Best home design & construction books according to redditors

Renovation 5th edition. Covers every single aspect of fixing/maintaining a house.

https://www.amazon.com/Renovation-5th-Completely-Revised-Updated/dp/1631869590/ref=nodl_

If you move the decimal over. This is about 1,000 in books...

(If I had to pick a few for 100 bucks: encyclopedia of country living, survival medicine, wilderness medicine, ball preservation, art of fermentation, a few mushroom and foraging books.)


Medical:

Where there is no doctor

Where there is no dentist

Emergency War Surgery

The survival medicine handbook

Auerbach’s Wilderness Medicine

Special Operations Medical Handbook

Food Production

Mini Farming

encyclopedia of country living

square foot gardening

Seed Saving

Storey’s Raising Rabbits

Meat Rabbits

Aquaponics Gardening: Step By Step

Storey’s Chicken Book

Storey Dairy Goat

Storey Meat Goat

Storey Ducks

Storey’s Bees

Beekeepers Bible

bio-integrated farm

soil and water engineering

Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation

Food Preservation and Cooking

Steve Rinella’s Large Game Processing

Steve Rinella’s Small Game

Ball Home Preservation

Charcuterie

Root Cellaring

Art of Natural Cheesemaking

Mastering Artesian Cheese Making

American Farmstead Cheesemaking

Joe Beef: Surviving Apocalypse

Wild Fermentation

Art of Fermentation

Nose to Tail

Artisan Sourdough

Designing Great Beers

The Joy of Home Distilling

Foraging

Southeast Foraging

Boletes

Mushrooms of Carolinas

Mushrooms of Southeastern United States

Mushrooms of the Gulf Coast


Tech

farm and workshop Welding

ultimate guide: plumbing

ultimate guide: wiring

ultimate guide: home repair

off grid solar

Woodworking

Timberframe Construction

Basic Lathework

How to Run A Lathe

Backyard Foundry

Sand Casting

Practical Casting

The Complete Metalsmith

Gears and Cutting Gears

Hardening Tempering and Heat Treatment

Machinery’s Handbook

How to Diagnose and Fix Everything Electronic

Electronics For Inventors

Basic Science


Chemistry

Organic Chem

Understanding Basic Chemistry Through Problem Solving

Ham Radio

AARL Antenna Book

General Class Manual

Tech Class Manual


MISC

Ray Mears Essential Bushcraft

Contact!

Nuclear War Survival Skills

The Knowledge: How to rebuild civilization in the aftermath of a cataclysm

This one is a great start: https://www.amazon.com/Renovation-5th-Completely-Revised-Updated/dp/1631869590/

https://www.amazon.com/Renovation-4th-Completely-Revised-Updated/dp/1600854923/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=Renovation+4&qid=1563679474&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Has really in depth things but also relatively basic things. I love this book.

This is the newest version. I have it and it's awesome

Why build yourself? Are you looking for something in particular? Building a house in not an easy endeavor.

I'm saying that as a "builder" now working on my second build. I'm not a traditional builder, but I was/am working with smaller in-city lots and am building specifically for long term hold rental properties. My properties had to be custom designed to fit the lots and are for student rentals, so I designed them with smaller bedrooms without master suites, low maintenance long term items (spray foamed the entire exterior of the house, standing seam roof, etc) I literally built the house myself. I was the GC and did a lot of the work myself. It took me about 15 months (demo to CO) for the first one and the second we broke ground about 3 months ago. The drawing and permitting process took ~6 months prior on both. It was an extremely rewarding experience once I finished, but it was extremely stressful on the family and I just can't imagine a normal person doing it. I literally was on my job site 95% of the days over those 15 months.

I'm a huge fan of building science and while I like the idea of Passivehaus, I'm would caution that reaching those higher limits may not be worth the effort if you aren't a building science nerd like I am. More often than not many "normal" contractors will either lie to you saying they know what you want and know how to do it or will have the deer in the headlights look. If you want to get to the higher standards you will have to find those specific contractors and they are not cheap nor are they always readily available.

Agreed with the other user on low maintenance material. The current house I'm building I found a new siding that is definitely more expensive, but is actually dyed through (composite) and therefore will never need to be painted and it being a composite means no caulk. Again that is a tradeoff of upfront cost versus down the road cost.

Lastly before I built my first house I read for almost 2 years. I was/am a full time landlord so am fairly free so that reading was really "studying" and "preparing"for me. One minor note regarding the book list is that I wasn't looking for a builder as I had time and wanted to try and build a house. So many of the books I read were more granular and not so much about permitting and budgeting, etc. I figured I would figure out that stuff as I went along and I did. One big caveat, I didn't finance my build, but if you are you will more than likely need to hire a licensed GC/builder.

