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Every few weeks I head to the local library, return my overdue books, pay the fines, and check out another armful of literary treasures. While there is something new to learn from virtually every book one reads, some books are worth buying and some are better appreciated when they are just borrowed and returned to the library. The books and book reviews assembled in this section of the B4UBUILD.COM Web site are meant to help our visitors decide if a particular book is right for them.

Building Construction Illustrated, 4th Edition by Francis D. K. Ching

What is the best homebuilding, home design, construction management, and/or do-it-yourself construction book for your home building, home improvement, repair or remodeling project?

Well, in my humble opinion, and with few exceptions, there isn't just one "best book" on any residential construction or home repair topic. Virtually every book that has found it's way past an editor, into a publishing house, and onto the shelves of a bookstore contains some good information. How much of that information will help you with the specific project you are researching is another story. Depending upon your level of knowledge on any given subject, you may find that a particular book is directed at people with more or less background information than you have already acquired. Of course, if you are anything like me, you will feel much more comfortable spending money on a book from which you are able to learn many new things -- one which is pulled time and time again from your bookshelf during the course of planning and building your project.

Through our associations with Amazon.com, Powell's Books, and BookCloseouts you may buy any book we have listed on our site and find other books we have yet to discover. Click on a category to the right, then click on a book title to learn more about each book, read book reviews, and compare prices. You may also use the search forms in the gray shaded column on this page to find new, used, scratch & dent, or bargain books by ISBN, author, title, or subject.

Books are great gifts, they make good housewarming presents for new homeowners (assuming they still like you after they move in;-), they are a perfect token of appreciation to your builder for a job well done (yes, some builders actually do deserve a gift at the end of a project;-), they are welcome for any occasion, and they are long remembered by the person or persons receiving them.

Have you read a good book lately? Do you have a favorite homebuilding, remodeling, home construction or design book? We learn a lot from our visitors, and we value your feedback. Please what books are on your best reading list.

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