Home Building Kits

Description

As reviewed by Kirkus Discoveries: 'Step-by-step instructions on how to build a home in an economical and artistically unique way. Owning a home doesn't have to be a trying ordeal, says Madison, who reports that he built his own house with little more than his own muscle power and ingenuity. Though he claims not to be particularly handy, he managed to create a fully functional cabin complete with electricity, running water and Internet access as part of a journey that was both fulfilling and therapeutic. He takes readers through the process, from cutting down trees and laying the foundation for the floor to installing piping and electricity to detailing plans to build additional modules. Pictures and diagrams complement the text, and the author even discusses his future plans to fully automate the cabin. In addition to the down-and-dirty details, he uses quotes from a number of philosophers-Aristotle, Locke, Rousseau and others-to help explain his motivation. It was as much about testing his own abilities as it was about creating a physical shelter. One one level, this is a practical guide that contains pertinent information for people who actually want to build their own cabin. On another, it's a fascinating look inside the mind of a man who chose to go against the grain and who writes with such folksy charm and comical practicality that you can't help but applaud him for bucking the system. Those not interested in building their own homes will be bored senseless by the technical details and some of the long-winded endnotes, but entertaining anecdotes-such as how the author munches on blackberries while simultaneously trimming his beard in his yard to lay down a barrier of human scent that deters snakes-keep the pages turning. In definite need of editorial direction but makes a case for the author-whatever his name is-getting his own home-improvement show.' As reviewed by New York Times best selling author Ellen Tanner Marsh: 'When Henry David Thoreau tired of the city in 1845, he retreated to the country, living on the shores of Walden Pond and chronicling his experiences in the timeless work Walden or Life in the Woods. Now, in an enchanting new book, A Small Cabin that One Person can Build, readers are presented with a sort of modern-day version of Thoreau's classic. Like Thoreau, author Aristotle Locke Rousseau Hume Madison (a.k.a. Al Madison) decided to retreat from his hectic life, and although he didn't have a place to live, he had some time and money and, more importantly, some land and trees. In this amazing little book, Madison (each of the illustrations names he uses provides a famous quote at the end of it) sets out to build a log cabin-and educate readers on how to do it themselves. In a friendly, approachable style, Madison shows readers exactly how he built his cabin using easy to follow step-by-step instructions, from insulation to wiring to putting on a porch. He lists exactly what tools you need and where to get them. Lest the thought of roughing it doesn't appeal to you, be assured that this cabin is no rustic refuge. Madison added all the modern comforts, including Internet service and a flush toilet. 'There are two characteristics to my building,' he writes 'It was built efficiently and it is a deliberate work of art.' Filled with wonderful photographs and a fine, wry wit, Madison's book is not just a how-to, it's a why-to. Because Madison didn't just build a cabin; he rebuilt himself. As he takes the time to point out, his labors made him healthier, stronger, and emotionally tougher, too. Readers can live vicariously through Madison in this wise and funny book, but truthfully, after reading it you'll want to build a cabin of your own. Luckily Madison is here to show you how.'

Description

Whether you’re planning a starter home or a lifelong retreat, Small Log Homes is an indispensable idea book for planning, building, and outfitting your cabin in the woods or on the prairie. Lush photographs show how log-home owners, builders, and contractors around the country have achieved the richness and warmth of cabin living within the bounds of economy and space management. And all without feeling cramped or hamstrung. For more information about log home building please visit the Author's Website.

Features

• ISBN13: 9781586850432
• Condition: New
• Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Description

With evocative text by Judith Miller and inspiring photographs by James Merrell, "Wooden Houses" explores the decorative potential of wood in our homes. Wooden houses range from Midwestern prairie clapboard houses with wraparound porches to wood-framed barns converted into airy living spaces. Wood has always played a part in consturction, architecture, and interior decoration and has long been valued for its practical benefits. Its insulating qualities, for example,made it an obvious choice for Scandinavian homes, and so the familiar log houses came into existence. But the vast decorative potential of wood has ensured its continued use, as evidenced by 19th-century houses with elaborately carved gables and bargeboards. Indoors, wood surrounds us in many ways. Structural elements such as oak-beamed and vaulted ceilings become features in their own right. Wood can also be used as further embellishement in the form of beautiful paneling or carved and turned banisters and staircases, and in original furniture designs. Whether it is left in its natural state to show the variety of grains and depths of colours, or used as a canvas for paint techniques, wood is a beautiful resource. *A celebration of the natural beauty of wood in decoration, interiors, and architecture. *Includes an introduction to the main architchtural styles