Books I read:

1. I read a lot of the IRC code book (make sure you municipality uses the IRC). This was to ensure that I could check on the people that I hired.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/International-Residential-Two-Family-Dwellings-Council/dp/1609837371
   
   

2. Read a lot about building science. Not in any particular order of preference.
   
   Green from the ground up
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Green-Ground-Sustainable-Energy-Efficient-Construction/dp/156158973X
   
   Green Home Building
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Green-Home-Building-Money-Saving-High-Performance/dp/0865717796
   
   Superhouse
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Super-House-Efficiency-Dazzling-Strength/dp/0965792633
   
   Buildings don't lie
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Buildings-Dont-Lie-Henry-Gifford/dp/0999011006
   
   Complete visual guide to building a house
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Visual-Guide-Building-House/dp/1600850227
   
   
3. A lot of the Taunton Press For Pros by Pros (framing, wiring a house, siding, plumbing, concrete, trim, windows) books. Those were for my education on the utilities as I did most of this myself. Some of this may be too granular for you, but still lots of great info in there.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Taunton+For+Pros+by+Pros&ref=nb_sb_noss
   
   There were many more books, but these are the ones I thought worthwhile to buy.

Shigley's is great for learning how to design and why you design the way you do. It's the book I used in college and still reference at work. I'm not so sure it'd be great for a novice engineer. For a more practical approach, I'd recommend a few below (not necessarily in this order):

1. Machinery's Handbook - This is regularly seen as the [mechanical] engineer's bible. It has nearly everything you'd need to know for design. Most of the machinists used this in a shop I used to work in. Nearly every engineer in my current job (and there are a hundred or more) have a copy of this at their desk.
   
2. Pocket Reference - This is kind of (loosely) like Machinery's Handbook but much more broad. It covers a little bit of everything from engineering, to vehicle maintenance, to plumbing. I like it for it's all-around information.
   
3. Handyman In-Your-Pocket - this is by the same author as #2 but is tailored to the building trades. I also have this but I haven't used it much yet. Not because it's not useful, just because I haven't gotten around to it.
   
4. Marks' Standard Handbook for Mech. Engineers - I have an old copy of this book from the 80s, I believe, that my dad gave to me. It is also on the same order as Machinery's Handbook, but instead of covering EVERYTHING, it goes into more depth about the topics it does cover. If I remember correctly, it covers topics ranging from how to make a weldment to how to design a power generating steam boiler and turbine.
   
5. Solutions to Design of Weldments - This is a new one to me. I recently went to the Blodgett Welding Design Seminar and this was one of the reference materials they handed out. I had a few text book sized design guides by Omer Blodgett that I've often used, but this one seems to take all of the info from those books and condense it down to a handbook. Best part is that it's only $3.50 for a copy and I think (but I'm not sure) that it ships for free.
   
   A nice free reference manual that includes all sorts of design equations is the NCEES reference handbook. I used it back when I took my FE exam (the first exam you take before you become what's call a "Professional Engineer" in the US). It's a nice PDF to have around, though it doesn't go into a lot of explanation as to what the equations are.
   
   A few web resources I use are: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/, http://www.roymech.co.uk/
   
   I'm sure I'll think of some more and, if I do, I'll update this post.
   
   Hope that helps.
   
   

If you are doing it by yourself, let me recommend this book since a lot traditional carpentry assumes there will be someone else there to hold the other end of the tape, help you lift stuff, hold boards while nailing.

Both for safety and sanity, you have to approach things differently.

Here is a link to the book's Amazon page

its even available on kindle!

I'm a DIY noob. Here's some of the stuff that's helped me.

I got hosed a few times by contractors before I learned enough to start asking the right questions. This book helped me get onto the right path. Checklists and battle plan for remodels and new construction, based on the experience of 100s of projects. What Your Contractor Won't Tell You https://www.amazon.com/What-Your-Contractor-Cant-Tell/dp/0979983800

I bought some Journal of Light Construction books. True, their Field Guides are way overkill for me and my projects, but they're very cool. https://www.jlconline.com https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AJournal+of+Light+Construction&s=relevancerank&text=Journal+of+Light+Construction&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

I like those Matt Risinger videos quite a bit too. https://www.youtube.com/user/MattRisinger

The most useful books I've bought are the Code Check short guides. I just read them until I kinda understand them. As a total noob, that takes a while. Here's the electrical title. https://www.amazon.com/Code-Check-Electrical-Illustrated-Wiring/dp/1631869167/

The knowledgeable staff at my local pro suppliers have been super helpful. Especially Ferguson's. I really can't say enough good things about all the people who've helped me. Sometimes you get lucky at Home Depot and the like. But they pay shit and they're understaffed, so don't judge.

I've already posted my dad a bit in DIY

I'm afraid people will think I'm just plugging his book

cough cough also available in kindle format

I've built about 10 homes.

Everyone has already given you the best advice which is to hire a gc to manage the project. Even if you hire a GC it would be a good idea to understand the process.

The book I always recommend is How to Design and Build Your Own Home by DiDonno and Sperling

General advice in random order.

• Most important. Hire an architect to draw up blue-prints. a $1000 change fee to plans may feel expensive, but it's cheaper than $10K during construction.
  
• Google and Youtube are not reliable sources of knowledge, there's too much variation in construction codes and methodology region to region. Go ahead and research, but don't think you know more than the trades.
  
• If you're interviewing trades and something about them doesn't feel kosher, don't hire them. Ask to see samples of their work. Get bids up front. Check the bids for accuracy. Get multiple bids. Ask them about their pricing.. (i.e. tile guy charges $4 sq. ft. for 12x12 porcelain plus $1 extra for a pattern)
  
• Find and review your city/county building codes
  
• Don't upgrade everything. Pick your battles. Before you start think of the most important room in the house for you. That's the only place to splurge. Everywhere else should be about solid but affordable choices.
  
