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Home Extensions & Renovation
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 Customer Reviews
Buy this instead --> Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover) , 05 Nov 2008
I have the Reader's Digest DIY Manual and the Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover). Do not bother with the Readers Digest as I always end up refering to the Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover)! Whilst I agree this book is pretty good the Collins Book is more in depth and has more topics.
Buy Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover) instead! A rock solid guide to getting things done, 31 Jul 2008
I'm not the world's most practical man, but this book was a godsend. It features clear, step-by-step instructions on everything you could need to do around the house or flat.
When I moved into my place, I just didn't know what to do about the plumbing and lighting niggles around the place. It saved me hunting for tradesmen, and let me know that I really could Do It Myself. Just yesterday I replaced the sink trap - win!
There's lots of information on the web (there are useful Youtube videos that are a nice supplement to this), but it's all in one place here - and you know it's reliable and more readable than print-outs. If you don't know how to drill a hole in a wall, start here. And if you're already an expert, there'll be plenty of useful reference tips too.
Best available, 16 Sep 2007
This book is the best of its type available
It bought it when we moved to our new house, and found some rather slip-shod DIY had been done by the previous owner. It covers anything you would ever likely need to know for home DIY.
This book will pay for itself in no time at all, be it through avoiding trademens costs, avoiding waste of materials or detecting "cowboy" builders. I've looked at other similar books, e.g. Collins, but I reckon this one is the best illutrated and easiest to use for the non-expert.
Probably the definitive book on this subject., 09 Jul 2006
This book is fantastic. It was bought for me by my dad when I bought my first house and it is one of the most useful books i own. It covers most subjects you are likely to need in any home DIY situation, as well as garden DIY and relevant legislation that may affect your DIY projects. I cannot stress enough how invaluable this book is and how often I've referred to it, even if I've decided I'm not confident enough to tackle the problem and call in an expert. A must have along side your tool kit. This book will pay for itself!, 11 Apr 2006
Within 2 hours of getting this book it had paid for itself by clearly showing me how to repair a broken ceiling light. I'd been planning on paying an electrician to do the work, so I guess it must have saved me about £50 for that alone! It's completely up to date, including all of the new building regulations that might affect the average DIYer. Would definately reccomend this for anyone who wants to be shown how to do, and be given the confidence to try, most DIY projects.
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The Victorian House Manual
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Customer Reviews
Buy this instead --> Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover) , 05 Nov 2008
I have the Reader's Digest DIY Manual and the Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover). Do not bother with the Readers Digest as I always end up refering to the Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover)! Whilst I agree this book is pretty good the Collins Book is more in depth and has more topics.
Buy Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover) instead! A rock solid guide to getting things done, 31 Jul 2008
I'm not the world's most practical man, but this book was a godsend. It features clear, step-by-step instructions on everything you could need to do around the house or flat.
When I moved into my place, I just didn't know what to do about the plumbing and lighting niggles around the place. It saved me hunting for tradesmen, and let me know that I really could Do It Myself. Just yesterday I replaced the sink trap - win!
There's lots of information on the web (there are useful Youtube videos that are a nice supplement to this), but it's all in one place here - and you know it's reliable and more readable than print-outs. If you don't know how to drill a hole in a wall, start here. And if you're already an expert, there'll be plenty of useful reference tips too.
Best available, 16 Sep 2007
This book is the best of its type available
It bought it when we moved to our new house, and found some rather slip-shod DIY had been done by the previous owner. It covers anything you would ever likely need to know for home DIY.
This book will pay for itself in no time at all, be it through avoiding trademens costs, avoiding waste of materials or detecting "cowboy" builders. I've looked at other similar books, e.g. Collins, but I reckon this one is the best illutrated and easiest to use for the non-expert.
Probably the definitive book on this subject., 09 Jul 2006
This book is fantastic. It was bought for me by my dad when I bought my first house and it is one of the most useful books i own. It covers most subjects you are likely to need in any home DIY situation, as well as garden DIY and relevant legislation that may affect your DIY projects. I cannot stress enough how invaluable this book is and how often I've referred to it, even if I've decided I'm not confident enough to tackle the problem and call in an expert. A must have along side your tool kit. This book will pay for itself!, 11 Apr 2006
Within 2 hours of getting this book it had paid for itself by clearly showing me how to repair a broken ceiling light. I'd been planning on paying an electrician to do the work, so I guess it must have saved me about £50 for that alone! It's completely up to date, including all of the new building regulations that might affect the average DIYer. Would definately reccomend this for anyone who wants to be shown how to do, and be given the confidence to try, most DIY projects.
Enjoyable to read and useful, 26 Oct 2006
As a victorian house owner I like to improve my understanding of property construction and history whenever possible. I found this book most informative and I enjoyed the relaxed style of writing. A lot of property books rely on diagrams to illustrate problems but this one has some excellent photos of real life defects balanced with the more conventional 'glamour' photos showing time-capsule Victorian house original features. Each chpater has suggested solutions to all common problems in a specific part of the house, and the book seems to stress the need to approach old buildings with respect and not to unnecessarily impose modern solutions. Well worth buying in my opinion.
Great stuff !, 03 Aug 2006
It is very well written and also quite amusing! The author has put together a great mix of useful facts, history and humour to make it very readable.
The detail is excellent and it is technically spot on. It takes you though each part of the house in turn explaining what goes wrong and how to fix and restore it all in keeping with the age.
It is a very interesting read. The text is clear and informative and the pictures are lovely (except the ones of dry rot and woodworm!).
A thorough 'no nonsense' guide, 24 Jul 2006
As a Building Conservation Officer with many years' experience inspecting the renovation and extendion of older properties, I thought this Haynes manual gets the balance about right between conservation of older buildings, restoration of original features and sympathetic repair to make them into 'liveable' modern dwellings.
I particularly like the very detailed lists at the end of each chapter showing the probable causes of defects found in each part of the house and how to solve them. I disagree with your earlier reviewer as the book does seem to clearly stress an important point, namely that true rising damp and active woodworm are extremely rare, indeed it lists all the other likely causes, suggesting that injected dpc's should be a last resort. It also advises the sympathetic use of lime mortar, and the importance of good ventilation to floors and roofs etc.
The photos and reproduction are of a 'coffee table book' quality.
The book does cover the history of construction but dispenses with the usual stuff about social & economic history, wallpapers,ceramics and fabrics of the era that are found in other books. A pretty detailed 'no nonsense' guide that my colleagues keep borrowing!
How to turn your Victorian house into a modern house by default!, 15 Jul 2006
I have read the book after seeing it in Halfords and buying it! I would add I am always looking to improve my knowledge about houses. However this book was a big disappointment.
The are many errors in the book which have come about by comparing a Victorian book to a new or more modern house.
One of the most significant defect one can find in a house is damp. Now Victorian houses generally had either no damp proof course or a slate damp proof course. However, as long as substructures are ventilated, "rising damp" evaporates so the lack of a damp proof course is not generally a problem. As such damp within a Victorian building is generally not rising but from another source. ie defective pipes, build up of earth to elevations. This is commonsense. However in this case the author suggests a chemical injected DPC may be the answer! If you want to turn a beautiful Victorian house into a modern one go ahead, but I am sure most people wouldn't wish to do that.
The book also does not cover in any depth such areas as lime render or mortar and lacks real detail of how these houses were constructed. Incorrect mortar mix in repointing brickwork or inappropriate render to areas can cause more damage then good.
