Book Description
A comprehensive and in-depth guide for amateur and professional ceramic tile setters. TILE YOUR WORLD takes the reader from the early history of the craft, all the way through to advanced residential tiling techniques. Projects range from kitchen and bathroom floors to custom tile shower installations. Kitchen counters and back splashes are also covered. TILE YOUR WORLD contains over 300 black and white photos and line drawings and 6 four-page color inserts. Eight appendices and a full index are included.
Customer Reviews:
A most.......2007-08-31
I rebuilt my bathroom and completely renovated the shower. This book was my bible. Of course I had other references and ideas to use, but pretty much kept to this book. I had it there by my side while constructing everything from the shower pan, shower walls and tiling it all. Sure I could have done it without this book and my wife would have made me hire a professional to redo my job.
Not to brag, but with the advice from this book people think that a professional DID remodel my bathroom. There is so much satisfaction in doing it yourself and to get a the results as good (and sometimes better) as a pro...
An excellent overview.......2007-06-22
John Bridge has put together an excellent reference for the experienced and novice tile setter alike, and if you're looking to learn the basics to put together a project for the first time, this book is a must read. John's light, conversational style makes the book a quick read, and as mentioned in another review, the online forum on the author's website is also an invaluable reference.
Highly recommended to those who need a to learn the ABCs of tile.
Tile Your World.......2007-05-13
I bought the bookas a gift for a friend who is quite interested in home renovation technique. She was thrilled by it and judging by her reaction, it must be an informative and well written book.
Everything you need to know!.......2007-02-13
This is the ultimate book for tile setters and for those who want to be tile setters. John focuse on all of the little things that the amateurs don't. focus on. The actual tiling itself is the last thing he focuse on. He will teach you the science of laying different types of tiles. You will learn everyting from floor deflection to room layout to determing the square footage and much more. I even learned of a new underlayment product made by Schluter that does not transfer cracks to the tiles due to structural movement and also a waterproofing membrane to use in shower tile installations! I have learned so much Thank you.
Great book for me - Novice/JOAT.......2007-02-06
We recently built our new home & I used this book & Setting Tile (Fine Homebuilding) to do all the tile work. One of our best & proudest features is the masterbath I built with lg garden tub and oversized corner dual head shower with dual niche all tiled together - We love it. I can't believe I was able to do it all with friends & family and alot of sweat/work.
Saved thousands over best few estimates. I see why the labor is so pricy now....
Recommend both books.
Book Description
An introduction to the art and craft of creating stone structures with step-by-step project instructions.
Customer Reviews:
Manual labor is hard.......2007-04-29
Chuck will keep you smiling as your read his books. They contain plenty of humorous stories while they display the stone arts. There are better guides but you should read as many as possible: you'll need it.
Stone work is the hardest task you'll probably ever do in your life. If your project is big, it seems to never end and you'll doubt you'll ever finish. One rock can take 2 hours to lay whereas if all goes well, you can lay 5 in an hour. So, if you are interested in stone work, I'd advise to start small on the first few projects. This book is a good guide to helping you along the way.
A good introduction for the would-be amateur stone mason.......2006-07-03
An excellent introduction for anyone who is interested in learning more about stone work and masonry.
I enjoyed the book for the breadth of coverage, and for the anecdotal stories. It is one thing to be told safety tips and procedures, but the lesson is much more effective with a good story. I had hoped for a more comprehensive discussion of the tools used, how to use them, and how to shape the stone. However, lack of this does not detract from the usefulness of the book. The closest I have come to stonework was moving stones around for landscaping, but now if I were armed with a set of stonework tools, I would be tempted to try something more complex.
Great starter book!.......2005-04-26
This book was better than I expected. I was hoping for color photographs, but it has B&W only. Doesn't get into a lot of details, but covers quite a few topics on the subject of stone masonry. I agree with previous review. Would have been great if the section on Mortaring Stone could have been more detailed. All in all, a good starting book to refer to.
Little bit of everything........2002-12-17
This book seems to have a bit of everything that has to do with traditional stone masonry. It shows how to build different types of buildings and objects. Pictures are only in Black and White. If your looking for a full colour glossy paged book on stone architecture this is not for you.
Introduction to Traditional Stone Masonry.......1998-03-13
This is an excellent first book for those who want to learn about building with stone as an old-world craftsman, rather than a money-hungry contractor or assembly-line modern mason. Charles McRaven does not fill his book with theory, but with practical methods and ideas which are true to proper masonry techniques but allow even the most novice to begin to lay stone right away. The anecdotal style of this book makes it an easy read, and inspires confidence to pick up that trowel for the first time!