• Create a project plan and budget. The budget comes directily from the blue prints, everything is priced by size (sq. ft., linear feat, etc.). The plan comes from the budget. Manage everything off of it. Plan should include lead times for ordering materials. A good trade will get annoyed if they show up and what they need isn't there. What they provide and what you provide should be written down in the bid.
  
• Trades clean up after themselves. Dirty worksites are dangerous and make it difficult to get work done.
  
• Even if a trades doesn't look it, or act it, they know more than you about their job. Treat them as a partner. Admit when you don't know and ask questions.
  
• When you mis-schedule something, be prepared to have the completion date slip a month as trades go to other jobs.
  
• Constructions sites are magnets for thieves. If you leave things unlocked then they will walk off. Thieves will steal roof shingles, appliances, tile.
  
  
  I don't live in any of the houses I built, so I'm uncomfortable posting pictures. I'll pm you a picture of the house I built for myself.

I've watched tons of youtube and I've started reading this book.
Renovation 5th Edition:... https://www.amazon.com/dp/1631869590?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

>Renovation by Michael Litchfield

Looks like a new edition is going to be released May 7, 2019. https://www.amazon.com/Renovation-5th-Completely-Revised-Updated/dp/1631869590

I am a contractor. I have only seen one book from tumbleweed and was not impressed. This was years ago, so perhaps later editions improved, but the one I saw had almost no detail and certainly not anywhere near what a novice needed.

If you have no experience building, I'd suggest The Visual Handbook of Building and Remodeling. It has detailed photos and drawing.

If you're still interested in some construction books, Renovation is written for remodeling, but it has some really interesting work-arounds.

I highly recommend THIS book.

Not so much to have on hand during the projects, but to browse and flip through while you're waiting in line, during TV commercials, using the toilet, etc.

More than anything it will help you realize how many things you don't know that you don't know. And once you realize "drainage friction coefficient" is a thing (it's not, I just made that up), then you know where to reference it to be sure you're not screwing up something you didn't even realize was a thing.

This is where a lot, if not most, home improvement projects go horribly wrong. Not because someone measured wrong, not because they didn't take their time, but because they didn't realize some key thing was even an issue.

>possibly a basement but I think that might be beyond my expertise in building.. not sure yet.

Can you describe your building experience, please? Are you a builder? This will help us be more focused.

If you are interested in building it yourself, I suggest a book I just re-read called The Well-Built House, which will take you through one expert's process. It is not exactly the latest but it is very practical and useful.

I purchased that and the Graphic Guide to Frame Construction years ago, at Builders Booksource. I highly recommend utilizing all your local resources, too. Bookstores can be great. Designers, builders, planners can be an even bigger help. Try talking to anyone in the local planning departments about the process, pick the brain of your neighbor, the general contractor or your old uncle, the architect. Of course, the more we know about where you are from, the more we can offer advice.

Most importantly, whether you go with a strategy to build on your own or you hire an architect, don't be discouraged. I see this over and over with clients. Architecture is a long process. It can take (and almost always does take) a number of years to complete it. Take this in stride and you will do fine.

Best of luck and please do keep us updated.

Some books previously recommended on this sub:

https://www.amazon.com/Renovation-4th-Edition-Completely-Revised/dp/1600854923

https://www.amazon.com/Carpentry-Remodeling-Installing-Removing-improvement/dp/0865737207/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1494249697&sr=8-3&keywords=black+and+decker+books+Framing

“A Practical Illustrated Trade Assistant on Modern Construction For Carpenters-Joiners, Builders-Mechanics, and all Wood Workers.”

Do-It-Yourself Housebuilding: The Complete Handbook. by George Nash.

Also, Old This Old House and/or Ask This Old House episodes that cover framing may be valuable to you. JLC and FineHomeBuilding.com are likely to have some beneficial tid-bits of wisdom when you start formulating you're own queries.

Off the top, I have to say that I really don't like the tone of your post, it shows a lack of respect and ignorance for how much work and capital the owner of a company has to put in. Being good at business doesn't mean that you're the best technical carpenter or even a carpenter at all. It's like the typical restaurant feud where the kitchen staff doesn't appreciate what the wait staff do and visa-versa, while not realizing that one would not exist without the other.

Sales and dealing with clients is much more difficult than most give credit for. Knowing how to price things to make money, being able to work with all different types of personalities and keeping a level head under very stressful situations are skills we don't learn in the field. Not to mention the financial risk on every project, accounting, advertising, driving all over hells half acre to price jobs you might not get...etc.

All this to say, take a little time to research and learn what goes into the front end of a business that is successful. A few books you might want to check out:

1)Markup and Profit: A Contractors Guide by Michael Stone

2) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey

3) Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz

4) Running a Successful Construction Company by David Gerstel

5) How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie


Most important though is to find an accountant and learn what goes into accounting. Of all the things that I've seen take down really good carpenters going out on their own, accounting is #1. They don't put money away to pay taxes end up in a robbing peter to pay paul situation, or just don't know what their overhead is to charge appropriately to cover it as well as make a profit and cover their own wage.

