Complete Visual Guide to Building a House, The

Today’s most comprehensive course in residential construction. The Complete Visual Guide to Building a House not only lives up to its name, but the detailed illustrations put this reference in a league of its own. It’s your single source for reliable instruction in building a house from foundation to finishing touches – and it’s a beautiful book as well.

An essential reference for builders, carpenters, and homeowners! Find everything you need in one easy-to-navigate guide that covers all the bases:

Building the structure: foundations; floors; walls; ceilings; raftered and trussed roofs

Closing the house to weather: roofing; installing windows, doors, siding and trim; controlling moisture

Finishing the house: wall and floor coverings; hanging interior doors; installing trim and cabinets; building stairs

Expert step-by-step instruction and detailed illustrations. The Compete Visual Guide to Building a House combines the expertise of builder-author John Carroll with over 1,200 full-color drawings by illustrator Chuck Lockhart. Finally, a step-by-step guide that provides a complete course in residential carpentry and construction from two pros who, together, have over 65 years of experience in the building trades. 

Eliminate guesswork and avoid costly missteps. Building a house is a complex and challenging undertaking that requires knowing what needs to be done at every critical step  – and that’s exactly what you will find in The Complete Visual Guide to Building a House. With this guide in hand, you’ll be armed with the right information and clear illustrations whenever you need them.

Author Biography

John Carroll has been building and repairing houses since the late 1960s and is still an active contractor in Durham, North Carolina. He writes regularly for Fine Homebuilding and the Journal of Light Construction and has been published in a variety of other magazines, including Masonry Construction, Concrete Products and Country Living. Chuck Lockhart has worked with The Taunton Press for well over 20 years, first as art director for Fine Homebuilding magazine and then as an illustrator of Taunton Press books.