A good attempt but lacking the right answers to the problems which can arise in these houses over their life.
useful and enjoyable, 30 Sep 2005
The roof on my 1880s house recently started leaking and I've got several quotes for repairing it. So I was pleased to find this house manual that shows the causes and remedies to typical problems found in victorian/edwardian houses. The manual has quite a lot of detail and helped us get to grips with the work required and the resulting dampness to some ceilings and walls etc. But whats surpsrising is how enjhoyable this book is to read / browse with interesting historical stuff about how they were built and loads of nice colour photos! a massive improvemnt on the old black and white haynes motorbike manuals I used to buy years ago. highly recommended.
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Customer Reviews
Buy this instead --> Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover) , 05 Nov 2008
I have the Reader's Digest DIY Manual and the Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover). Do not bother with the Readers Digest as I always end up refering to the Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover)! Whilst I agree this book is pretty good the Collins Book is more in depth and has more topics.
Buy Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover) instead! A rock solid guide to getting things done, 31 Jul 2008
I'm not the world's most practical man, but this book was a godsend. It features clear, step-by-step instructions on everything you could need to do around the house or flat.
When I moved into my place, I just didn't know what to do about the plumbing and lighting niggles around the place. It saved me hunting for tradesmen, and let me know that I really could Do It Myself. Just yesterday I replaced the sink trap - win!
There's lots of information on the web (there are useful Youtube videos that are a nice supplement to this), but it's all in one place here - and you know it's reliable and more readable than print-outs. If you don't know how to drill a hole in a wall, start here. And if you're already an expert, there'll be plenty of useful reference tips too.
Best available, 16 Sep 2007
This book is the best of its type available
It bought it when we moved to our new house, and found some rather slip-shod DIY had been done by the previous owner. It covers anything you would ever likely need to know for home DIY.
This book will pay for itself in no time at all, be it through avoiding trademens costs, avoiding waste of materials or detecting "cowboy" builders. I've looked at other similar books, e.g. Collins, but I reckon this one is the best illutrated and easiest to use for the non-expert.
Probably the definitive book on this subject., 09 Jul 2006
This book is fantastic. It was bought for me by my dad when I bought my first house and it is one of the most useful books i own. It covers most subjects you are likely to need in any home DIY situation, as well as garden DIY and relevant legislation that may affect your DIY projects. I cannot stress enough how invaluable this book is and how often I've referred to it, even if I've decided I'm not confident enough to tackle the problem and call in an expert. A must have along side your tool kit. This book will pay for itself!, 11 Apr 2006
Within 2 hours of getting this book it had paid for itself by clearly showing me how to repair a broken ceiling light. I'd been planning on paying an electrician to do the work, so I guess it must have saved me about £50 for that alone! It's completely up to date, including all of the new building regulations that might affect the average DIYer. Would definately reccomend this for anyone who wants to be shown how to do, and be given the confidence to try, most DIY projects.
Enjoyable to read and useful, 26 Oct 2006
As a victorian house owner I like to improve my understanding of property construction and history whenever possible. I found this book most informative and I enjoyed the relaxed style of writing. A lot of property books rely on diagrams to illustrate problems but this one has some excellent photos of real life defects balanced with the more conventional 'glamour' photos showing time-capsule Victorian house original features. Each chpater has suggested solutions to all common problems in a specific part of the house, and the book seems to stress the need to approach old buildings with respect and not to unnecessarily impose modern solutions. Well worth buying in my opinion.
Great stuff !, 03 Aug 2006
It is very well written and also quite amusing! The author has put together a great mix of useful facts, history and humour to make it very readable.
The detail is excellent and it is technically spot on. It takes you though each part of the house in turn explaining what goes wrong and how to fix and restore it all in keeping with the age.
It is a very interesting read. The text is clear and informative and the pictures are lovely (except the ones of dry rot and woodworm!).
A thorough 'no nonsense' guide, 24 Jul 2006
As a Building Conservation Officer with many years' experience inspecting the renovation and extendion of older properties, I thought this Haynes manual gets the balance about right between conservation of older buildings, restoration of original features and sympathetic repair to make them into 'liveable' modern dwellings.
I particularly like the very detailed lists at the end of each chapter showing the probable causes of defects found in each part of the house and how to solve them. I disagree with your earlier reviewer as the book does seem to clearly stress an important point, namely that true rising damp and active woodworm are extremely rare, indeed it lists all the other likely causes, suggesting that injected dpc's should be a last resort. It also advises the sympathetic use of lime mortar, and the importance of good ventilation to floors and roofs etc.
The photos and reproduction are of a 'coffee table book' quality.
The book does cover the history of construction but dispenses with the usual stuff about social & economic history, wallpapers,ceramics and fabrics of the era that are found in other books. A pretty detailed 'no nonsense' guide that my colleagues keep borrowing!
How to turn your Victorian house into a modern house by default!, 15 Jul 2006
I have read the book after seeing it in Halfords and buying it! I would add I am always looking to improve my knowledge about houses. However this book was a big disappointment.
The are many errors in the book which have come about by comparing a Victorian book to a new or more modern house.
One of the most significant defect one can find in a house is damp. Now Victorian houses generally had either no damp proof course or a slate damp proof course. However, as long as substructures are ventilated, "rising damp" evaporates so the lack of a damp proof course is not generally a problem. As such damp within a Victorian building is generally not rising but from another source. ie defective pipes, build up of earth to elevations. This is commonsense. However in this case the author suggests a chemical injected DPC may be the answer! If you want to turn a beautiful Victorian house into a modern one go ahead, but I am sure most people wouldn't wish to do that.
The book also does not cover in any depth such areas as lime render or mortar and lacks real detail of how these houses were constructed. Incorrect mortar mix in repointing brickwork or inappropriate render to areas can cause more damage then good.
A good attempt but lacking the right answers to the problems which can arise in these houses over their life.
useful and enjoyable, 30 Sep 2005
The roof on my 1880s house recently started leaking and I've got several quotes for repairing it. So I was pleased to find this house manual that shows the causes and remedies to typical problems found in victorian/edwardian houses. The manual has quite a lot of detail and helped us get to grips with the work required and the resulting dampness to some ceilings and walls etc. But whats surpsrising is how enjhoyable this book is to read / browse with interesting historical stuff about how they were built and loads of nice colour photos! a massive improvemnt on the old black and white haynes motorbike manuals I used to buy years ago. highly recommended.
Such a useful book, 25 Oct 2008
I'm a professional, apprentice served carpenter. During those years I worked with stair construction for about twelve months. I purchased this book to get around a problem I was'nt sure about. .. What a treat. The book is loaded with new ideas. Although written by American crafters, don't be fooled into thinking its of no use to us Brits. If you only ever purchase one book on making stairs in your entire life... Make it this one!
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Customer Reviews
Buy this instead --> Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover) , 05 Nov 2008
I have the Reader's Digest DIY Manual and the Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover). Do not bother with the Readers Digest as I always end up refering to the Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover)! Whilst I agree this book is pretty good the Collins Book is more in depth and has more topics.
Buy Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover) instead! A rock solid guide to getting things done, 31 Jul 2008
I'm not the world's most practical man, but this book was a godsend. It features clear, step-by-step instructions on everything you could need to do around the house or flat.
When I moved into my place, I just didn't know what to do about the plumbing and lighting niggles around the place. It saved me hunting for tradesmen, and let me know that I really could Do It Myself. Just yesterday I replaced the sink trap - win!
There's lots of information on the web (there are useful Youtube videos that are a nice supplement to this), but it's all in one place here - and you know it's reliable and more readable than print-outs. If you don't know how to drill a hole in a wall, start here. And if you're already an expert, there'll be plenty of useful reference tips too.
Best available, 16 Sep 2007
This book is the best of its type available
It bought it when we moved to our new house, and found some rather slip-shod DIY had been done by the previous owner. It covers anything you would ever likely need to know for home DIY.