As far as how much capital to start out with, I'd say 6 months salary. It's always a good idea to have a least 6 months worth of operating expenses as a capital reserve even while operating. It makes you less likely to be put in situations where you HAVE to work and end up taking jobs you shouldn't.

Renovation is the gold standard of books on improvement and repair, the editor is the guy who runs the Fine Homebuilding site, out of all the books I have none come close to the amount of subjects and details this book offers.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1631263544/ref=dp_ob_neva_mobile

I would recommend that you purchase some DIY books to help you with jobs around the home:

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Yourself-Manual-Newly-Updated/dp/1621452018

https://www.amazon.com/Renovation-5th-Completely-Revised-Updated/dp/1631869590

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Guide-Repair-Improvement-Updated/dp/158011783X

Either one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Refrigeration-Conditioning-Technology-MindTap-Course/dp/1305578295/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526763783&sr=8-1&keywords=hvac+textbook

https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Refrigeration-Air-Conditioning-Refridgeration/dp/1631263544/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1526763783&sr=8-16&keywords=hvac+textbook

https://www.amazon.com/What-Your-Contractor-Cant-Tell/dp/0979983800/

I found Renovation 4th Edition to be very informative. It's not necessarilly a step-by-step DIY guide, but it's gives a great overview of the steps and tools necessary to complete a job.

[A book that might help.] (http://www.amazon.com/Working-Alone-Tips-Techniques-Building/dp/1561585459/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321449573&sr=8-1)

I do everything by myself, and I make a point of at least keeping my cell on my, so in the event that I do get injured, I can call for help.

It is really good. More than just tips it also goes into his thinking and his way of thinking about a project and planning it.https://www.amazon.com/Working-Alone-Pros-John-Carroll-ebook/dp/B003TXSRF0

This book isnt exactly simple, but covers damn near everything. Kind of the Joy of Cooking for home repair

Renovation 4th Edition: Completely Revised and Updated https://www.amazon.com/dp/1600854974/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_h6UBDb15YYD0Q

https://www.amazon.com/Renovation-5th-Completely-Revised-Updated/dp/1631869590/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=renovation&qid=1563980987&s=gateway&sr=8-3

You can have anything done in one of the following three ways:

1. You can have it cheap and good, but it won't be fast
   
2. You can have it cheap and fast but it won't be good
   
3. You can have it fast and good, but it won't be cheap
   
   There are four main cost categories that go into a house:
   
   

• land
  
• permits/Inspections
  
• labor
  
• materials
  
  Assuming you have the land, we will ignore this.
  
  Permits:
  ---
  These are typically a set price, so these can be ignored too; regardless of if you build or contract the build, the permits will be the same.
  
  Labor
  ---
  Figure out what labor you can do yourself and what you can't. Some people are real good with the framing and can do plumbing, but electrical scares them, so they contract that work.
  
  Some people can do all things but need extra hands for some heavy lifting; many times laborers can be hired specifically for helping to raise walls and steady sheathing for attachment. Roofing is one that usually requires some level of hired help.
  
  Most people do, and should, hire a contractor to prepare a proper foundation.
  
  Materials
  ---
  For the work you do yourself, you will be getting the materials yourself. When house plans are purchased, many times they come with the material requirements for the framing in terms of linear footage: every exterior corner needs 3 studs, every 16" of wall needs a stud. Every wall needs two top plates and a bottom plate. Every X sqft of floor needs y amount of plywood sheets. Many contractors have formulas that automatically figure this stuff out, but you will have to do it yourself.
  
  Anything contracted comes with the materials included in the final price.
  
  Buying in bulk is cheaper and many contractors have deals with their suppliers for lower-priced materials due to volume expectation and business history.
  
  All that said, the median price for home construction including an unfinished garage is $155 per sq. ft. the low end is $125 per sqft.
  
  For 850 sqft, that's about $106K to 131K.
  
  This involved contracted work at every level, so everything you do yourself knocks off a chunk of that cost.
  
  The first step is getting the plans. If you want to do this, buy the plans and build the house in sketchup or similar.
  
  Learn the codes for building; Internet searches can help with this immensely and there are a few layman's guides for home inspections and code-adherence. This book helped me out a lot too.
  
  Your house plans include the following:
  
  
• Cover Sheet
  
• Foundation Plan
  
• Floor Plan
  
• Roof Plan
  
• Cross Sections
  
• Exterior Elevations
  
• Construction Details
  
• Electrical Plan
  
• Furniture Plan
  
  This makes things very easy because it tells you how to arrange the foundation footings, how to lay the beams and joists, and how to frame the walls. A simple count of things will give you a cost break down for the materials, then add 10-15% of that for a rough estimate.
  
  Next factor in contractors for things you can't do yourself. Remove the materials from your materials cost and then add in the contractor cost. This is your new estimate.
  
  From experience I can tell you that framing is about the easiest part of the whole job. It's labor-intensive, but it's very easy to do. I recommend a nail gun unless you are an experienced carpenter or framer; those guys can drive a sinker in with a single whack... my money is on you taking at least 8 whacks, per nail.
  
