Replies

1. 
   IdahoDon | Apr 02, 2012 11:20pm | #1

   I buy most of the Taunton "By

   I buy most of the Taunton "By pros for pros" books and find them the most helpful as general reference material, although you'll find magazine articles to be about as helpful for specific situations.  When I have a new project that I either need to freshen up on, or haven't done before I'll do a search of fine homebuilding as well as Journal of Light Construction - and simply pay the $5 or whatever to download the artilcle.

   For instance, I had never seen a prestressed/precast concrete slab used to park a car on in residential construction , but I had a wine cellar to build under the garage and needed to know enough to ask the right questions of both the architect and the place making the slabs.  JLC had a great article outlining the process as well as showing various ways to run the rebar supporting the edge as well as top slab of concrete.

   Half the time it's a FHB article I'll use and half the time it's JLC - they are different but complimentary.

2. 
   patrick_mccombe | Apr 03, 2012 01:14pm | #2

   Check out the JLC Field Guide

   This is the best residential construction reference available, in my opinion:

   http://jlc.buysub.com/index.php/jlc-field-guide/jlc-field-guide-volume-1.html

   The second volume covers interior work and mechanical trades:

    http://jlc.buysub.com/index.php/jlc-field-guide/jlc-field-guide-volume-2.html

   They're expensive, but worth every penny as a general reference.

1. 
   calvin | Apr 03, 2012 07:43pm | #3

   Patrick

   Excellent choice-not really a how to as much as a best practices handbook.  On occasion, they couple up the two volumes at a reduced cost.

   thanks.