This book will pay for itself in no time at all, be it through avoiding trademens costs, avoiding waste of materials or detecting "cowboy" builders. I've looked at other similar books, e.g. Collins, but I reckon this one is the best illutrated and easiest to use for the non-expert.
Probably the definitive book on this subject., 09 Jul 2006
This book is fantastic. It was bought for me by my dad when I bought my first house and it is one of the most useful books i own. It covers most subjects you are likely to need in any home DIY situation, as well as garden DIY and relevant legislation that may affect your DIY projects. I cannot stress enough how invaluable this book is and how often I've referred to it, even if I've decided I'm not confident enough to tackle the problem and call in an expert. A must have along side your tool kit. This book will pay for itself!, 11 Apr 2006
Within 2 hours of getting this book it had paid for itself by clearly showing me how to repair a broken ceiling light. I'd been planning on paying an electrician to do the work, so I guess it must have saved me about £50 for that alone! It's completely up to date, including all of the new building regulations that might affect the average DIYer. Would definately reccomend this for anyone who wants to be shown how to do, and be given the confidence to try, most DIY projects.
Enjoyable to read and useful, 26 Oct 2006
As a victorian house owner I like to improve my understanding of property construction and history whenever possible. I found this book most informative and I enjoyed the relaxed style of writing. A lot of property books rely on diagrams to illustrate problems but this one has some excellent photos of real life defects balanced with the more conventional 'glamour' photos showing time-capsule Victorian house original features. Each chpater has suggested solutions to all common problems in a specific part of the house, and the book seems to stress the need to approach old buildings with respect and not to unnecessarily impose modern solutions. Well worth buying in my opinion.
Great stuff !, 03 Aug 2006
It is very well written and also quite amusing! The author has put together a great mix of useful facts, history and humour to make it very readable.
The detail is excellent and it is technically spot on. It takes you though each part of the house in turn explaining what goes wrong and how to fix and restore it all in keeping with the age.
It is a very interesting read. The text is clear and informative and the pictures are lovely (except the ones of dry rot and woodworm!).
A thorough 'no nonsense' guide, 24 Jul 2006
As a Building Conservation Officer with many years' experience inspecting the renovation and extendion of older properties, I thought this Haynes manual gets the balance about right between conservation of older buildings, restoration of original features and sympathetic repair to make them into 'liveable' modern dwellings.
I particularly like the very detailed lists at the end of each chapter showing the probable causes of defects found in each part of the house and how to solve them. I disagree with your earlier reviewer as the book does seem to clearly stress an important point, namely that true rising damp and active woodworm are extremely rare, indeed it lists all the other likely causes, suggesting that injected dpc's should be a last resort. It also advises the sympathetic use of lime mortar, and the importance of good ventilation to floors and roofs etc.
The photos and reproduction are of a 'coffee table book' quality.
The book does cover the history of construction but dispenses with the usual stuff about social & economic history, wallpapers,ceramics and fabrics of the era that are found in other books. A pretty detailed 'no nonsense' guide that my colleagues keep borrowing!
How to turn your Victorian house into a modern house by default!, 15 Jul 2006
I have read the book after seeing it in Halfords and buying it! I would add I am always looking to improve my knowledge about houses. However this book was a big disappointment.
The are many errors in the book which have come about by comparing a Victorian book to a new or more modern house.
One of the most significant defect one can find in a house is damp. Now Victorian houses generally had either no damp proof course or a slate damp proof course. However, as long as substructures are ventilated, "rising damp" evaporates so the lack of a damp proof course is not generally a problem. As such damp within a Victorian building is generally not rising but from another source. ie defective pipes, build up of earth to elevations. This is commonsense. However in this case the author suggests a chemical injected DPC may be the answer! If you want to turn a beautiful Victorian house into a modern one go ahead, but I am sure most people wouldn't wish to do that.
The book also does not cover in any depth such areas as lime render or mortar and lacks real detail of how these houses were constructed. Incorrect mortar mix in repointing brickwork or inappropriate render to areas can cause more damage then good.
A good attempt but lacking the right answers to the problems which can arise in these houses over their life.
useful and enjoyable, 30 Sep 2005
The roof on my 1880s house recently started leaking and I've got several quotes for repairing it. So I was pleased to find this house manual that shows the causes and remedies to typical problems found in victorian/edwardian houses. The manual has quite a lot of detail and helped us get to grips with the work required and the resulting dampness to some ceilings and walls etc. But whats surpsrising is how enjhoyable this book is to read / browse with interesting historical stuff about how they were built and loads of nice colour photos! a massive improvemnt on the old black and white haynes motorbike manuals I used to buy years ago. highly recommended.
Such a useful book, 25 Oct 2008
I'm a professional, apprentice served carpenter. During those years I worked with stair construction for about twelve months. I purchased this book to get around a problem I was'nt sure about. .. What a treat. The book is loaded with new ideas. Although written by American crafters, don't be fooled into thinking its of no use to us Brits. If you only ever purchase one book on making stairs in your entire life... Make it this one!
Review from a builder, 13 Aug 2008
I run a small building company and therefore have to do a variety of roofing jobs - from small repairs to building extension roofs. I am used to buying building books that purport to be professional guides but turn out to be DIY manuals, American guides inapplicable to the UK, reprints of books that are 50 years out of date or just academic architects guides that don't have practical information on techniques.
This book is spot on.
It gives a good overview of current roofing materials and methods, and then it details lots of commonly faced roofing tasks. The explanations are clear and detailed but if you don't immediately understand there are loads of diagrams and photographs.
While not a complete manual on roofing it is probably comprehensive for anybody who is a general builder, and it is clear enough to be used by a reasonably competent DIYer.
Any criticism? Although the book is 158 pages long I would happily pay for another 300 pages of cleaver solutions to unusual roofing problems.
Just what the roofing industry needs, 01 Aug 2008
In the UK roofing industry there is precious little good quality written information freely available on the practicalities of pitched roofing. This excellent book goes a long way to address this. It is written in a clear, practical way by the very practical author. I like the modern, chatty style and the photo's and illustrations are excellent. At Sandtoft we operate a very busy technical department and I know that we will be referring to this book often - to both answer customer queries and when writing our own technical guides etc. Anyone involved in the installation of tile or slate pitched roofs should have a copy.
John Mercer: Technical Manager: Sandtoft Roof Tiles.
Good explaination for UK roofdesign and construction., 09 Jul 2008
I was looking for a book that showed me how to layout and tile a roof using either slate or interlocking tiles. This book I found clear in illustration and techniques for doing the job, includes getting around laying out roofs with build errors. Geometry and calculation aren't my problem, its the actual laying out and progress of work I needed to learn. The problem is many books are published for the US market, it isn't.
Well it worked for me. I doubt if one book will have all the info you need, so dont expect a silver bullet.
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Customer Reviews
Buy this instead --> Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover) , 05 Nov 2008
I have the Reader's Digest DIY Manual and the Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover). Do not bother with the Readers Digest as I always end up refering to the Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover)! Whilst I agree this book is pretty good the Collins Book is more in depth and has more topics.
Buy Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover) instead! A rock solid guide to getting things done, 31 Jul 2008
I'm not the world's most practical man, but this book was a godsend. It features clear, step-by-step instructions on everything you could need to do around the house or flat.
When I moved into my place, I just didn't know what to do about the plumbing and lighting niggles around the place. It saved me hunting for tradesmen, and let me know that I really could Do It Myself. Just yesterday I replaced the sink trap - win!
There's lots of information on the web (there are useful Youtube videos that are a nice supplement to this), but it's all in one place here - and you know it's reliable and more readable than print-outs. If you don't know how to drill a hole in a wall, start here. And if you're already an expert, there'll be plenty of useful reference tips too.
