5) years of online access and permanent download to a supported device. All licenses are non-transferable.

More details can be found here.

A downloadable version of this book is available through the eCampus Reader or compatible Adobe readers.

Applications are available on iOS, Android, PC, Mac, and Windows Mobile platforms.

Please view the compatibility matrix prior to purchase.