Complete Idiot's Guide to Building Your Own Home

by Ramsey, Dan

• ISBN13: 9780028643113
• ISBN10: 0028643119
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-02-01
• Publisher: PENGUIN PUTNAM

Summary

The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Building Your Own Home is a clear, concise, up-to-date guide on every aspect of the home building process. It answers every question readers have about building a custom residence-and a few questions they may not have considered. With clear instructions and illustrations, this book takes readers through every step of the home-building process from figuring a budget to finding labor and materials to all aspects of home construction. Whether they plan to build it all themselves, build some and hire some done, or hire it all done to their specifications, The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Building Your Own Home will do the job.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Me, Build a Home?	1	(38)
Nailing the Real World of Housing	3	(8)
Face the facts of building your home. Consider your needs, dreams, resources, and options. Problems you'll face and how to solve them. Myths and misconceptions about building your own home
Sticks and Stones: How Homes Are Built	11	(12)
Watch as a real home is built before your eyes. Step by step, this chapter explains the home design and construction process in clear terms including a typical project schedule
Exploring Your Housing Options	23	(8)
You have lots of housing options including conventional, manufactured, and kit homes. Take a look at each one to see if it's right for you. Also consider stock plans to save you time and money
Who Wants to Be a Thousandaire?: Home Savings	31	(8)
Build it yourself or have it built--or both? How much can you do? How much can you save? Includes a look at how computers can help you save money on building your own home. Lots of places to look on the Internet, too
Part 2: Designing and Paying for Your Home	39	(52)
How Many Bedrooms?: Designing Your Own Home	41	(10)
Figuring out what you want in your home, what works best, and what fits your budget. Tips on cutting costs without cutting quality
Making Your Home Energy Efficient	51	(8)
Learn from the pros how to cut the operational cost of your home by planning for efficient energy usage. Look at some of the latest ideas in efficiency and figure whether they will pay you back
Where to Live: Choosing a Location	59	(8)
Where is the best place to put your new home? Consider regional, local, community, neighborhood, economic, crime, and school issues. How to research from afar
Selecting a Building Site	67	(6)
How to find the right lot or acreage for your home. How to negotiate the best price. Figuring site costs (hookups). House orientation issues. Neighborhood issues. Why you shouldn't buy your site just yet
Wallet Blues: Estimating Construction Costs	73	(10)
Okay. You know what you want and where you want it. Now, how much is it going to cost? How to estimate no-surprises construction costs. Getting bids and quotes
Financing Your New Home	83	(8)
And how are you going to pay for it? Learn all about new home construction loans and draw schedules. Includes valuable tips on getting the best interest rates, selling other assets, and negotiating the lowest fees. Timing your mortgage to save thousands
Part 3: Hiring Some Help	91	(34)
Codes, Permits, and Legal Stuff	93	(6)
A house is built of paperwork. Learn what papers you need, which codes you need to follow, and how to handle all the legalities of constructing a home. Also covers estimates, purchase orders, change orders, and other common documents
Hiring a Contractor	99	(6)
You'll probably need a general contractor for your construction project. How to select the best one for the job--and keep your contractor honest. Peek inside the daily life of a contractor to see how to hire and motivate him or her to help you build your dream home
Being Your Own Contractor	105	(6)
Yes, in many places you can be your own contractor on your home. Why should you? Why should you not? How much will it save you? How can you tackle the job? Answers to many common questions including how to be a smart owner contractor
Hiring Subcontractors and Laborers	111	(8)
How to hire-or help your general contractor hire--qualified and motivated subcontractors and workers. Also, how to hire yourself as a sub to your general contractor and save money. Insider tips included
Two-Off Ten: Hiring Suppliers	119	(6)
Get the best advice and materials at the lowest prices delivered, when needed, by hiring the right suppliers. Learn how to hire an architect, an engineer, and materials suppliers as if your home depended on them. Tips on paying suppliers
Part 4: Constructing Your Home	125	(122)
What Goes Where?: Planning Construction	127	(8)
Smart planning is the first step in any successful construction job. Learn how to plan conventional and nonconventional construction to anticipate and solve problems before they arise
On Your Mark: Site Preparation	135	(8)
Surveying the building site, locating the house and other buildings, planning for utility hookups, ordering services, preparing the site for workers, and more
Excavation and Foundation	143	(10)
Cutting the site for the foundation, working with concrete and masonry, building foundation walls and piers, pouring slabs, and working with difficult sites
Floors and Decks	153	(8)
Posts and girders, joist installation, sill construction, floor joists, bridging, subflooring, and deck construction
Taking Shape: Framing	161	(10)
Selecting framing materials. How walls, ceilings, and roofs are framed. Framing doors, windows, skylights, clerestories, and other barriers. Selecting materials including engineered trusses
Closure Is Good: Exterior	171	(10)
Selecting exterior materials. Installing siding (including wood, masonry, and stucco), roofing, gutter systems, and trim on houses, garages, and outbuildings
Power to the People: Services	181	(10)
Your master service plan. Installing electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, cable, security, computer, and other services in your home
Somebody Get the Door: Interior	191	(8)
How to finish the interior, including insulation and drywall, and installing doors and windows, cabinetry, and flooring. Tips on finishing the garage
Decorating Finishing Touches	199	(8)
Painting, papering, trimming, lighting, appliances, furniture, and other finishing touches
Ready for Occupancy	207	(6)
Final inspections and sign-offs, occupancy permit, order for services, turning on utilities, preparation for moving in
Outdoor Options	213	(34)
Landscaping, fences, decks, pools, sunrooms, outbuildings, paths, walks, driveways, and other amenities
Appendixes
A Home Construction Glossary	221	(18)
Clear definitions for nearly 400 residential construction terms
B Home Construction Resources	239	(8)
Extensive list of agencies, suppliers, designer, planners, associations, books, magazines, and other valuable resources for owner builders and contractors
Index	247