Best available, 16 Sep 2007
This book is the best of its type available
It bought it when we moved to our new house, and found some rather slip-shod DIY had been done by the previous owner. It covers anything you would ever likely need to know for home DIY.
This book will pay for itself in no time at all, be it through avoiding trademens costs, avoiding waste of materials or detecting "cowboy" builders. I've looked at other similar books, e.g. Collins, but I reckon this one is the best illutrated and easiest to use for the non-expert.
Probably the definitive book on this subject., 09 Jul 2006
This book is fantastic. It was bought for me by my dad when I bought my first house and it is one of the most useful books i own. It covers most subjects you are likely to need in any home DIY situation, as well as garden DIY and relevant legislation that may affect your DIY projects. I cannot stress enough how invaluable this book is and how often I've referred to it, even if I've decided I'm not confident enough to tackle the problem and call in an expert. A must have along side your tool kit. This book will pay for itself!, 11 Apr 2006
Within 2 hours of getting this book it had paid for itself by clearly showing me how to repair a broken ceiling light. I'd been planning on paying an electrician to do the work, so I guess it must have saved me about £50 for that alone! It's completely up to date, including all of the new building regulations that might affect the average DIYer. Would definately reccomend this for anyone who wants to be shown how to do, and be given the confidence to try, most DIY projects.
Enjoyable to read and useful, 26 Oct 2006
As a victorian house owner I like to improve my understanding of property construction and history whenever possible. I found this book most informative and I enjoyed the relaxed style of writing. A lot of property books rely on diagrams to illustrate problems but this one has some excellent photos of real life defects balanced with the more conventional 'glamour' photos showing time-capsule Victorian house original features. Each chpater has suggested solutions to all common problems in a specific part of the house, and the book seems to stress the need to approach old buildings with respect and not to unnecessarily impose modern solutions. Well worth buying in my opinion.
Great stuff !, 03 Aug 2006
It is very well written and also quite amusing! The author has put together a great mix of useful facts, history and humour to make it very readable.
The detail is excellent and it is technically spot on. It takes you though each part of the house in turn explaining what goes wrong and how to fix and restore it all in keeping with the age.
It is a very interesting read. The text is clear and informative and the pictures are lovely (except the ones of dry rot and woodworm!).
A thorough 'no nonsense' guide, 24 Jul 2006
As a Building Conservation Officer with many years' experience inspecting the renovation and extendion of older properties, I thought this Haynes manual gets the balance about right between conservation of older buildings, restoration of original features and sympathetic repair to make them into 'liveable' modern dwellings.
I particularly like the very detailed lists at the end of each chapter showing the probable causes of defects found in each part of the house and how to solve them. I disagree with your earlier reviewer as the book does seem to clearly stress an important point, namely that true rising damp and active woodworm are extremely rare, indeed it lists all the other likely causes, suggesting that injected dpc's should be a last resort. It also advises the sympathetic use of lime mortar, and the importance of good ventilation to floors and roofs etc.
The photos and reproduction are of a 'coffee table book' quality.
The book does cover the history of construction but dispenses with the usual stuff about social & economic history, wallpapers,ceramics and fabrics of the era that are found in other books. A pretty detailed 'no nonsense' guide that my colleagues keep borrowing!
How to turn your Victorian house into a modern house by default!, 15 Jul 2006
I have read the book after seeing it in Halfords and buying it! I would add I am always looking to improve my knowledge about houses. However this book was a big disappointment.
The are many errors in the book which have come about by comparing a Victorian book to a new or more modern house.
One of the most significant defect one can find in a house is damp. Now Victorian houses generally had either no damp proof course or a slate damp proof course. However, as long as substructures are ventilated, "rising damp" evaporates so the lack of a damp proof course is not generally a problem. As such damp within a Victorian building is generally not rising but from another source. ie defective pipes, build up of earth to elevations. This is commonsense. However in this case the author suggests a chemical injected DPC may be the answer! If you want to turn a beautiful Victorian house into a modern one go ahead, but I am sure most people wouldn't wish to do that.
The book also does not cover in any depth such areas as lime render or mortar and lacks real detail of how these houses were constructed. Incorrect mortar mix in repointing brickwork or inappropriate render to areas can cause more damage then good.
A good attempt but lacking the right answers to the problems which can arise in these houses over their life.
useful and enjoyable, 30 Sep 2005
The roof on my 1880s house recently started leaking and I've got several quotes for repairing it. So I was pleased to find this house manual that shows the causes and remedies to typical problems found in victorian/edwardian houses. The manual has quite a lot of detail and helped us get to grips with the work required and the resulting dampness to some ceilings and walls etc. But whats surpsrising is how enjhoyable this book is to read / browse with interesting historical stuff about how they were built and loads of nice colour photos! a massive improvemnt on the old black and white haynes motorbike manuals I used to buy years ago. highly recommended.
Such a useful book, 25 Oct 2008
I'm a professional, apprentice served carpenter. During those years I worked with stair construction for about twelve months. I purchased this book to get around a problem I was'nt sure about. .. What a treat. The book is loaded with new ideas. Although written by American crafters, don't be fooled into thinking its of no use to us Brits. If you only ever purchase one book on making stairs in your entire life... Make it this one!
Review from a builder, 13 Aug 2008
I run a small building company and therefore have to do a variety of roofing jobs - from small repairs to building extension roofs. I am used to buying building books that purport to be professional guides but turn out to be DIY manuals, American guides inapplicable to the UK, reprints of books that are 50 years out of date or just academic architects guides that don't have practical information on techniques.
This book is spot on.
It gives a good overview of current roofing materials and methods, and then it details lots of commonly faced roofing tasks. The explanations are clear and detailed but if you don't immediately understand there are loads of diagrams and photographs.
While not a complete manual on roofing it is probably comprehensive for anybody who is a general builder, and it is clear enough to be used by a reasonably competent DIYer.
Any criticism? Although the book is 158 pages long I would happily pay for another 300 pages of cleaver solutions to unusual roofing problems.
Just what the roofing industry needs, 01 Aug 2008
In the UK roofing industry there is precious little good quality written information freely available on the practicalities of pitched roofing. This excellent book goes a long way to address this. It is written in a clear, practical way by the very practical author. I like the modern, chatty style and the photo's and illustrations are excellent. At Sandtoft we operate a very busy technical department and I know that we will be referring to this book often - to both answer customer queries and when writing our own technical guides etc. Anyone involved in the installation of tile or slate pitched roofs should have a copy.
John Mercer: Technical Manager: Sandtoft Roof Tiles.
Good explaination for UK roofdesign and construction., 09 Jul 2008
I was looking for a book that showed me how to layout and tile a roof using either slate or interlocking tiles. This book I found clear in illustration and techniques for doing the job, includes getting around laying out roofs with build errors. Geometry and calculation aren't my problem, its the actual laying out and progress of work I needed to learn. The problem is many books are published for the US market, it isn't.
Well it worked for me. I doubt if one book will have all the info you need, so dont expect a silver bullet.
Excellent and concise, 01 Feb 2007
Clear descriptive elements for all phases of building. A very good guide for DIY stawbale building. The book concerns construction in northern climes. Whilst it is pertinent to foundation & wall structures, a chapter exploring roof design & construction would have the icing on the cake.
Can't do without, 25 Mar 2006
This book is concise, spot on and a must for every straw house builder. All the fundamentals are covered and while other books may be ten times the size they rarely will give you really more information. What I would like to see is a bit more about statics e.g. how much can a wall, a frame, a truss or a piece of timber hold.
