How to Plan, Contract and Build Your Own Home by Richard M. Scutella

Product Details

Synopsis

There are countless reasons why building your own home makes good sense, But, for most people, the chance to create the home they've always wanted is #1 on their list. And this all-in-one guide can help you every step of the way toward realizing your vision - from hiring the right vendors to picking fixtures.
Whether it comes to basic planning ("What's your move-in date?") or construction methods ("Wood or steel?"), this trusted reference, now fully updated to cover new materials, techniques, money-saving options, and environmentally friendly technologies and methods, is the most complete source on building your own home available.

Written by experienced instructors and builders, and used by savvy homebuilders to put up thousands of homes, How to Plan, Contract and Build Your Own Home will help you: Select and prepare a site; Make informed decisions on types of construction, framing, foundations, and layouts; Plan for home office use, communications upgrades, "smart house" technology, and more; Design a home that will serve your needs throughout your life; Perform construction tasks safely and efficiently; Install the newest and most economical and efficient types of insulation, roofing, plumbing, wiring, and more; Build amenities such as decks, patios, gazebos, sidewalks, and driveways; Make do-it-yourself vs. subcontracting decisions; Plan when you'll move in with a helpful calendar-style checklist; Select the right mortgage.
Featuring a reader-friendly style loaded with icons and sidebars pointing out safety considerations, problem alerts, and elaboration on specific topics, this one-stop, do-it-yourself home-building package makes any dream house areality. It even tells you how to maintain and improve your home once it's done!

Annotation

An invaluable source of information, advice, and inspiration, this expanded second edition features new material on the planning and purchase of major appliances, garage designs and enhancements, plumbing and electrical wiring, energy-saving lighting options, home safety and security measures, and much more.

Biography

Richard M. Scutella (Erie, PA) has written several books on new construction, home buying, home maintenance, and safety, including both editions of Homebuyer's Checklist. He has designed and supervised the construction of many new homes, and is a member of the Handyman Club of America and the Quikrete Company's Home Projects Council.

Dave Heberle (Erie, PA) is the author of McGraw-Hill's Construction Safety Manual, and co-author of all three previous editions of How to Plan, Contract and Build Your Own Home. He's written numerous articles on home-building, and is a former realtor who has also designed and built homes. He currently is a consultant on environmental safety and health issues.