Self Build Books
Below is a selection of books that provide further information to self builders.
The Housebuilder's Bible: An Insider's Guide to the Construction Jungle
A unique title that combines cost information with guidance and comment in the fast growing selfbuild arena.
Now in its 5th edition, the Housebuilders Bible is fully up to date on recent building reg changes for the UK mark This is one of those books that has become a cult hit despite the publishing and bookselling trades.
Self published because no publisher was originally interested in the concept, sold via mail order because bookshops don't like to deal with one man and a dog publishers, it first appeared in 1994 with a print run of just a few hundred. The print run on this edition (the 5th) is over 20,000 and it regularly appears in Amazon's top 100 titles.
So who is buying it and why? The majority of purchasers are drawn from Britain's growing army of selfbuilders, people building new homes or renovating existing ones, who appreciate the frank and at times brutal appraisal of their efforts. However there is also a large number of architects, surveyors and builders who sing its praises.
The information in the book is detailed and infomative yet the presentation is succint and often witty. If you just want to find out how the British build houses, this is a fascinating read. If you want to actually build one yourself, then frankly you'd be nuts not to have read this book from cover to cover. It's 240 pages are packed with information on all aspects of homebuilding and renovating including 60 tables which detail current construction costs on everything from drains to hanging curtains.
Managing Home Build & Renovation
Features invaluable information on avoiding the pitfalls and problems that often occur during domestic building. Author Leonard Sales shows you how to stay in control of your project, finishing on time and to budget. The book includes simple-to-use management techniques that the author himself used successfully, and that would suit projects with value ranging from one thousand to one million pounds.
The Whole House Book: Ecological Building Design and Materials
Features invaluable information on avoiding the pitfalls and problems that often occur during domestic building. Author Leonard Sales shows you how to stay in control of your project, finishing on time and to budget. The book includes simple-to-use management techniques that the author himself used successfully, and that would suit projects with value ranging from one thousand to one million pounds.
How to Design and Build Your Own House
Nearly eight hundred drawing enhance step-by-step instructions in every aspect and phase of planning and constructing one's own home.
The Homebuilding and Renovating: Book of Great Value Self-build Homes
A collection of 24 inspiring high-quality, low budget self-build homes built in the UK over the past three years, from just £32,000 up to £150,000. They all show how it is possible for you to achieve a spacious family home in any style on a budget.
More and more people aspire to build their dream home - this practical handbook provides valuable, stage-by-stage advice on turning those dreams into reality.
Each year thousands of people realise their dreams and build their own home. Written by the acknowledged expert in the self-build field, Building Your Own Home has for twenty-five years been the readers' essential reference, helping them through a minefield of conflicting advice and legislation.
Building Your Own Home evaluates all the available choices. It helps you to find the right plot, choose the right design, make the right financial choices and shows you how to sort out the planning and other consents.
It gives valuable information on how to go about building with either builders or subcontractors and illustrates this advice through real-life stories that highlight the experiences of self-builders.
Packed with over 100 colour and black & white photographs, designs and plans, Building Your Own Home contains everything a self-builder needs to know and is the ideal companion to The Home Plans Book by the same author.
Out of the Woods: Ecological Designs for Timber Frame Self Build (New Futures)
"This deserves to be a best seller." Eco Design
"...a must for anyone considering self-build." You Build Magazine
A fully revised and updated edition of the self-builders' ultimate design sourcebook All aspiring builders have their own ideas when it comes to designing their dream home.
This book offers the key to realising your dreams. Packed with advice, information and over 350 breathtaking and innovative plans, this fully revised and updated version of The Home Plans Book will help you to incorporate your own ideas to create a perfect home.
Taken from a wide cross-section of the major companies within the self-build industry, The New Home Plans Book gathers together all the very best plans and divides them into fourteen main categories for easy reference.
Above all, this book is a great source of ideas, so whether you are considering building a cottage or a bungalow, a house with a granny flat or a mansion on a sloping site, The New Home Plans Book seeks to guide you through the choices and help you to select the right plan for your lifestyle and site.