Great Introduction to SB Building, 18 Oct 2005
I used this book throughout my final year of university, and I still do as a design aid. It provides the perfect introduction to building with bales pointed really well towards self-builders. Crucially, it differs from other guides as being specific to the UK and Ireland and the authors expertise in building here means this is covered very well.
If you are looking for a book detailing the history and growth of SB building then this isn't it; check out the Steens excelent books perhaps. There are also books on the subject that go into more detail (Lacinski and Bergerons "Serious Straw Bale" for instance), however this book is concise and holds just the right amount of detail to get you started, especially if you are in the UK or Ireland.
Highly recomended!
Go and build it with bales!
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The 1930s House Manual
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £10.73
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Customer Reviews
Buy this instead --> Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover) , 05 Nov 2008
I have the Reader's Digest DIY Manual and the Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover). Do not bother with the Readers Digest as I always end up refering to the Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover)! Whilst I agree this book is pretty good the Collins Book is more in depth and has more topics.
Buy Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover) instead! A rock solid guide to getting things done, 31 Jul 2008
I'm not the world's most practical man, but this book was a godsend. It features clear, step-by-step instructions on everything you could need to do around the house or flat.
When I moved into my place, I just didn't know what to do about the plumbing and lighting niggles around the place. It saved me hunting for tradesmen, and let me know that I really could Do It Myself. Just yesterday I replaced the sink trap - win!
There's lots of information on the web (there are useful Youtube videos that are a nice supplement to this), but it's all in one place here - and you know it's reliable and more readable than print-outs. If you don't know how to drill a hole in a wall, start here. And if you're already an expert, there'll be plenty of useful reference tips too.
Best available, 16 Sep 2007
This book is the best of its type available
It bought it when we moved to our new house, and found some rather slip-shod DIY had been done by the previous owner. It covers anything you would ever likely need to know for home DIY.
This book will pay for itself in no time at all, be it through avoiding trademens costs, avoiding waste of materials or detecting "cowboy" builders. I've looked at other similar books, e.g. Collins, but I reckon this one is the best illutrated and easiest to use for the non-expert.
Probably the definitive book on this subject., 09 Jul 2006
This book is fantastic. It was bought for me by my dad when I bought my first house and it is one of the most useful books i own. It covers most subjects you are likely to need in any home DIY situation, as well as garden DIY and relevant legislation that may affect your DIY projects. I cannot stress enough how invaluable this book is and how often I've referred to it, even if I've decided I'm not confident enough to tackle the problem and call in an expert. A must have along side your tool kit. This book will pay for itself!, 11 Apr 2006
Within 2 hours of getting this book it had paid for itself by clearly showing me how to repair a broken ceiling light. I'd been planning on paying an electrician to do the work, so I guess it must have saved me about £50 for that alone! It's completely up to date, including all of the new building regulations that might affect the average DIYer. Would definately reccomend this for anyone who wants to be shown how to do, and be given the confidence to try, most DIY projects.
Enjoyable to read and useful, 26 Oct 2006
As a victorian house owner I like to improve my understanding of property construction and history whenever possible. I found this book most informative and I enjoyed the relaxed style of writing. A lot of property books rely on diagrams to illustrate problems but this one has some excellent photos of real life defects balanced with the more conventional 'glamour' photos showing time-capsule Victorian house original features. Each chpater has suggested solutions to all common problems in a specific part of the house, and the book seems to stress the need to approach old buildings with respect and not to unnecessarily impose modern solutions. Well worth buying in my opinion.
Great stuff !, 03 Aug 2006
It is very well written and also quite amusing! The author has put together a great mix of useful facts, history and humour to make it very readable.
The detail is excellent and it is technically spot on. It takes you though each part of the house in turn explaining what goes wrong and how to fix and restore it all in keeping with the age.
It is a very interesting read. The text is clear and informative and the pictures are lovely (except the ones of dry rot and woodworm!).
A thorough 'no nonsense' guide, 24 Jul 2006
As a Building Conservation Officer with many years' experience inspecting the renovation and extendion of older properties, I thought this Haynes manual gets the balance about right between conservation of older buildings, restoration of original features and sympathetic repair to make them into 'liveable' modern dwellings.
I particularly like the very detailed lists at the end of each chapter showing the probable causes of defects found in each part of the house and how to solve them. I disagree with your earlier reviewer as the book does seem to clearly stress an important point, namely that true rising damp and active woodworm are extremely rare, indeed it lists all the other likely causes, suggesting that injected dpc's should be a last resort. It also advises the sympathetic use of lime mortar, and the importance of good ventilation to floors and roofs etc.
The photos and reproduction are of a 'coffee table book' quality.
The book does cover the history of construction but dispenses with the usual stuff about social & economic history, wallpapers,ceramics and fabrics of the era that are found in other books. A pretty detailed 'no nonsense' guide that my colleagues keep borrowing!
How to turn your Victorian house into a modern house by default!, 15 Jul 2006
I have read the book after seeing it in Halfords and buying it! I would add I am always looking to improve my knowledge about houses. However this book was a big disappointment.
The are many errors in the book which have come about by comparing a Victorian book to a new or more modern house.
One of the most significant defect one can find in a house is damp. Now Victorian houses generally had either no damp proof course or a slate damp proof course. However, as long as substructures are ventilated, "rising damp" evaporates so the lack of a damp proof course is not generally a problem. As such damp within a Victorian building is generally not rising but from another source. ie defective pipes, build up of earth to elevations. This is commonsense. However in this case the author suggests a chemical injected DPC may be the answer! If you want to turn a beautiful Victorian house into a modern one go ahead, but I am sure most people wouldn't wish to do that.
The book also does not cover in any depth such areas as lime render or mortar and lacks real detail of how these houses were constructed. Incorrect mortar mix in repointing brickwork or inappropriate render to areas can cause more damage then good.
A good attempt but lacking the right answers to the problems which can arise in these houses over their life.
useful and enjoyable, 30 Sep 2005
The roof on my 1880s house recently started leaking and I've got several quotes for repairing it. So I was pleased to find this house manual that shows the causes and remedies to typical problems found in victorian/edwardian houses. The manual has quite a lot of detail and helped us get to grips with the work required and the resulting dampness to some ceilings and walls etc. But whats surpsrising is how enjhoyable this book is to read / browse with interesting historical stuff about how they were built and loads of nice colour photos! a massive improvemnt on the old black and white haynes motorbike manuals I used to buy years ago. highly recommended.
Such a useful book, 25 Oct 2008
I'm a professional, apprentice served carpenter. During those years I worked with stair construction for about twelve months. I purchased this book to get around a problem I was'nt sure about. .. What a treat. The book is loaded with new ideas. Although written by American crafters, don't be fooled into thinking its of no use to us Brits. If you only ever purchase one book on making stairs in your entire life... Make it this one!
Review from a builder, 13 Aug 2008
I run a small building company and therefore have to do a variety of roofing jobs - from small repairs to building extension roofs. I am used to buying building books that purport to be professional guides but turn out to be DIY manuals, American guides inapplicable to the UK, reprints of books that are 50 years out of date or just academic architects guides that don't have practical information on techniques.
This book is spot on.
It gives a good overview of current roofing materials and methods, and then it details lots of commonly faced roofing tasks. The explanations are clear and detailed but if you don't immediately understand there are loads of diagrams and photographs.
While not a complete manual on roofing it is probably comprehensive for anybody who is a general builder, and it is clear enough to be used by a reasonably competent DIYer.
Any criticism? Although the book is 158 pages long I would happily pay for another 300 pages of cleaver solutions to unusual roofing problems.
