Product Description
The first comprehensive guide of its kind, Building an Affordable House is for homeowners and building contractors who want to incorporate proven cost-saving techniques into their projects. Written by a contractor who has been nationally recognized for his innovative approach to cost control, this book shows readers how to generate significant savings on major projects such as building a new home or adding on to an existing one. The first section provides an econ… More >>
#1 by W. Dorland on March 15, 2010 - 6:49 pm
The book is the bible for poor construction techniques designed to save a few dollars on each house but leave a legacy of grief for the home owner. If you like the idea of cutting corners and building the worst houses on the market, buy this book. I wouldn’t own one of this guys houses.
Rating: 1 / 5
#2 by Joseph W. Squyres on March 15, 2010 - 8:41 pm
Much of the information in this book is how to make a house affordable by eliminating desireable features. There is some useful information.
Rating: 3 / 5
#3 by Kim Mcglothlin on March 15, 2010 - 11:15 pm
This book is really well written with lots of photos. I highly recommend to anyone who has been shopping for practical construction books. I have read many construction books, but have not found satisfying reference materials I can apply directly to my job, but this book I definitely learned a lot and gained a lot of tips to apply to my projects. Thank you Fernando!!!
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by Razzle on March 16, 2010 - 2:01 am
I came about this title from a seminar with SMA Consulting Group in Utah. Working in the residental sector, I feel it is imperative to understand and grasp the concepts outlined in this book. From prelim all the way through, having the mindset up front to reduce costs and refine construction should be a must for anyone in any type of market, custom to production. Many of the items dicussed are currently in use with some of the larger builders in the nation and the returns from those practices are proof that this elements can used and applied across the board. Even if you think your business must design and build inefficient homes in order to make the sell, you are missing the point and potential. Any market can do this, it just requires you to be creative within a framework. Reducing material waste and labor costs can be done by using some of these simple and common sense practices. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to increase their margins and reduce their costs. If your designer cannot work within these ideas and concepts, maybe it’s time for a new designer!
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by Claude Lambert on March 16, 2010 - 2:25 am
If you are a contractor, I would be very surprised that you do not know the few tips displayed in this book, such as do not overbuild the foundations or do not chose a complicated roof. Even I know that.
If you are not a professional and you are dreaming of your next house and you want a Kaufman-type house, it is a good book.
So, I bought the book by mistake: I know the basic stuff displayed and I do not want a Kaufman house. I wanted something more green, tips on how to build smaller but more efficient, imaginative ways of using volumes, examples of ultra modern or ultra vintage exteriors; a list of modern affordable materials, where to find such materials(my small GA town is not at the top of modern building techniques), ways to calculate the best window height, what is the most efficient place for closets, all that kind of things. It is not there.
This is all wrong for me: all the images show an appalling lack of style, all the advice is about cheap rather than affordable, and the techniques described date from the seventies.
Rating: 1 / 5