Book Description
The only reference to all important structural engineering principles and design techniques, this best-selling, internationally renowned handbook is updated for current standard specifications and codes (including the 1994 AASHTO specifications) and the latest design developments. Contributions from structural engineers discuss a broad range of vital topics. Concise, practical and user-friendly, this one-of-a-kind resource gives you not only up-to-the-minute information on the planning, design, and construction of a variety of engineered structures, but also practical examples and detailed descriptions of design procedures.
Customer Reviews:
"The Book".......2006-11-02
The "Bible" for structural engineers for decades past and present. Updated and a "must have" for the structural design engineer. The place to start when a new problem is encountered.
Useful resource.......2004-03-17
It's a book with many useful information, tables and examples. A really valued reference.
Unit problem.......1999-07-18
This book is quite good but its usability is lost to a great extent because it is not written in Metric units. Also, chapters on computer application are not well written
Amazon.com
This is a project book, with more than 20 easy-to-build projects for patio and garden using a variety of stone. Walls, arches, paths, steps, rock gardens, fountains, seats and tables, sundials, patios, and even birdbaths are described in detail and illustrated with hundreds of drawings and color photographs. The book will show the reader how to estimate costs and quantities accurately, select the right tools and materials, prepare ground sites properly, produce sturdy and original structures, and create an attractive, inviting garden or patio using one of nature's most durable and beautiful materials. --Mark A. Hetts
Book Description
Features advice on estimating costs and quantities, information on tools and materials, site preparation hints, and detailed hands-on instructions for working with natural and manmade stone.
Customer Reviews:
Great book for creating stone garden projects.......2004-02-28
This large paperback book may only be 96 pages but it is incredibly detailed and the color photos and illustrations are excellent. For each project the author covers types of materials, site preparation, design, estimating quantities, measuring, as well as step by step instructions on building the project. Projects covered: Garden Walls, Arches, Patios, Paths, Steps, Planters, Rock Gardens, Seats and Tables, and Ponds. A section on "Small Weekend Projects" shows how to make a mounting for a sundial, paving around trees, laying stepping stones, and building a patio planter out of rocks.
A "Reference" section in the back of the book includes detailed information on tools, natural stone, man-made wall blocks, paving slabs and blocks, mortar and concrete, dry mixed materials, mortar mixes and ready made concrete.
A great guide book.......2000-04-26
Twenty different projects are presented in color photos and detailed drawings. Lawrence concentrates on patios, paving, steps, garden walls, stone furniture and decorative ponds. These are all projects that homeowners can handle themselves with this concise guide.
Book Description
- Includes instructions for building popular masonry projects, such as barbecues, patios and retaining walls. - Step-by-step instructions accompanied by color photos.
Customer Reviews:
Not Very good for Stacked Stone Instructions........2007-01-10
While this book had fairly good instructions for completing walks, brick walls and patios. It was not very good for instructions on completeing indoor stacked stone projects. I could have saved money if I had just completed a search on line and down loaded the information from HGTV or DIY.
Excellent book for typical do it yourself projects.......2006-09-15
Has simple easy instructions with pictures for construction of typical DIY projects like pillars, patios. Excellent book!
A bit too general but adequate to get basic jobs done.......2004-02-16
With a chapter covering a project or two in each flavor of medium, this book in a general sense yeilds what you need to build basic walkways, walls, patios. On repairs of existing structures I believe it to do a much better job.
I've been looking for something more in depth on the subject of concrete (acid staining, texturing, etc) as an alternative to the standard tile or plain grey concrete. Unfortunately this book could not help me at all, they have one chapter devoted to concrete and its far from inspirational. I'm not asking for the world here, but if someone is going to name a book "complete" and end up with something thats just barely enough, I have to give it a just passing grade.
I recommend the following instead, especially since they are 1/2 the price but have better content:
(Better Homes and Gardens)
Step-By-Step Masonry and Concrete
(sunset)
Complete Masonry: Building Techniques, Decorative Concrete, Tools and Materials
*note: Sunset has several books on masonry, 3 of them are called "Complete Masonry", I've only had a chance to look at one of them. Also for inspiration and more in depth coverage of concrete, check out "Concrete Countertops: Design, Form, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath" it is excellent, but you will sort of need a basic book in addition to it.
A near-perfect book for OUTDOOR masonry projects.......2003-07-15
The "Book Description" review is correct when it says that
"The Complete Guide to Home Masonry is the most comprehensive and useful guide to masonry for today's do-it-yourself homeowner."
About the only thing missing from this one-sentence summary is that the book is nigh-exclusively devoted to OUTDOOR projects. (The short exceptions are damp-proofing basement walls, and repairing fireboxes.)
