Wicked Winter Review

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(More customer reviews)Only one of these stories is even worth reading, that is "Christmas Help Her". The rest are really really bad. Two are para-natural, I do not like those much. One is just not written very well "North Pole Naughty". The last one is a story of a gay horse trainer and a gay jockey, I'm not into gay stories at all.

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The Backyard Playground: Recreational Landscapes & Play Structures Review

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(More customer reviews)In an unusual departure from books of this type the first thirteen pages discuss what children like to do, the type of play different ages are interested in, and how to match an appropriate play area to the child. With that foundation firmly laid, "The Backyard Playground: Recreational Landscapes & Play Structures" then proceeds Landscaping for Playgrounds, Large Play Projects, and Small Play Projects. For each project there are multiple illustrations, materials lists, tools lists, and detailed step-by-step instructions to walk you through the entire project. No steps are left out of the project. I have seen several books that detail how to build a swing set but never discuss the appropriate ground coverings or how to correctly anchor it into the ground so it is safe. "The Backyard Playground" makes no assumptions that you would already know things like this. This text assumes that you are starting with bare ground and covers all the steps to build your project from scratch. The illustrations are so well done that anyone can easily follow along and create a playground area rivaling the best commercial projects. "The Backyard Playground" is a highly recommended book for anyone wanting to build their own children's play area and the only one I have ever reviewed that I would feel comfortable recommending to the novice handyman.

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By combining building projects for children's play structures with tips and ideas for creative landscaping, this book goes much further than any other to helping readers create a fun, safe, and interactive outdoor play area for their children in an environment that is useful and appealing to adults. The projects in this book include a broad range of designs, for toddlers to teenagers. The play structure project is the classic, timber-style set found in many yards and can accommodate several accessories and future modifications. Playing in either of the two tree house projects, kids will find adventure, privacy, and a connection to the outdoors. The climbing wall project provides kids-and parents-with a fun way to develop strength and concentration. There are also projects for playhouses and forts that kids can help build and several plans for child-size outdoor furniture.Where appropriate, projects are designed for adaptation to a different use after the child outgrows them. For example, the sandpit project is a decorative sandbox that can easily be adapted into a garden bed; the playhouse could become a garden shed in later years. In addition to the projects, there are dozens of tips for using trees and other plantings to create private, natural places for kids that are integrated with the general landscape.This book focuses on the nationwide trend of parents encouraging outdoor play for their kids while, at the same time, keeping them close to home.

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Decks: Planning, Designing, Building Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this book to get ideas for my deck and patio project, this book made the job run very smooth and gave me time saving tips along the way, I would highly recommend this book for the average do-it-yourself handman.

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Water Garden Encyclopedia Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a book that will guide you in planning, building and maintaining any type of water garden you could imagine. It covers a lot of territory, from container water gardens to formal pools, bog gardens, rills, canals and even dew ponds. It will help you plan lighting, bridges, stepping stones and wet islands. It is especially useful in letting you know what you should be planning ahead for, what aspect you might not have considered that should be factored in. The writer includes a goodly section on plants too, including bog and marginal plants.
Some of the pond construction details are complex and might make you consider getting expert help. Sound foundations for even the most simple rustic bridge require concrete footings, perhaps with reinforcing rods. The book has much to offer in the area of pond maintenance, and in how to propagate and plant water plants - I loved the idea of planting them in old panty hose, rather than planting baskets or burlap - but I thought the section on fish and pond ecology was weak.
While comprehensive and having plenty of useful ideas and caveats, this is not an encyclopedia. Written by a water garden specialist from Britain, the book will make an interesting and attractive addition to your water garden library. It is useful and well illustrated with step-by-step how-to-do-it photographs, but it is nowhere near being an encyclopedia.