Just what the roofing industry needs, 01 Aug 2008
In the UK roofing industry there is precious little good quality written information freely available on the practicalities of pitched roofing. This excellent book goes a long way to address this. It is written in a clear, practical way by the very practical author. I like the modern, chatty style and the photo's and illustrations are excellent. At Sandtoft we operate a very busy technical department and I know that we will be referring to this book often - to both answer customer queries and when writing our own technical guides etc. Anyone involved in the installation of tile or slate pitched roofs should have a copy.
John Mercer: Technical Manager: Sandtoft Roof Tiles.
Good explaination for UK roofdesign and construction., 09 Jul 2008
I was looking for a book that showed me how to layout and tile a roof using either slate or interlocking tiles. This book I found clear in illustration and techniques for doing the job, includes getting around laying out roofs with build errors. Geometry and calculation aren't my problem, its the actual laying out and progress of work I needed to learn. The problem is many books are published for the US market, it isn't.
Well it worked for me. I doubt if one book will have all the info you need, so dont expect a silver bullet.
Excellent and concise, 01 Feb 2007
Clear descriptive elements for all phases of building. A very good guide for DIY stawbale building. The book concerns construction in northern climes. Whilst it is pertinent to foundation & wall structures, a chapter exploring roof design & construction would have the icing on the cake.
Can't do without, 25 Mar 2006
This book is concise, spot on and a must for every straw house builder. All the fundamentals are covered and while other books may be ten times the size they rarely will give you really more information. What I would like to see is a bit more about statics e.g. how much can a wall, a frame, a truss or a piece of timber hold.
Great Introduction to SB Building, 18 Oct 2005
I used this book throughout my final year of university, and I still do as a design aid. It provides the perfect introduction to building with bales pointed really well towards self-builders. Crucially, it differs from other guides as being specific to the UK and Ireland and the authors expertise in building here means this is covered very well.
If you are looking for a book detailing the history and growth of SB building then this isn't it; check out the Steens excelent books perhaps. There are also books on the subject that go into more detail (Lacinski and Bergerons "Serious Straw Bale" for instance), however this book is concise and holds just the right amount of detail to get you started, especially if you are in the UK or Ireland.
Highly recomended!
Go and build it with bales!
woodnyou, 12 Sep 2007
Even after five years, this still remains one of the best foundation books for anyone interested in cabinetmaking.
A must for any newcomer to Furniture or Cabinet making, 04 Jan 2002
An excellent all round book with superb illustrations, tips and ideas for simple time saving jigs. Covering all aspects from design and wood selection to construction and finishing, this book is an essential addition to any shop.
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Customer Reviews
Buy this instead --> Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover) , 05 Nov 2008
I have the Reader's Digest DIY Manual and the Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover). Do not bother with the Readers Digest as I always end up refering to the Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover)! Whilst I agree this book is pretty good the Collins Book is more in depth and has more topics.
Buy Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover) instead! A rock solid guide to getting things done, 31 Jul 2008
I'm not the world's most practical man, but this book was a godsend. It features clear, step-by-step instructions on everything you could need to do around the house or flat.
When I moved into my place, I just didn't know what to do about the plumbing and lighting niggles around the place. It saved me hunting for tradesmen, and let me know that I really could Do It Myself. Just yesterday I replaced the sink trap - win!
There's lots of information on the web (there are useful Youtube videos that are a nice supplement to this), but it's all in one place here - and you know it's reliable and more readable than print-outs. If you don't know how to drill a hole in a wall, start here. And if you're already an expert, there'll be plenty of useful reference tips too.
Best available, 16 Sep 2007
This book is the best of its type available
It bought it when we moved to our new house, and found some rather slip-shod DIY had been done by the previous owner. It covers anything you would ever likely need to know for home DIY.
This book will pay for itself in no time at all, be it through avoiding trademens costs, avoiding waste of materials or detecting "cowboy" builders. I've looked at other similar books, e.g. Collins, but I reckon this one is the best illutrated and easiest to use for the non-expert.
Probably the definitive book on this subject., 09 Jul 2006
This book is fantastic. It was bought for me by my dad when I bought my first house and it is one of the most useful books i own. It covers most subjects you are likely to need in any home DIY situation, as well as garden DIY and relevant legislation that may affect your DIY projects. I cannot stress enough how invaluable this book is and how often I've referred to it, even if I've decided I'm not confident enough to tackle the problem and call in an expert. A must have along side your tool kit. This book will pay for itself!, 11 Apr 2006
Within 2 hours of getting this book it had paid for itself by clearly showing me how to repair a broken ceiling light. I'd been planning on paying an electrician to do the work, so I guess it must have saved me about £50 for that alone! It's completely up to date, including all of the new building regulations that might affect the average DIYer. Would definately reccomend this for anyone who wants to be shown how to do, and be given the confidence to try, most DIY projects.
Enjoyable to read and useful, 26 Oct 2006
As a victorian house owner I like to improve my understanding of property construction and history whenever possible. I found this book most informative and I enjoyed the relaxed style of writing. A lot of property books rely on diagrams to illustrate problems but this one has some excellent photos of real life defects balanced with the more conventional 'glamour' photos showing time-capsule Victorian house original features. Each chpater has suggested solutions to all common problems in a specific part of the house, and the book seems to stress the need to approach old buildings with respect and not to unnecessarily impose modern solutions. Well worth buying in my opinion.
Great stuff !, 03 Aug 2006
It is very well written and also quite amusing! The author has put together a great mix of useful facts, history and humour to make it very readable.
The detail is excellent and it is technically spot on. It takes you though each part of the house in turn explaining what goes wrong and how to fix and restore it all in keeping with the age.
It is a very interesting read. The text is clear and informative and the pictures are lovely (except the ones of dry rot and woodworm!).
A thorough 'no nonsense' guide, 24 Jul 2006
As a Building Conservation Officer with many years' experience inspecting the renovation and extendion of older properties, I thought this Haynes manual gets the balance about right between conservation of older buildings, restoration of original features and sympathetic repair to make them into 'liveable' modern dwellings.
I particularly like the very detailed lists at the end of each chapter showing the probable causes of defects found in each part of the house and how to solve them. I disagree with your earlier reviewer as the book does seem to clearly stress an important point, namely that true rising damp and active woodworm are extremely rare, indeed it lists all the other likely causes, suggesting that injected dpc's should be a last resort. It also advises the sympathetic use of lime mortar, and the importance of good ventilation to floors and roofs etc.
The photos and reproduction are of a 'coffee table book' quality.
The book does cover the history of construction but dispenses with the usual stuff about social & economic history, wallpapers,ceramics and fabrics of the era that are found in other books. A pretty detailed 'no nonsense' guide that my colleagues keep borrowing!
How to turn your Victorian house into a modern house by default!, 15 Jul 2006
I have read the book after seeing it in Halfords and buying it! I would add I am always looking to improve my knowledge about houses. However this book was a big disappointment.
The are many errors in the book which have come about by comparing a Victorian book to a new or more modern house.
One of the most significant defect one can find in a house is damp. Now Victorian houses generally had either no damp proof course or a slate damp proof course. However, as long as substructures are ventilated, "rising damp" evaporates so the lack of a damp proof course is not generally a problem. As such damp within a Victorian building is generally not rising but from another source. ie defective pipes, build up of earth to elevations. This is commonsense. However in this case the author suggests a chemical injected DPC may be the answer! If you want to turn a beautiful Victorian house into a modern one go ahead, but I am sure most people wouldn't wish to do that.
The book also does not cover in any depth such areas as lime render or mortar and lacks real detail of how these houses were constructed. Incorrect mortar mix in repointing brickwork or inappropriate render to areas can cause more damage then good.