The book features clear step-by-step instructions and color photographs (one good photo for each and every step of every project -- HUNDREDS of photos total) for working with natural stone, stone veneer, brick, glass block, concrete block, poured concrete, patio tile, stucco, and hypertufa.
The projects cover all the simple outdoor jobs (such as walkways, walls, and patios), the common elaborations (such as adding lattice panels to a block wall, or laying tile over concrete), and quite a number of complex constructs -- like "Building a Stone Moon Window".
EVERY section of text has one or more illustrating photographs to show what they're writing about. EVERY photograph is in color, with good contrast, color rendition, and composition. EVERY project includes an "Everything You Need" box, listing all the tools and materials required. EVERY tool that's used in the projects has (1) a picture in the "Masonry Tools & Equipment" chapter early in the book; (2) a closeup of the tool in use; and (3) explanatory text discussing proper technique. EVERY material used has pictures of all states through its life -- from the bags clearly depicting brand names like "Quikrete" and "Lehigh", to the dry materials, the mixing process, the layout stage, and finishing with the final assembled project.
If this book had the same comprehensive coverage for INDOOR projects (tiling bathrooms and creating concrete countertops are high on my wish list), it would be worth SIX stars!
Excellent and Easy to Follow.......2000-10-06
This was an excellent book on masonry and concrete projects. It was very easy to read and had several illustrations that show exactly what your project should look like. It goes through every step you should take. This is a great book for beginners and do-it-yourselfers.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic for the price!.......2004-03-04
When I first bought this book I wondered if it would be out-of-date. It wasn't. Although there were many tricks I've learned that weren't in the book, I did catch many new formwork techniques from this book. I'd recommend it to anyone learning to set forms on a residential or light commercial construction site.
Book Description
Writer Charles Long has a well-earned reputation as one of North America's self-sufficiency experts. More than 20 years ago, he and his wife, Elizabeth, fled city life and conventional employment for the country, and have flourished there ever since. Now back by popular demand Long's
The Stonebuilder's Primer is a highly readable account of the couple's successful effort to build "a house that will outlast anything made of wood."
Developing a compromise method of stone construction that is both simpler and truer to the stonemason's art than the popular slipform method, the Longs built an aesthetically satisfying home of stone on a limited budget and no previous construction experience. In this classic how-to book, the author describes the complete building process in clear, easy-to-follow steps and, in so doing, dispels the myth of difficulty that surrounds stone construction.
Customer Reviews:
"Primer" is probably a good word........2006-12-28
This is an excellent beginning book on building with stone. No mention of necessary information regarding general house building is included. You are supposed to find that elsewhere. This is about building stone walls to become a building. The technique it presents is different than slipform wall building and creates walls that are remarkably good looking, straight and will endure for decades, maybe even centuries. Great book and I highly reccomend it for anyone thinking about using stone as a building material.
Diary of self-taught mason.......2005-04-07
The experiences of Mr. Long will interest many 'would-be' masons, contemplating construction of a stone wall of any form. The book is not a 'how-to' guide as much as a 'how I figured it out' or 'how I got the rock to the top of the wall.' Those with masonry experience will probably find this unnecessary, but anyone considering a masonry adventure will find the reading well worth the effort. Mr. Long's experiments in man-handling rock, using ramps and building scaffolds are exactly what amateur masons need to read.
The book if fairly shy about the author's handiwork. The finished house is never displayed, and 'example' photos are generally shots of 19th century buildings. Additionally, there is nothing on how long it took to accomplish their tasks. There are lots of photos showing the author and wife man-handling rocks, though.
The book seems to be set in the north-eastern United States, and Mr. Long's advice for finding rocks may be unsuited to other areas. As best I can tell, the book advises picking up a suitable rock when ever one one. This might happen on the shoulder of a highway, while driving past a farmer's field or wandering around old quarries. Mr. Long suggests all non-masons are overjoyed when anyone hauls away a rock. I'm not convinced.
Valuable book.......2005-04-07
If you are considering building with stone, give this book a try. I like the author's writing style and he does a great job explaining the process.
Finally a really well written book .......2005-01-14
I rarely write a review despite the fact that I read so many books, but felt this one deserved special attention. I am looking to build a log home in Southeast Alaska and wanted to have a nice rock wall foundation and a spectacular fireplace. After reading this book I am confident that I can do most of the work myself (except the footing for the foundation) and feel confident that it will look totally professional (and be bomb proof). The book is well written, very readable, has good photos, and is probably the only book you will need to do any and all stone work. It is not a book on slip form and it is not a coffee table book - it is for building in stone.
