Building an affordable house Trade secrets to high-value, low-cost construction
Book - 2024
While building trends may change, one thing does not: the need to build quality homes at affordable prices. And in today's building market, sustainability is an important part of building homes that last so homeowners can keep long-term costs down. Building an Affordable House, 2nd edition helps readers do that with insight from the people who work in the field every day.
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- Subjects
- Genres
- handbooks
Handbooks and manuals
Guides et manuels - Published
-
Des Moines, IA :
The Taunton Press, an imprint of Active Interest Media
[2024]
- Language
- English
- Main Author
- Edition
- Second edition
- Item Description
- Subtitle from cover.
Includes index. - Physical Description
- 265 pages : color illustrations ; 28 cm
- ISBN
- 9781641552134
- Foreword
- Introduction to the Second Edition
- Chapter 1. Money Matters
- A Hard-Dollar Cost Approach
- The Affordability Equation
- Achieving Blueprint Democracy
- Every House Can Be Built Better
- Great Expectations
- Chapter 2. Design
- Building a Better Box
- Using a Modular Planning Grid
- The Exterior Shell
- Inner Space
- Lot Basics
- The Language of Affordability
- Tiny Houses with Big Budgets
- Growing Closer
- Try Things Out on Deeply Affordable Rentals
- Chapter 3. Foundations
- Concrete Is the Traditional Choice
- A Soils Test Is a Good Investment
- Concrete: More than the Basics
- Do You Really Need a Footing?
- Consider Alternatives to Conventional Foundations
- Slab-on-Grade Foundations Are Affordable
- Sealing Foundation Walls
- Chapter 4. Framing
- Optimum Value-Engineered Framing
- Building Walls, the New Way
- Prefabricated Walls Are Still the Future
- Alternatives to Wood Walls
- Floor Framing
- Stairways
- Girders, Beams, and Posts
- Installing Subfloors
- Engineered Floor Systems
- Framing the Roof
- Installing Framing Connectors
- Chapter 5. Plumbing: Less May be Better
- Smart Layout Cuts Costs
- Rethinking Supply Lines
- Choosing Drain, Waste, and Vent Lines
- Saving with Stainless-Steel Gas Tubing
- Shopping for Fixtures
- Chapter 6. Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning
- Take an Active Role in Planning
- Selecting the Right Equipment
- Sizing Equipment for the House
- Planning the Network of Ducts
- Fresh Air Is Important, Too
- Chapter 7. Wiring and Light Fixtures
- Fine-Tuning the Site Plan
- Devising a Smart Floor Plan
- Reducing Lights and Switches
- Choose Wire Gauge Carefully
- Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters
- Consider Aluminum Wire
- Recessed Fixtures Save Money
- Solar-Ready
- Chapter 8. Insulation
- Making the Building Tight
- Plug the Small Gaps, Too
- The Airtight Drywall Approach
- Choosing the Right Insulation
- Chapter 9. The Exterior Shell
- Pitched Roofs Are Better
- For Siding, No Maintenance Is Best
- Economizing with Doors and Windows
- For Walks and Driveways, Skip the Concrete
- Chapter 10. Interior Finish
- Design One Detail at a Time
- Making the Most of Drywall
- Choose Paint Carefully
- Installing Interior Trim and Millwork
- Saving in the Kitchen
- Flooring Makes a First Impression
- Afterword: Meet the Future of Homebuilding
- Recommended Reading
- Index