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Buildings Don't Lie
A simple, clear, thorough, and complete explanation of basic building science applicable to any building in any climate. Over 1,000 large color drawings and photos, plus fun quizzes. No charts, graphs, or math. Read this book and become your own expert on making buildings comfortable, healthy, safe, durable, and very energy efficient, because you will understand the underlying science of the movement through buildings of heat, air, water, light, sound, fire, and pests, and how these can be controlled. This book also includes sections on designing building enclosures, indoor air quality, choosing heating and cooling systems, and how to ventilate, heat, and cool different types of buildings.
571 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2017
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197 people want to read
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March 28, 2021
This book is large and expensive...but it will probably save you a lot of money in the long-term if you read it. As a homeowner, it will probably stop you from making stupid and expensive choices at one time or another. I bought it as I'm doing a renovation, and several chapters changed my mind about what I was planning to do.
It doesn't treat any individual building topic with extreme scope or depth, but considering how much information is in it already that might be a relief. For example, there is not enough information in here to calculate your potential solar gain, it doesn't deeply cover topics like alternative energy, and doesn't talk about fundamentals in structural engineering.
I liked that the author's mind seemed to work like mine does: it starts from first principles of physics and describes how the physical laws of nature play upon buildings. Out of the theoretical beginnings, he spins out a mix of abstract and specific advice about protecting your house or building and keeping people comfortable in it. He prefers solutions that work due to natural law and generic principles as opposed to ignoring sound building principles because manufacturers of new wonder products say that it's okay to do so. He likes low-e glass, but prefers external sun protection like automatic shutters and cleverly-placed overhangs. He likes quality waterproof adhesives to waterproof windows and doors, but prefers overhangs with drip edges to move the water off the face of the building and keep it totally away from the window in the first place. That kind of thing.
Very much recommended. It's expensive, though; maybe buy it with a friend or two and then take turns reading it?
It doesn't treat any individual building topic with extreme scope or depth, but considering how much information is in it already that might be a relief. For example, there is not enough information in here to calculate your potential solar gain, it doesn't deeply cover topics like alternative energy, and doesn't talk about fundamentals in structural engineering.
I liked that the author's mind seemed to work like mine does: it starts from first principles of physics and describes how the physical laws of nature play upon buildings. Out of the theoretical beginnings, he spins out a mix of abstract and specific advice about protecting your house or building and keeping people comfortable in it. He prefers solutions that work due to natural law and generic principles as opposed to ignoring sound building principles because manufacturers of new wonder products say that it's okay to do so. He likes low-e glass, but prefers external sun protection like automatic shutters and cleverly-placed overhangs. He likes quality waterproof adhesives to waterproof windows and doors, but prefers overhangs with drip edges to move the water off the face of the building and keep it totally away from the window in the first place. That kind of thing.
Very much recommended. It's expensive, though; maybe buy it with a friend or two and then take turns reading it?
Displaying 1 of 1 review