  I don't see this taking $50K or less. Price estimates look like this, for all non-framing:
  
  
• Foundation: $8300 - $13,200 depending on type
  
• Electrical: $5100 - $6800
  
• Plumbing: $3000 - $5000
  
• Roofing: $4000 - $8000 (assuming high-end of NC work. Your roof is pretty flat)
  
• HVAC: I have no idea.
  
  Electrical plans for new home plans are usually pretty light (pun) on the illumination options. Many new homes don't have a light in the room at all except for the kitchens and bathrooms. With your electrical cost, plan for adding additional lighting like recessed, pendant, sconce, etc. Plan for ceiling fans
  
  Dry wall you can do yourself easily. Hire experienced tapers to do the seams.
  
  Painting can be done yourself.
  
  Flooring can be done yourself, tile is harder than wood, is harder than laminate. Good tile guys can knock a floor out pretty fast.
  
  Trim work can be done yourself. mind the studs.
  
  Windows can be done yourself, but a set of guys hired to install the new-construction windows can pop them in in a hurry.
  
  Hire someone to do the front door hanging; leaks are a bitch and front doors are heavy. Do the interior doors yourself.
  
  Exterior siding is a big job. If it's stucco or brick, hire a contractor, especially for the brick. If it's vinyl, that's easy. Wood is about as easy as vinyl.
  
  If you ever wonder what should or should not be done by a contractor: go here

I did a few smaller ones, kitchen island, bathroom vanity.

I used this book. Same author as the other recommendation, but comes with a DVD as well

if you live in the USA is the best guide I have found to learn from zero. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1600852467/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

also, any Books or Videos from Larry Haun, that guys is fantastic.

I really recommend the video series of how to frame a house. is 3 parts of one hour each but you will watch a master working and taking the time to describe what you as new, need to learn.

Actually, Home Depot has a decent book Wiring 1-2-3. It’s a good place to start and it explains the concepts and why you have to do a lot of required things.

As far as YouTube goes, my favourite channel is HouseImprovements. The dude on there is Canadian, but he has great videos, showing things like how to wire a switch, how to pull cable etc. Being Canadian, they have a slightly different code than the NEC. But it’s good for learning technique and tips.

Those would be my suggestions for learning about house wiring.

The best tip is to make buddies with sparky that likes to drink beer. That’s what I do. I do all the grunt work, running cables, terminations, switches and outlets and then I bring my sparky buddy over to do QC for me. He looks when I’ve finished rough wiring, and again before drywall. And sometimes he will do the pane tie ins for me. I bring him over before I call the inspectors and it works great. Never had an issue with inspections, I get to learn how to do the work better and he gets free beer. Everyone wins.

If altering walls/floorplans is important to you, definitely make sure to bone up on framing and carpentry - there are some great books on Amazon that are geared towards apprentices. They're very easy to understand and will help you figure out how to make changes to your home. At the very least, you'll be familiar enough with basic concepts to ask smart questions of any contractors you hire in the future.

Also, you'll want to learn about the difference between load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls.

If you're looking to find a professional for his/her opinion, assistance or labor, asking elderly neighbors for recommendations is a good place to start. Don't overlook asking around at your local mom & pop hardware, plumbing store or sawmill as well. The "gruff curmudgeon" working the counter for the last 20 years has seen & heard a lot and can be an invaluable resource.

If you find yourself buying supplies locally, it's almost always preferable to buy them on a 'cash and carry' basis at a source that sells to pro-contractors. Sherwin-Williams vs Home Depot, for example. These guys sell products that are meant to last (no pro worth his or her salt wants to come back and redo a job they just finished because something has failed or broken) and that aren't available in big-box stores. The more you buy, the more of a relationship you will build, and this is always a good thing when it comes to DIY. There are a lot of fantastic roofing/plumbing/tile shops in nondescript pole-barns out in the middle of 'nowhere'. You can usually find these shops by reading pro-forums online, searching for products that are mentioned, and then looking for distributors on those product manufacturer's websites.

Last but not least, if you ever find yourself looking for granite or marble counters, pay a visit to your local tombstone/monument company. You can often pick up amazing deals, and if your project is small enough, you can buy their "scrap" trimmings for far, far less than you would pay at Lowe's or a custom kitchen company. (We scored beautiful marble thresholds and window sills for our bathroom remodel for $20 each; the tombstone maker custom-cut them out of a piece of overage he had leaned up against the back of the building.)

Ignore this negative nancy.

I think this is a really good idea. If you know what you are doing you are in fact going to save yourself a lot of money building and designing the house yourself.

The fact that you work on cars should help a lot as you have a do it yourself attitude, are good at figuring out how things go together and don't mind getting dirty.

A book I just recently read that I though was pretty good as an introduction to this is: How to Design & Build Your Own House by Lupe DiDonno & Phyllis Sperling

A few suggestions:

• Make friends who are contractors in various fields who can give you advice, free help, references
  
  
• Start looking up general contractors and home builders in the phone book and online and see what they have to say.
  
  
• Talk to realtors for references to general contractors and home builders.
  
  
• Start reading books on the different parts of the house, plumbing, electrical, framing, foundations. The more you know the better off you are. There are even books on construction estimation if you really want to get into it.
  
