Practical House Building

A manual for the selfbuilder

By Robert Matthews                         £18 (post free)

This edition 1991

First edition: 1991

Published by:

Blackberry Books

Paperback

180 pages

140 line drawings

Publisher's blurb:

 Practical House Building gives selfbuilders a clear and comprehensive account of how to build their own homes from start to finish.

Our comments:

This book describes how a house is built stage by stage, from laying foundations to putting on a roof and fitting out the house. Garden works, including drain laying, are also covered. In addition, the basic techniques of the skills required are also explained. This widely praised, classic book is now in its seventh printing.

Whether you are subcontracting the work and want to know what the subbies should be doing, or whether you are a DIY selfbuilder, the book is invaluable.

Contents:

Introduction
Options
Preliminaries
Preparing to build
Setting outFoundations
Walls
Roof
Completing the shell

First fix plumbing
First fix electrics
First fix carpentry
Plastering
Second fix plumbing
Second fix electrics
Second fix carpentry
Decorating

Drains
Garden works

Design
Mortar and concrete
Bricklaying
Plumbing and heating
Electrics
Carpentry
Basics of plastering
Insulation and ventilation
General techniques
Scaffolding

Appendices
Glossary