How to Build a House

by Larry Haun

Since its founding in 1976, the non-profit Habitat for Humanity International has built more than 255,000 houses for more than one million people and families in need world wide. First published in 2002, Habitat for Humanity How to Build a House has helped thousands more build simple, energy-efficient homes of their own by helping guide them from foundation to roof, through all interior finishes and fixtures. Written by long-time carpenter and Habitat volunteer, Larry Haun, this extensive revision features up-to-date information on residential codes, construction methods, and materials -- as well as an updated design inside and out. Haun also provides new sections on tools, siding, ventilation, and landscaping. With clear information on everything from obtaining a site and permit to finishing touches like installing door locks and cabinets, this is the best single-volume resource for the beginning homebuilder.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Construction, Architecture, Education, Woodwork

811 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Aaron Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, Larry Haun is a bad motherfucker. Secondly, this book is based on building a habitat home - a model called the Charlotte(?) - and illustrates very traditional building techniques. The book outlines the methods that Larry Haun and Habitat found to be the most efficient methods for building a house from start to end. The book is a textbook of information for understanding home building-construction, each chapter highlights different phases of development and it offers techniques, illustrations, and tips.

[Daniel Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great pictures and good explanations.

[Katie Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know if this would help if you didn't already know how to build houses, but it was fun to read. For me.

[Cloay · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this book, 2 things come to my mind:

(1) I won't plan to build a house;

(2) maybe someone can organized a "House Building Training Course", where there are several modules as per the book's section, each student will take turn to be a member of a module in the building process, when several houses are built, every student will have gone through the entire sequence of really building one house. I am keen to be one such student.

[Ti Griego · Rating 3 out of 5]

Welp, I’ve worked at habitat for 5 months now and I can proudly say I know how to build a house from foundation up, and although this book is a bit outdated and it’s not specific to how we necessarily build on each process in Austin Texas, it really is a must have when learning to build a house WITH VOLUNTEERS. as someone who has worked in construction for over 9 year, construction is one thing, habitat is anoth.

[Star Broadnax · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most helpful home builder book I've read.

[Nigella Blunt]

Qur’an: Chapter 2, Verse 74—
Even after that your hearts were hardened and became stony, and even harder yet, for there are some stones which rivers gush out of and there are others which water comes forth from when they split open, and there are still others which collapse out of awe for God. God is not oblivious of what you are doing.

[Garrett Grimsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a complete guide on how to build a house from the ground up, including site preparation, this book is not for you. The entirety of the "Prepare the site" section is some five or six paragraphs, and the book does not cover electrical, excavation, or plumbing whatsoever. Besides that, the information contained seems solid.

[M. Peter Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good overview--but only an overview--of how to build a single-family residence.

[Eileen]

No star rating since I skimmed more than I read. This is in essence a textbook showing stages of construction on a conventional American-style houses.