  
• If your time allows do actual work paid/volunteer/whatever for friends to really learn how to build. If you don't have the time make it.
  
  
• This: http://www.diychatroom.com/forum.php Is a good forum full of lots of people who can give you really solid answers on all kinds of topics.
  
  
• Make sure you fully understand each step you are doing and how they all interact.
  
  
• I am currently remodeling half my house, my first project, doing a lot of the work myself but having some things subbed, at first it was pretty mind numbing talking to the City about permits setbacks egress structural problems blah blah blah, because they have their own little language for all this, but as you learn it you realize it's all pretty simple.
  
  
• Learn to use Sketchup. It's a great way to quickly make whatever you are trying to show someone or talk to someone about into a nice 3d model, which anyone can understand.
  
  I don't know if you need plans from an architect unless you want design input especially with the house you are wanting to make. Here you can make your own plans / the general contractor can. You may need a engineer to work with for some structural stuff or if your house is on a cliff and so on.
  
  Edit: PM If you need any help or have any questions.
  

Also this is a great book to have around: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1600854974/

I've referenced it for a ton of projects

Incredibly helpful book for dealing with contractors - written by a former construction manager:

What Your Contractor Can't Tell You: The Essential Guide to Building and Renovating

Depending on the complexity of the task, don't discount the possibility that you can tackle this yourself. Home Depot sells an awesome book called "Wiring 1-2-3" which has a ton of useful information. I used it to teach myself how to do some minor work, and eventually to take on larger jobs like installing new lights and receptacles and even whole new circuits. It's really not rocket science.

At this point, I've re-wired about 75% of my house. That one book has probably saved me thousands of dollars.

I don't think you will find a single book that covers both of those adequately.

FRAMING REFERENCE GUIDES:

Complete Book of Framing: An Illustrated Guide for Residential Construction

Graphic Guide to Frame Construction (For Pros By Pros


LOAD CALCULATIONS:

Carpenter's Calculations Manual

Graphic Guide to Frame Construction.

I love this book. It has great tips, structures, methods, and detailed pictures to show how to accomplish what you're looking for. Also mentions code requirements. In the link above, it goes to the third edition, which is what I own.

I haven't actually used it that much on jobs because I've gone union and work mostly commercial jobs, but I've used it on some other projects for straight framing and it was great.

Here is a link for the fourth edition.

This is an excellent book, it's periodically updated and reissued but my version from college is still valid, so you could probably find a used copy: https://www.amazon.com/Graphic-Guide-Frame-Construction-Revised/dp/163186372X/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

Those look very interesting, and the first seems like it might specifically address techniques to build without others' aid. If that is OP's situation and intent then toward that end I might add John Carroll's Working Alone.

While not what you specifically asked for, in the same vein I would suggest keeping a copy of both the Pocket Reference and the Handymain In-your-pocket good books to have on hand for lots of different situations.

Taunton books are my go to

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1600852920/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_nw2gAbMZ1VQEK

I always recommend Renovation by Michael Litchfield.

The User's Manual for your home.

Graphic Guide to Frame Construction: Fourth Edition, Revised and Updated (For Pros by Pros) https://www.amazon.com/dp/163186372X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ss0PybXCJ47XE

For Pros by Pros: Graphic Guide to Interior Details https://www.amazon.com/dp/1561583243/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ht0PybMDW6TPZ

I recently had an architect design a house and bid out to general contractors to build it. I read "What Your Contractor Can't Tell You" before the process and found it very helpful. It covers some of your options and steps through the process from start to finish (it is both remodeling, additions, and full house info which is not all relevant to a new build). The big first decision is design-build vs independent architect and traditional bid process. Design-build would probably be a more smooth process, but it can lock you in depending on how the firm works. Some design-build firms will let you leave after the design process with the plans, but you need to know all that up front in writing. One thing that became apparent to me during the build that it would probably cost more and take longer if I tried to GC it myself. That would also have been a 50 hour per week job. I don't begrudge paying the GC fee at all.

here

I wouldn't suggest looking in only one source for tips and how to's. However, I didn't really know where to start or what questions to ask. I've found the Black and Decker series are very informative and give me a good idea what areas I need to spend more time researching.

Black and Decker: Finishing Basements

Try this: Graphic Guide to Frame Construction

It is very common for a do-it-yourself homebuilder, or a general contractor, to field out certain things to specialist tradesmen subcontractors. Plumbing and electrical are two of the top ones. The consequences for getting something wrong are ugly. Some learning experiences in electrical & plumbing will kill you, some will destroy the house. Mostly they'll just fail you inspections and cause expensive delays.