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Architectural Engineering Design: Structural Systems Review

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(More customer reviews)Do not use this book without an Engineering or Architecture professor to help you through the errors within. The book is full of errors of continuity, strange/bad math, and inconsistency. The errors are so numerous, that it makes you wonder if you can trust any of the formulas to be accurate. For example: a sample problem in beam design gives the formula to use (from a table), defines the variables, gives the values for the known variables; and then in the problem-solving steps, uses different values for the known variables than what was listed in the preceding "Given" section! Furthermore, the answer arrived at cannot be made by the equation provided! There are also errors where a formula is listed in tables and that formula is referred to later and used for a problem, but the formula is not exactly the same as the table; there is no explanation for the difference.
I recommend "Simplified Engineering for Architects and Builders" (Ambrose/Tierney), instead.

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This work includes new structural system standards for designing modern buildings. For the first time in nearly 40 years, here is a completely new professional handbook for designing structural systems in architecture. Based on a thorough reexamination of all the old formulas and guidelines in light of the latest environmental research and digital technology, this volume provides essential criteria for designing wood, steel, aluminum, concrete, masonry, even fabric structures for any building, from total systems to tiny details. Best of all, this volume's interactive CD-ROM allows you to solve the most complex problems at lightning speed! It's incredibly easy. Simply access the formula you need, click on the variable you want to solve, enter numerical values for the other unknowns, click compute -and there's your answer! No math! No mistakes!Together this thick volume and its accompanying disk offer you fingertip access to these invaluable aids and features: text guidelines for selecting and sizing more than 220 structural system components in modern buildings; new and accurate formulas for impact loads, horizontal shear, metal decking, staircases, and many more design scenarios; concise no-math menus for each formula that describes each unknown (No more rummaging through the text for the meaning of an unknown.); 360 illustrations and 57 sizing tables that summarize operation of buildings, from tiny detectors to total management systems; and latest environmental considerations relating to siting and comfort. Created by an architect with more than 40 years' experience in the field, "Architectural Engineering Design: Structural Systems" provides you with near-instant solutions to hundreds of complex problems-leading you to less time wasted, less dependence on outside specialists, fewer change orders, faster turn-around time, less exposure to litigation, and happier clients, all of which add up to extraordinary bottom-line benefits!

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Timber Reduced Energy Efficient Homes Review

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(More customer reviews)Want the high thermal mass, affordability, use of waste products, energy efficiency, and environmental responsibility of an Earthship, but with a more conventional look? This is the book for you. This is a great reference book for DIY green builders. Slim, easy to read with good diagrams and photos, and written with common sense.

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Building a Shed: Siting and Planning a Shed, Building Shed Foundations, Adding Custom Details (Build Like a Pro Series) Review

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I've looked at several books on sheds and this is the best one I've found!
The author is a real craftsman. His background in cabinetmaking shines through in his attention to detail. He doesn't take shortcuts, as a matter of fact he takes the extra minute or two to do it right. Little tips like painting T 1-11 before installing it is helpful, but pointing out the value of painting the edges too, (to help preserve the wood over time), is the difference between a shed and a quality shed.
There are several step by step sheds to build, and each one offers numerous photos and tips. I would suggest reading the entire book and then building your shed. You will find different tips in each plan and can use them in building your shed.
Some of the outstanding features of this book:
ProTip - On nearly every other page the author offers a ProTip. They are not brain surgery, but if are new to construction you will find them helpful.
Trade Secret - Also on nearly every other page there is a Trade Secret. Here are the kind of tips that the old-timers offered. It's like having a master carpenter give you all the advise you'll ever needed.
Photos - Lots of them, but most importantly, they are from the part of the project the author is explaining. It's like being on the job site and seeing the project in action.
Details - The author is very good at describing the process of building a shed.
Disadvantage to this book:
The plans for the sheds are not included. You must purchase them from other sources listed in the back. It is possible to figure it out by combining different descriptions and sketches together, but if your are new to construction you may be better off ordering the plans.
After reading this book you will never buy one of those superstore sheds. You'll want the very best, and if you build it yourself you can get it for less than the superstore! Enjoy!

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This well-illustrated guide offers a range of building options, with complete instructions and plans for four popular projects: saltbox potting shed, garden storage shed, storage barn, and lean-to tool locker. Author Joe Truini walks the reader through each step, from evaluating storage needs to basic construction to putting the finishing touches on the roof.

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