A good attempt but lacking the right answers to the problems which can arise in these houses over their life.
useful and enjoyable, 30 Sep 2005
The roof on my 1880s house recently started leaking and I've got several quotes for repairing it. So I was pleased to find this house manual that shows the causes and remedies to typical problems found in victorian/edwardian houses. The manual has quite a lot of detail and helped us get to grips with the work required and the resulting dampness to some ceilings and walls etc. But whats surpsrising is how enjhoyable this book is to read / browse with interesting historical stuff about how they were built and loads of nice colour photos! a massive improvemnt on the old black and white haynes motorbike manuals I used to buy years ago. highly recommended.
Such a useful book, 25 Oct 2008
I'm a professional, apprentice served carpenter. During those years I worked with stair construction for about twelve months. I purchased this book to get around a problem I was'nt sure about. .. What a treat. The book is loaded with new ideas. Although written by American crafters, don't be fooled into thinking its of no use to us Brits. If you only ever purchase one book on making stairs in your entire life... Make it this one!
Review from a builder, 13 Aug 2008
I run a small building company and therefore have to do a variety of roofing jobs - from small repairs to building extension roofs. I am used to buying building books that purport to be professional guides but turn out to be DIY manuals, American guides inapplicable to the UK, reprints of books that are 50 years out of date or just academic architects guides that don't have practical information on techniques.
This book is spot on.
It gives a good overview of current roofing materials and methods, and then it details lots of commonly faced roofing tasks. The explanations are clear and detailed but if you don't immediately understand there are loads of diagrams and photographs.
While not a complete manual on roofing it is probably comprehensive for anybody who is a general builder, and it is clear enough to be used by a reasonably competent DIYer.
Any criticism? Although the book is 158 pages long I would happily pay for another 300 pages of cleaver solutions to unusual roofing problems.
Just what the roofing industry needs, 01 Aug 2008
In the UK roofing industry there is precious little good quality written information freely available on the practicalities of pitched roofing. This excellent book goes a long way to address this. It is written in a clear, practical way by the very practical author. I like the modern, chatty style and the photo's and illustrations are excellent. At Sandtoft we operate a very busy technical department and I know that we will be referring to this book often - to both answer customer queries and when writing our own technical guides etc. Anyone involved in the installation of tile or slate pitched roofs should have a copy.
John Mercer: Technical Manager: Sandtoft Roof Tiles.
Good explaination for UK roofdesign and construction., 09 Jul 2008
I was looking for a book that showed me how to layout and tile a roof using either slate or interlocking tiles. This book I found clear in illustration and techniques for doing the job, includes getting around laying out roofs with build errors. Geometry and calculation aren't my problem, its the actual laying out and progress of work I needed to learn. The problem is many books are published for the US market, it isn't.
Well it worked for me. I doubt if one book will have all the info you need, so dont expect a silver bullet.
Excellent and concise, 01 Feb 2007
Clear descriptive elements for all phases of building. A very good guide for DIY stawbale building. The book concerns construction in northern climes. Whilst it is pertinent to foundation & wall structures, a chapter exploring roof design & construction would have the icing on the cake.
Can't do without, 25 Mar 2006
This book is concise, spot on and a must for every straw house builder. All the fundamentals are covered and while other books may be ten times the size they rarely will give you really more information. What I would like to see is a bit more about statics e.g. how much can a wall, a frame, a truss or a piece of timber hold.
Great Introduction to SB Building, 18 Oct 2005
I used this book throughout my final year of university, and I still do as a design aid. It provides the perfect introduction to building with bales pointed really well towards self-builders. Crucially, it differs from other guides as being specific to the UK and Ireland and the authors expertise in building here means this is covered very well.
If you are looking for a book detailing the history and growth of SB building then this isn't it; check out the Steens excelent books perhaps. There are also books on the subject that go into more detail (Lacinski and Bergerons "Serious Straw Bale" for instance), however this book is concise and holds just the right amount of detail to get you started, especially if you are in the UK or Ireland.
Highly recomended!
Go and build it with bales!
woodnyou, 12 Sep 2007
Even after five years, this still remains one of the best foundation books for anyone interested in cabinetmaking.
A must for any newcomer to Furniture or Cabinet making, 04 Jan 2002
An excellent all round book with superb illustrations, tips and ideas for simple time saving jigs. Covering all aspects from design and wood selection to construction and finishing, this book is an essential addition to any shop.
A wealth of information, 13 Sep 2008
This book is a must for anybody looking for, buying or renovating a property in France. It contains a treasure chest of information and tips on every aspect of purchasing, planning, budgeting, renovating and maintaining French property and includes suppliers websites, addresses and telephone numbers.
What this book does not contain is DIY instructions for doing the work itself.
Of the three books on this subject I have purchased to date this one is by far the most useful.
Very helpful book, 17 May 2008
I found this book really helpful and full of practical information and warnings to help you avoid pitfalls. The glossary of building terms at the back is particularly useful.
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The Woodland House
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £10.32
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Customer Reviews
Buy this instead --> Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover) , 05 Nov 2008
I have the Reader's Digest DIY Manual and the Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover). Do not bother with the Readers Digest as I always end up refering to the Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover)! Whilst I agree this book is pretty good the Collins Book is more in depth and has more topics.
Buy Collins Complete DIY Manual (Hardcover) instead! A rock solid guide to getting things done, 31 Jul 2008
I'm not the world's most practical man, but this book was a godsend. It features clear, step-by-step instructions on everything you could need to do around the house or flat.
When I moved into my place, I just didn't know what to do about the plumbing and lighting niggles around the place. It saved me hunting for tradesmen, and let me know that I really could Do It Myself. Just yesterday I replaced the sink trap - win!
There's lots of information on the web (there are useful Youtube videos that are a nice supplement to this), but it's all in one place here - and you know it's reliable and more readable than print-outs. If you don't know how to drill a hole in a wall, start here. And if you're already an expert, there'll be plenty of useful reference tips too.
Best available, 16 Sep 2007
This book is the best of its type available
It bought it when we moved to our new house, and found some rather slip-shod DIY had been done by the previous owner. It covers anything you would ever likely need to know for home DIY.
This book will pay for itself in no time at all, be it through avoiding trademens costs, avoiding waste of materials or detecting "cowboy" builders. I've looked at other similar books, e.g. Collins, but I reckon this one is the best illutrated and easiest to use for the non-expert.
Probably the definitive book on this subject., 09 Jul 2006
This book is fantastic. It was bought for me by my dad when I bought my first house and it is one of the most useful books i own. It covers most subjects you are likely to need in any home DIY situation, as well as garden DIY and relevant legislation that may affect your DIY projects. I cannot stress enough how invaluable this book is and how often I've referred to it, even if I've decided I'm not confident enough to tackle the problem and call in an expert. A must have along side your tool kit. This book will pay for itself!, 11 Apr 2006
Within 2 hours of getting this book it had paid for itself by clearly showing me how to repair a broken ceiling light. I'd been planning on paying an electrician to do the work, so I guess it must have saved me about £50 for that alone! It's completely up to date, including all of the new building regulations that might affect the average DIYer. Would definately reccomend this for anyone who wants to be shown how to do, and be given the confidence to try, most DIY projects.
Enjoyable to read and useful, 26 Oct 2006
As a victorian house owner I like to improve my understanding of property construction and history whenever possible. I found this book most informative and I enjoyed the relaxed style of writing. A lot of property books rely on diagrams to illustrate problems but this one has some excellent photos of real life defects balanced with the more conventional 'glamour' photos showing time-capsule Victorian house original features. Each chpater has suggested solutions to all common problems in a specific part of the house, and the book seems to stress the need to approach old buildings with respect and not to unnecessarily impose modern solutions. Well worth buying in my opinion.
