Book Description
Step-by-step blueprint for do-it-yourself home builders. From locating an architect, to hiring workers, to selecting features and fixtures, and more, here's how to build or expand your own home from start to finish--and save! Richard M. Scutella and Dave Heberle's soup-to-nuts guide, How to Plan, Contract and Build Your Own Home, Third Edition, leads you through the perils of homebuilding to make sure you end up with exactly what you want. You get point-by-point tips on choosing a site and style, keeping home traffic patterns sensible, deciding on the right size for rooms, preparing plans, getting permits and more. Unique "quality control" insights into each stage of construction highlight problems to watch out for--foundation, roof, floors, walls, stairs, walkways and driveways, heating and cooling, electrical capacity and wiring, even computer wiring and alarm sensors. From turning the first shovel of earth to the final inspection, this homeowner's construction manual makes sure your dream house will be a dream come true.


From the Back Cover
There are countless reasons why building your own home makes good sense, But, for most people, the chance to create the home they've always wanted is #1 on their list. And this all-in-one guide can help you every step of the way toward realizing your vision - from hiring the right vendors to picking fixtures.
Whether it comes to basic planning ("What's your move-in date?") or construction methods ("Wood or steel?"), this trusted reference, now fully updated to cover new materials, techniques, money-saving options, and environmentally friendly technologies and methods, is the most complete source on building your own home available.

Written by experienced instructors and builders, and used by savvy homebuilders to put up thousands of homes, How to Plan, Contract and Build Your Own Home will help you: Select and prepare a site; Make informed decisions on types of construction, framing, foundations, and layouts; Plan for home office use, communications upgrades, "smart house" technology, and more; Design a home that will serve your needs throughout your life; Perform construction tasks safely and efficiently; Install the newest and most economical and efficient types of insulation, roofing, plumbing, wiring, and more; Build amenities such as decks, patios, gazebos, sidewalks, and driveways; Make do-it-yourself vs. subcontracting decisions; Plan when you'll move in with a helpful calendar-style checklist; Select the right mortgage.
Featuring a reader-friendly style loaded with icons and sidebars pointing out safety considerations, problem alerts, and elaboration on specific topics, this one-stop, do-it-yourself home-building package makes any dream house a reality. It even tells you how to maintain and improve your home once it's done!


About the Author
Richard M. Scutella (Erie, PA) is an author of books on new construction, home buying, and home maintenance and safety. He has designed and supervised the construction on new homes.

Dave Heberle (Erie, PA, a former realtor associate, has an extensive background in home-building and design. A professional writer who has authored many articles on home construction, he is currently an environmental and health specialist.

ANNOTATION

An invaluable source of information, advice, and inspiration, this expanded second edition features new material on the planning and purchase of major appliances, garage designs and enhancements, plumbing and electrical wiring, energy-saving lighting options, home safety and security measures, and much more.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Step-by-step blueprint for do-it-yourself home builders. From locating an architect, to hiring workers, to selecting features and fixtures, and more, here's how to build or expand your own home from start to finish—and save! Richard M. Scutella and Dave Heberle's soup-to-nuts guide, How to Plan, Contract and Build Your Own Home, Third Edition, leads you through the perils of homebuilding to make sure you end up with exactly what you want. You get point-by-point tips on choosing a site and style, keeping home traffic patterns sensible, deciding on the right size for rooms, preparing plans, getting permits and more. Unique "quality control" insights into each stage of construction highlight problems to watch out for—foundation, roof, floors, walls, stairs, walkways and driveways, heating and cooling, electrical capacity and wiring, even computer wiring and alarm sensors. From turning the first shovel of earth to the final inspection, this homeowner's construction manual makes sure your dream house will be a dream come true.

SYNOPSIS

There are countless reasons why building your own home makes good sense, But, for most people, the chance to create the home they've always wanted is #1 on their list. And this all-in-one guide can help you every step of the way toward realizing your vision - from hiring the right vendors to picking fixtures.
Whether it comes to basic planning ("What's your move-in date?") or construction methods ("Wood or steel?"), this trusted reference, now fully updated to cover new materials, techniques, money-saving options, and environmentally friendly technologies and methods, is the most complete source on building your own home available.