With that said:

https://www.amazon.com/Wiring-1-2-3-Home-Depot/dp/069621184X

https://www.amazon.com/Plumbing-1-2-3-Home-Depot/dp/0696211866

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Guide-Installations-Step-Step/dp/1580117872/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=V2VSFZ9JMRW52TBPSD7H

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Guide-Step-Step-Date/dp/1580117880/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=CK25R1N4EEQA5ANMTZ5Y

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-Complete-Wiring-Updated/dp/0760353573/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=V2VSFZ9JMRW52TBPSD7H

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-Complete-Guide-Plumbing/dp/1591866367/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1542590935&sr=1-1&keywords=black+decker+plumbing

Depends how deep you want to go, in my opinion. Personally I've got two of those Black and Decker books and I've used them for project ideas, but I always find them lacking when I actually dig into a project. I usually end up buying something very specific to what I'm doing. Here are a few of my favorites:

For Old Home Owners: Renovating Old Houses

Painting: Painting Houses: Inside & Out

Framing: Frame Construction: For Pros by Pros

Chickens are a lot of fun. I was skeptical at first, but I'm really enjoying raising them.

This is the book I read for building the coop:
http://www.amazon.com/Reinventing-Chicken-Coop-Step-Step/dp/1603429808

Here's the book my wife read about raising them: http://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Every-Yard-Stores-Keeping/dp/1580085822/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1464051929&sr=1-4&keywords=raising+backyard+chickens

You may find this helpful: How to Design and Build Your Own House

Both of these have good ideas and plans, well worth $30:

Reinventing the Chicken Coop: 14 Original Designs

Backyard Chickens' Guide to Coops and Tractors

even non-unions guys price out things that way, some service guys can put in 12 hours of work in an 8 hour day, some less. every piece of work gets priced out for time. some move on and within that first 'hour' he's moved on to the next 'hour'. it's not uncommon anywhere. he gets paid for an hour of work, the window gets priced at an hour of work, it can take less or more than that to accomplish it.


things are priced out by an assumption of time/labor by people who get paid to do it.
they use books like:

http://www.amazon.com/Markup-Profit-Contractors-Michael-Stone/dp/1572180714/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300221948&sr=8-1
and

http://www.amazon.com/Means-Residential-Repair-Remodeling-Costs/dp/1936335212/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1300221967&sr=8-2


vote me down, but i'm educating you on how these things work, if it is uncomfortable, i'm sorry, but things are never black and white. if i'd never said anything, you'd continue to be under this delusion. now you're just willfully ignorant.

Not sure if these have been mentioned, but I saw the one Pocket Ref.

I also have these...

https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=geSZAwAAQBAJ&source=productsearch&utm_source=HA_Desktop_US&utm_medium=SEM&utm_campaign=PLA&pcampaignid=MKTAD0930BO1&gl=US&gclid=CMi438_3680CFZPgMgodqzMIEQ&gclsrc=ds

https://www.amazon.com/Electrical-Pal-Reference-Engineering-Publications/dp/0965217108/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468258071&sr=1-1&keywords=electrical+pal

https://www.amazon.com/Handyman--Your-Pocket-Richard-Allen-Young/dp/1885071299/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468258247&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=handman+in+your+pocket

I found a fantastic book a few years back in a second-hand store titled How to Design and Build Your Own House. If this is what you're interested then I highly recommend that you find a copy. It takes you through every part of the process, from finding a piece of land to laying out floorplans, to physically assembling the structure. It provides standard builder's formulas and explains how to look up local building codes, gives advice on how to take the best advantage of your location, and even contains some of the best descriptions of basic structural analysis I've ever read. It was written in the seventies, so you do have to keep that in mind, but the important stuff hasn't changed.

The book on Amazon.

This was a pretty good series.
http://www.finehomebuilding.com/2016/07/07/insulate-basement-part-1

This is a very solid book on basement finishing.
https://www.amazon.com/Remodeling-Basement-Revised-Tauntons-Build/dp/1600852920

Just some tips that I learned over the years...

1. Tools and know how to use them, safely. http://www.reddit.com/r/HomeImprovement/comments/1xeyuf/home_improvement_faq_my_first_toolbox/ - I started out with Harbor Freight tools and purchased better stuff that I used more often.
   
   
2. Probably the most common thing around the house to fix/repair is drywall. This should be pretty easy. Learning how to do the common textures, such as, Knockdown, Orange Peel, etc.. Painting, which should be pretty easy, but there are a ton of articles that have good tips on preventing common mistakes,
   
   
3. Since you're thinking about knocking down walls... learn basic woodworking and home structure. I personally liked this book: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1600854923/ - which basically covers just about everything you can do with renovating. If you're building a bar... you may want to make your first project be a workbench or something simple, which will also be useful for building cabinetry and what not. It talks about also different materials/tools for the job at hand, which is useful.
   
   
4. Building Codes... probably a good idea to know different building code standards, if you ever plan on selling the house. You'll want to make sure that it stays up to code for any project you do. You don't want to end up creating a potential fire hazard that may cost you $ in the future. I can't stress it enough, safety first. If you're tearing down walls, be sure you're not cutting into electrical wires and what not.
   
   
5. Electrical, basic electrical knowledge will help. E.g. knowing about circuits, circuit breaker operation, safety, etc.
   
   
6. Planning out your project ahead of time, will help you avoid costly mistakes, prep you for what tools/materials you'll need. Don't be like me and dive head first. Usually when I deviate from this, my projects come out less than desired. So plan ahead of time.
   
   
7. In the end, the best way to learn, is to plan your project and just go out and do it. Take your time. Don't rush it. Start with small projects where you can afford to make mistakes. Having a carpenter in the family also will help for things that you're not sure on, plus you can probably borrow some of the more expensive tools.
   