Great stuff !, 03 Aug 2006
It is very well written and also quite amusing! The author has put together a great mix of useful facts, history and humour to make it very readable.
The detail is excellent and it is technically spot on. It takes you though each part of the house in turn explaining what goes wrong and how to fix and restore it all in keeping with the age.
It is a very interesting read. The text is clear and informative and the pictures are lovely (except the ones of dry rot and woodworm!).
A thorough 'no nonsense' guide, 24 Jul 2006
As a Building Conservation Officer with many years' experience inspecting the renovation and extendion of older properties, I thought this Haynes manual gets the balance about right between conservation of older buildings, restoration of original features and sympathetic repair to make them into 'liveable' modern dwellings.
I particularly like the very detailed lists at the end of each chapter showing the probable causes of defects found in each part of the house and how to solve them. I disagree with your earlier reviewer as the book does seem to clearly stress an important point, namely that true rising damp and active woodworm are extremely rare, indeed it lists all the other likely causes, suggesting that injected dpc's should be a last resort. It also advises the sympathetic use of lime mortar, and the importance of good ventilation to floors and roofs etc.
The photos and reproduction are of a 'coffee table book' quality.
The book does cover the history of construction but dispenses with the usual stuff about social & economic history, wallpapers,ceramics and fabrics of the era that are found in other books. A pretty detailed 'no nonsense' guide that my colleagues keep borrowing!
How to turn your Victorian house into a modern house by default!, 15 Jul 2006
I have read the book after seeing it in Halfords and buying it! I would add I am always looking to improve my knowledge about houses. However this book was a big disappointment.
The are many errors in the book which have come about by comparing a Victorian book to a new or more modern house.
One of the most significant defect one can find in a house is damp. Now Victorian houses generally had either no damp proof course or a slate damp proof course. However, as long as substructures are ventilated, "rising damp" evaporates so the lack of a damp proof course is not generally a problem. As such damp within a Victorian building is generally not rising but from another source. ie defective pipes, build up of earth to elevations. This is commonsense. However in this case the author suggests a chemical injected DPC may be the answer! If you want to turn a beautiful Victorian house into a modern one go ahead, but I am sure most people wouldn't wish to do that.
The book also does not cover in any depth such areas as lime render or mortar and lacks real detail of how these houses were constructed. Incorrect mortar mix in repointing brickwork or inappropriate render to areas can cause more damage then good.
A good attempt but lacking the right answers to the problems which can arise in these houses over their life.
useful and enjoyable, 30 Sep 2005
The roof on my 1880s house recently started leaking and I've got several quotes for repairing it. So I was pleased to find this house manual that shows the causes and remedies to typical problems found in victorian/edwardian houses. The manual has quite a lot of detail and helped us get to grips with the work required and the resulting dampness to some ceilings and walls etc. But whats surpsrising is how enjhoyable this book is to read / browse with interesting historical stuff about how they were built and loads of nice colour photos! a massive improvemnt on the old black and white haynes motorbike manuals I used to buy years ago. highly recommended.
Such a useful book, 25 Oct 2008
I'm a professional, apprentice served carpenter. During those years I worked with stair construction for about twelve months. I purchased this book to get around a problem I was'nt sure about. .. What a treat. The book is loaded with new ideas. Although written by American crafters, don't be fooled into thinking its of no use to us Brits. If you only ever purchase one book on making stairs in your entire life... Make it this one!
Review from a builder, 13 Aug 2008
I run a small building company and therefore have to do a variety of roofing jobs - from small repairs to building extension roofs. I am used to buying building books that purport to be professional guides but turn out to be DIY manuals, American guides inapplicable to the UK, reprints of books that are 50 years out of date or just academic architects guides that don't have practical information on techniques.
This book is spot on.
It gives a good overview of current roofing materials and methods, and then it details lots of commonly faced roofing tasks. The explanations are clear and detailed but if you don't immediately understand there are loads of diagrams and photographs.
While not a complete manual on roofing it is probably comprehensive for anybody who is a general builder, and it is clear enough to be used by a reasonably competent DIYer.
Any criticism? Although the book is 158 pages long I would happily pay for another 300 pages of cleaver solutions to unusual roofing problems.
Just what the roofing industry needs, 01 Aug 2008
In the UK roofing industry there is precious little good quality written information freely available on the practicalities of pitched roofing. This excellent book goes a long way to address this. It is written in a clear, practical way by the very practical author. I like the modern, chatty style and the photo's and illustrations are excellent. At Sandtoft we operate a very busy technical department and I know that we will be referring to this book often - to both answer customer queries and when writing our own technical guides etc. Anyone involved in the installation of tile or slate pitched roofs should have a copy.
John Mercer: Technical Manager: Sandtoft Roof Tiles.
Good explaination for UK roofdesign and construction., 09 Jul 2008
I was looking for a book that showed me how to layout and tile a roof using either slate or interlocking tiles. This book I found clear in illustration and techniques for doing the job, includes getting around laying out roofs with build errors. Geometry and calculation aren't my problem, its the actual laying out and progress of work I needed to learn. The problem is many books are published for the US market, it isn't.
Well it worked for me. I doubt if one book will have all the info you need, so dont expect a silver bullet.
Excellent and concise, 01 Feb 2007
Clear descriptive elements for all phases of building. A very good guide for DIY stawbale building. The book concerns construction in northern climes. Whilst it is pertinent to foundation & wall structures, a chapter exploring roof design & construction would have the icing on the cake.
Can't do without, 25 Mar 2006
This book is concise, spot on and a must for every straw house builder. All the fundamentals are covered and while other books may be ten times the size they rarely will give you really more information. What I would like to see is a bit more about statics e.g. how much can a wall, a frame, a truss or a piece of timber hold.
Great Introduction to SB Building, 18 Oct 2005
I used this book throughout my final year of university, and I still do as a design aid. It provides the perfect introduction to building with bales pointed really well towards self-builders. Crucially, it differs from other guides as being specific to the UK and Ireland and the authors expertise in building here means this is covered very well.
If you are looking for a book detailing the history and growth of SB building then this isn't it; check out the Steens excelent books perhaps. There are also books on the subject that go into more detail (Lacinski and Bergerons "Serious Straw Bale" for instance), however this book is concise and holds just the right amount of detail to get you started, especially if you are in the UK or Ireland.
Highly recomended!
Go and build it with bales!
woodnyou, 12 Sep 2007
Even after five years, this still remains one of the best foundation books for anyone interested in cabinetmaking.
A must for any newcomer to Furniture or Cabinet making, 04 Jan 2002
An excellent all round book with superb illustrations, tips and ideas for simple time saving jigs. Covering all aspects from design and wood selection to construction and finishing, this book is an essential addition to any shop.
A wealth of information, 13 Sep 2008
This book is a must for anybody looking for, buying or renovating a property in France. It contains a treasure chest of information and tips on every aspect of purchasing, planning, budgeting, renovating and maintaining French property and includes suppliers websites, addresses and telephone numbers.
What this book does not contain is DIY instructions for doing the work itself.
Of the three books on this subject I have purchased to date this one is by far the most useful.
Very helpful book, 17 May 2008
I found this book really helpful and full of practical information and warnings to help you avoid pitfalls. The glossary of building terms at the back is particularly useful.
If the show inspired you, buy the book, 15 Nov 2005
If you found the Grand Designs show an inspiration that left you wanting to find out more, then I'd recommend this book. The photography is great, and while it's not a guide to "The Good Life", you should find enough inspiriation that if your thirst is generally wetted, you'll be looking in to the sustainability issues much more. A fantastic Christmas present.
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