An unusually good book for beginners.......2003-12-25
A VERY good book which tells you not only the 'hows', but the 'whys' too. Long does a very good job of anticipating the nuts-and-bolts questions, he even describes some of the newbie problems HE had. He's somebody who has walked the walk, having made many of the mistakes for you in advance.
Book Description
Stonework gives a yard a sense of permanence and distinction. Authors Alan and Gill Bridgewater show readers how to bring the beauty of stone into their gardens with simple but elegant natural features, unique walls, attractive paving, and much more.
Outdoor Stonework is a complete primer on working with stone, including choosing materials, safety considerations, and cutting and fitting techniques. The 16 original stone projects include flagstone steps, retaining walls, a cantilevered seat-shelf, a garden table, a Zen-type stone garden, and more.
Photographed in its garden setting, each project features step-by-step construction methods. Instructions include supply lists, estimates of time for completion, safety tips, and helpful hints from the experts. The clear construction diagrams, cross-section drawings, and concise text make stonework fun and satisfying for do-it-yourselfers of all levels.
Customer Reviews:
I can do that!.......2007-01-20
If beautifying your world with stone and concrete is your goal, this book is a must.
The author did a fine job of eliciting interest in a project by showing wonderful color photos of the finished product first. Then he supplies photos and diagrams of each step while describing it in down-to-earth fashion. He adds some photos of historical works to show what can be done and how long a quality job can last.
I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of building a winding path. Mr. Bridgewater showed each layer of the walk, how to install that layer (tamper, rake, shovel, hose...) and feel that I really could create a viable path for my own home.
The only nit I have to pick was his measurements for the Japanese lantern's components. Although I could figure it out, he was inconsistent in indicating whether a dimension was length, width, or height.
Overall, I would purchase this book again.
Book Description
The Masonry Construction Manual examines the wide range of possibilities stone and brickwork offer in building. It documents in great detail the technical principles and methods of building with these materials, examines their properties, the sizes and forms of bricks and stones, the bonds, and the behaviour of stone and brickwork under stress. In addition, full information is provided on the requirements with respect to heat, damp, sound-proofing and fire protection, and the most recent standards and norms are listed. Finally, a large number of built examples are presented, complete with plans and details, all of which illustrate the many applications of stone and brickwork in contemporary construction. All plans have been drawn at equal scale especially for this book to ensure best legibility and easy comparison. The construction manuals from Edition Detail have set new standards in the field of specialist literature, becoming an indispensable part of any architect's library.
Customer Reviews:
Best quality but refers to European building codes.......2003-08-12
There's nothing else quite like these construction manuals: highly technical information aimed at architects and engineers, presented very stylishly. Because this one concerns masonry, the most general purpose of building materials, it seems to cover all aspects of building science--energy efficiency, moisture and sound control, fire safety (very briefly) etc. It also gives basic overall structural engineering guidelines, e.g. allowable dimensions for unsupported walls, and more, for the reader who is already conversant with stresses, shear forces, and so on, and who is interested in reading several pages on, say, how to interpret cracks in walls.
Apart from the historical overview which begins it, it is essentially a summary and explanation of the German building codes, and supplies voluminous data from them in the form of tables and graphs. And, of course, it ends with the detailed examples, with meticulous drawings, for which the publisher is famous.
Book Description
Ultimate Guide to Masonry and Concrete covers a wide range of masonry subjects, including basic installations, specific projects, and common repairs with concrete, block, brick, stone, tile, and stucco. Readers will find the information they need on tools, materials, and techniques explained in plain language and shown in full-color photographs and detailed, colorful illustrations. The construction of 60 of the most popular masonry projects, such as laying a brick patio or walkway, building a barbecue, and building a retaining wall, are covered in detail with dozens of step-by-step photographs and large, cutaway illustrations. Readers will find tips and special features on alternative approaches to projects that let them apply the information to different types of buildings and sites. Thorough coverage of masonry repairs and maintenance is also included.
Customer Reviews:
I use this as a masonry reference book.......2007-01-12
This book covers all aspects of masonry work, from new construction through repair. As a carpenter, I have previous experience with some of the basics of the topics covered, and I would feel confident following the procedures in the book to complete any of the projects listed.
As with any work of this nature, there's a reason why some people do this professionally -- there's a lot that takes experience to learn. But, if you know a few basics you'll probably be glad to have this book as a reference.
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Books Index
Books Home
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Setting Tile (Fine Homebuilding)
Drywall: Professional Techniques for Great Results
Working with Tile (Taunton's Build Like a Pro)
Hardwood Floors: Laying, Sanding and Finishing
Tile Idea Book