   

In my limited experience, the better people are more matter of fact, willing to teach and not pushy. The detail on the quotes I've gotten weren't reflective of the experience, workmanship or honesty of the person involved.

If someone wants to take advantage of your (my) lack of knowledge, they will. I ended up going with the old school guy who emailed me his quote over the guy with the long pdf and gantt chart.

This book may be useful, though maybe more geared towards large projects with more formal requirements: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0979983800/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here are some of the books that I learned a lot from:

General Knowledge

Plumbing

Electrical

Additions (I don’t like this book as much as the rest as far as individual tasks go, but it’s value comes from teaching more about project management than anything else)

Framing

There’s a couple more that I can’t remember the names of right now, I’ll see if I can find them this weekend and make a post for other diyers

These aren’t really books for pros (except for The Very Efficient Carpenter), but I’ve found they’re very good guides for diyers. They’re what got me started, and I think I’ve reached a pretty high skill level with their help

Modern refrigeration and air conditioning.

HVAC textbook

That’s just a quick google search. You may be able to find it cheaper.

1. Learn where all your shut-offs are. Make sure your shut-offs work. You don't want to learn the hard way that your main water shutoff doesn't work.
   
2. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1600854923/ is a book I've seen recommended often.
   
3. Learn to Google/Youtube.
   
   Things are going to break, and you're going to learn how to fix them. Each time you fix something, you're going to gain new knowledge.

I just bought this book after reading a lot of good reviews, and I would agree that it's got a lot of good info:

Renovation

> His county has building codes

Yes, his county enforces building codes. He has inspections.

Building codes are independent of government. In fact, where they are enforced, the law usually simply references the published building code.

Here, you can buy them yourself. Note, they are not restricted from sale in Idaho,.. HAHAHHHAHhhaha

https://www.amazon.com/International-Residential-Two-Family-Dwellings-Council/dp/1609837371/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1538376806&sr=8-4&keywords=building+code

This book, Renovation by Litchfield. I wish I knew about this book sooner. If something is fucked up in the house, this book shows how pros will fix it.

Edit: also if you want to really check your electricity you need both and outlet tester or multimeter to make sure that the outlet has the correct voltage/polarity and a circuit tracer to make sure that the wire goes where you think it goes. It took me two months to figure out where the hell my stove was getting power from, turns out I had a 2nd breaker box that was walled up ,I hope , unintentionally.

I have a similar set up with interior french drain to a sump pump. When I refinished my basement, I dryloked all of the block walls, then used foam board adhesive (make sure it is for foam board or it will burn the insulation) to adhere 2" rigid to the block wall. I notched out the bottom 1" for drain tile. Also, cutting 2" rigid is a pain, but what I found that worked very well was to use a stiff 2" drywall taping knife. I sharpened it on a table top belt sander, and just resharpened when it got dull.

​

The 2" rigid plus block wall gives approximately a 13 r-value, which is what code requires for a basement in most areas. Make sure you also insulate the rim joists, because that area sits above ground level and is more susceptible to heat loss.

​

I would definitely suggest picking up this book from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-Complete-Finishing-Basements/dp/1591865883/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1539206278&sr=8-1

It was very helpful, and provided some good tips when I got stuck trying to figure out how to do certain things, since finishing a basement is an entirely different animal than building above ground.

I used this book when making a concrete table and it was rather useful. https://www.amazon.com/Concrete-Countertops-Simple-Step-Step/dp/1561588822

A really great "all around" book is by Charlie Wing called The Visual Handbook of Building and Remodeling

Does he have a toolkit that's in working order? Does he collect honey?

Perhaps something along the DIY/building theme. There are some good books like this that could be useful

https://www.amazon.com/Wiring-1-2-3-Home-Depot/dp/069621184X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501101558&sr=8-1&keywords=wiring+1-2-3

This is a decent start.

Congrats on your house, and good luck renovating! Here are some resources I found that I hope will help:

• "What Your Contractor Can't Tell You: The Essential Guide to Building and Renovating"
  
• "The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control"
  
  
• Lowe's Ideas & How-to's
  
• Home Depot's Projects & Ideas
  
• "Staying Put: Remodel Your House to Get the Home You Want"
  
• Apartment Therapy has a post on Green Home Renovations, and they list a LOT of websites, stores, books, businesses and appliances for people who want to renovate while staying green.

I recommend the For Pros by Pros book series for each trade. https://www.tauntonstore.com/for-pros-by-pros-series

I’d also recommend:

• Housebuilding: A Do-It-Yourself Guide, Revised & Expanded https://www.amazon.com/dp/1402743165/
  
• Renovation 5th Edition: Completely Revised and Updated https://www.amazon.com/dp/1631869590/

I like the Black & Decker series of DIY books. Aside from those, I've always found Pocket Reference and Handyman In Your Pocket essentials for any toolbox.

if you want to earn yourself an A while doing whatever you want. check out this book. will be the best 20 bucks you spend all year
https://www.amazon.com/Graphic-Guide-Frame-Construction-Designers/dp/1600850235

https://www.amazon.com/Graphic-Guide-Frame-Construction-Designers/dp/1600850235