Description

The only step-by-step guide to building log cabins and log furniture—Pioneer style There are other manuals on building cabins, but W. Ben Hunt's is the only one to show you how to build and furnish an authentic pioneer cabin-the easy, natural way, using only hand tools and the woods around you. Our ancestors used logs and hand tools to build durable, dry, windproof, and protective dwellings; and they fashioned chairs, tables, branches, and bushes. In this day of power saws, lumberyards, and high prices, it's good to know that you can build in the same way. How to Build a Log Cabin Part One provides complete directions for building cabins of three sizes: one-room, one-room and lean-to, and three-room. Just follow the clear instructions on every step of construction from choosing the site, clearing the tract, and building the foundation to installing fixtures, heating, and lighting. How to Furnish a Log Cabin If you're not ready to build an entire cabin, you can try your hand at some of the small furnishings such as lamps, fences, and candlesticks. Part Two tells all you need to know to build and finish rustic furniture for an entire home: benches, tables, chairs, beds, cots, shelves, candelabras, gates, arbors, wayside stands, even road signs and birdhouses. "Two Books in One" There are really two books in one here: Building a Log Cabin, published in 1947, and Rustic Construction, published in 1939. These two classics have been reproduced exactly as they first appeared, with the drawings and photographs that W. Ben Hunt selected and produced for the original editions.

Description

The setting might be a sparkling lakefront, a cool clearing in the woods, a breathtaking mountaintop, or an expansive beach, but the dream of a modest retreat from everyday life often includes a simple little cabin. In cabin getaways of the imagination, the cares of the world recede, time slows down, and the day’s pace is set by leisure and quiet activities.Compact Cabins presents 62 design interpretations of the getaway dream, with something to please every taste. Best of all, these small footprint designs are affordable and energy efficient without skimping on comfort and style. The cabins range in size from a cozy 100 square feet to a more spacious but still economical 1,000 square feet, and all include sleeping accommodations, kitchen and bath facilities, and a heat source. Complete chapters on low-maintenance building materials, utilities and appliances, and alternative energy sources supply readers with the options for living efficiently in small spaces.For every design, readers will find floor plans with detailed suggestions for designing the space for optimal use. These plans are flexible; many feature modular elements that can be mixed and matched to accommodate a particular owner’s needs or hobbies. Features such as an outdoor fireplace, covered porch, or external storage locker might work nicely in several cabin designs. It’s all about enhancing and maximizing small spaces to suit individual needs and preferences.Build small. In this time of uncertain energy costs, global warming, and tighter budgets, building small is a theme that resonates with second-home owners. Gerald Rowan shows readers how to achieve their cabin dreams on a small footprint.

Features

• ISBN13: 9781603424622
• Condition: New
• Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Description

Authors David and Jeannie Stiles give readers all the information they need to build their own cabins -- whether it be as a wilderness retreat or a backyard studio. The authors describe each step in the process from buying land to obtaining services, from finding qualified construction help to deciding on and developing plans for a structure that suits their lifestyle and budget. "Cabins" is packed with detailed illustrations, plans and common-sense advice. Chapters include classic construction methods: how to build a log cabin, pole-built and stick-built cabin, post-and-beam, stone, cordwood and kit cabins. Construction methods are clearly illustrated in photographs and drawings and the advantages of each are explained in detail. Foundations, windows, doors, insulation, roofing, installing utilities, water and sanitary systems and heating are all discussed. Many designs are presented as inspiration and to help readers select the cabin that is perfect for them: homesteader log cabin, writing cabin, guest cabin, Japanese moon-gazing cabin, lakeside retreat, pyramid and A-frame, and hillside Mediterranean cabin. The authors include personal reminiscences from successful builders and cabin owners, and discuss furnishings and accessories that can help readers get the most enjoyment out of their newly built wilderness retreat.

Features

• ISBN13: 9781552093733
• Condition: New
• Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed