Australian Earth-Covered Building

Author(s): J. Baggs, S. Baggs, D. Baggs

Publisher: Intl Specialized Book Service

ISBN: 0868400602

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About the Authors

Dr Sydney Baggs was and David Baggs FRAIA is one of Australia’s leading authorities in earth covered and green roof building design and construction. As architects to nearly 40 earth covered and green roof buildings including residences, schools and museum they pioneered this work in Australia from 1979 to current time holding the first International Conference on Earth Covered Buildings in Sydney Australia in 1981. With numerous awards, magazine and television features the pair created a high profile for earth covered and green roof buildings during this period. While Sydney passed away in 2009, David continues designing, promoting and consulting in this specialist field to green buildings of all kinds.

Roof Gardens: History, Design, and Construction

Author(s): Theodore Osmundson

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1st edition (November 1997)

Hardcover: 320 pages

ISBN: 0393730123

ISBN-13: 978-0393730128

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Sometimes called “green roofs” by promoters of sustainable architecture, roof gardens have stimulated much discussion among architects and urban planners. A great many roof gardens, from intimate private enclaves to enormous public spaces have been built in the last fifty years. But there has been little formal research into the systems that support successful roof gardens, the technical requirements of a long-lived, healthy roof garden — nor about the costly failures that can result when such requirements are ignored.

In the first comprehensive study published in English, respected landscape architect Theodore Osmundson provides the practical information professionals need to be able to include well-designed and well-constructed roof gardens in their projects. Roof Gardens covers site considerations, construction, design elements, and maintenance, as well as useful data and sources of supply and information. It presents a wealth of material, including typical sections and details of raised planters, walls, paving, drainage and lighting. It also discusses planting soils and root-proofing. New construction techniques — largely unknown in the United States are also reviewed.

In addition, Roof Gardens offers a richly illustrated tour of roof gardens around the world and through history.

“This should become the guidebook on the subject of roof gardens, acquired by every landscape architect employed in the task of greening cities and buildings.”-Ian McHarg, FASLA

“This long-awaited treatise on rooftop landscape architecture is . . . an authoritative work . . . a practical, creative, and stimulating book that is bound to make a difference.”-John Ormsbee Simonds, FASLA

1999, 320 pages, 100 in color, Hardcover

Graphic Guide to Frame Construction: Details for Builders and Designers

Author(s): Rob Thallon

Publisher: Taunton Press

ISBN: 1561583537

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A reigning classic, the Graphic Guide to Frame Construction is a complete visual handbook for wood-frame construction with a special emphasis on energy efficiency. Filled with hundreds of meticulous drawings, it shows the framing details you need to understand when building with wood.

This completely revised and updated edition is more comprehensive and reflects the most recent changes in residential frame construction. It contains more details for energy efficiency, use of modern engineered and composite materials, and construction in high-wind and seismic areas. It’s well annotated and covers foundations, floors, walls, stairs and roofs. Because examples are taken from actual job sites by a trusted expert, this book is an invaluable visual aid that can help builders and homeowners alike to tackle a wide range of framing projects. Whether building a partition or flashing a window, you’ll find the visual explanation here.

Graphic Guide to Frame Construction is a valuable reference for architects and builders, and an ideal primer for students and owner-builders. Starting with the foundation, the book moves systematically from component to component ending with the roof. Regional variations and options are included. These details were mined from actual job sites through the input of a panel of builders and architects from around the U.S. Graphic Guide to Frame Construction is an authoritative reference that helps you review your options and solve specific problems no matter where or what you’re building.

240 pages, 2000

“As a reference on wood framing and enclosure details, Graphic Guide is hard to beat. It’s very well organized and clearly written. The illustrations are sharp, well annotated and drawn at a 1- or 1-1/2-inch scale, so they can be easily transferred to working drawings. And Thallon’s treatment is extensive, often showing several different ways of doing a job.”

Thatching – A Handbook

Author(s): Nicholas Hall

ISBN: B0048M2XAG

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A good descriptive ‘how to’ with excellent drawings, covers problems solving, tools needed and more. A good thatch roof can last 50 or more years, but the art of making them is becoming a “lost” art.

See how thatching is actually done to help you decide on this method of roofing. Many illustrations, 47 pages, b & w.

Roof Framing

Cover, Roof Framing Author(s): Marty Gross

ISBN: 091046040X

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Marty Gross says the Roof is “The PhD of Homebuilding”, and he lays out all the details for making your own roof.

The text on roof framing each type- Dutch-gambrel-hip-jack-shed-gazebo and others are ell-supported with more than 400 drawings and diagrams. He introduces some very useful concepts, such as theoretical lengths and height-above-plate, and he encourages the solution to roof calculation problems by means of a trig calculato.

The advent of the mass-produced computer-designed truss roof has made the true roof-cutter a dying breed. There is a dearth of information on this complex subject, and this text is a welcome entry for that void

This is the complete guide to framing any gable, Dutch, Tudor, California, gambrel, shed or gazebo roof — including irregular roofs that can stump even experienced roof cutters. The author takes you through every measurement and every cut on each type of roof — so you understand exactly what’s required. He actually builds a model of each roof described, and recommends that you do the same.With this manual you aren’t restricted to rafter lengths and pitches listed in those rafter tables that roof cutters have struggled with for years. Instead, the author explains how to use an inexpensive hand-held calculator to figure any common, hip, valley or jack rafter in seconds — including rafters on irregular roofs and rafter pitches that aren’t in any rafter table.Anyone who knows the methods described in this practical manual should have no trouble making a good living as a master roof cutter.

480 pages, softcover, index

Building with Vision: Optimizing and Finding Alternatives to Wood

Author: Dan Imhoff

ISBN: 097095000

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Building with Vision: Optimizing and Finding Alternatives to Wood

The United States has both the rare fortune and the dubious distinction of being among the only industrialized nations to use wood as its primary material for residential buildings. While other developed countries have evolved masonry and other building systems not reliant on wood, on average, a full acre of trees is consumed to build just one house in the United States. And, for every twenty houses built, enough waste is typically left over to frame another house.

Combining environmental philosophy, practical information, and dynamic visuals, Building with Vision makes accessible many solutions to wasteful tree-dependent construction and design. In addition to identifying the benefits, challenges, and applications of the recommended alternatives to contemporary American construction, this book details building methods to minimize wood waste, maximize efficiency, and emphasize the unique aesthetic properties of non-wood materials.

Part resource guide, part photo essay, this 136-page gem features beautifully composed, nearly tactile photographs that bring to life an array of alternative materials. Case studies highlight successful building projects that utilize innovative and effective framing, siding, insulation, roofing, and finishing materials and techniques.

Building systems featured include Rastra, a new kind of interlocking block made of recovered Styrofoam packaging; Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) made of plywood, OSB, or strawboard with a thick foam core; and a variety of “Eco-Crete,” super-insulating concrete systems. A wide range of finish materials are discussed as well: panel board made from agricultural crop waste, flooring derived from used tires, natural linoleum and certified woods, and cement countertops embedded with finds from the urban waste stream.

“This book can be a lifesaver for trees and our limited architectural horizons. It invites challenges to its critiques. Let the debate begin.” — Ralph Nader

“Building with Vision is timely and extremely useful, a must-have resource for every architectural studio across the country.” — Sim Van der Ryn architect, director of the Ecological Design Institute

About the Author Dan Imhoff has authored dozens of articles and essays on issues ranging from forest conservation and paper production to the global economy, sustainable agriculture, and green building. Imhoff’s articles have appeared in Sierra, Saveur, Whole Earth, Communication Arts, Orion Afield, and many books and journals. With his wife and two children, he lives part-time in an off-the-grid home produced with many certified and salvaged, wood and non-wood materials.

Born in Parma, Italy, Roberto Carra is an internationally renowned photographer, graphic designer, and art director.

softcover :: 9″ x 8″ :: 136 pages, color photographs :: b/w photographs bibliography :: resource list

Roofing, Flashing and Waterproofing (Best of Fine Homebuilding)

Publisher: Taunton (October 4, 2005)

Paperback: 160 pages

ISBN-10: 1561587788

ISBN-13: 978-1561587780

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To get the best remodeling results, you need solid advice from the best in the business. For Pros by Pros® books bring you field-tested techniques and real-world experience from the expert builders and remodeling pros who write for Fine Homebuilding magazine.

Roofing, Flashing, and Waterproofing gives you the technical expertise and seasoned advice you need to protect your work from water, the home’s eternal enemy. Leaks large and small cause the majority of damage in the house, and efforts to prevent or repair that damage account for most of the money spent on home repair. This book presents the basic principles you need to know to waterproof residential structures properly to protect them from water intrusion and to prevent callbacks for flashing or roofing failures.

Thatching and Thatched Buildings

Author: Michael Billett

Publisher: Robert Hale & Company (May 1998)

Paperback: 224 pages

ISBN: 0709062257

ISBN-13: 978-0709062257

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This definitive book on thatching and thatched buildings in rural Britain costitutes an authoritative reference guide. It contains masses of practical information and advice for all those who live in thatched houses or who are contemplating buying one. In addition, it makes fascinating reading for everyone interested in this aspect of our rural heritage. Michael Billett guides the reader through the development of thatching through the ages, the materials used, and the various types of buildings covered by thatch which can still be seen today. He describes the skilful and artistic work required to produce the beauty and charm of a thatched roof, and considers the advantages and disadvantages. Also included is a chapter which gives advice on costs, including maintenance and insurance, and modern trends, such as the use of thatch for modern houses. As well as practical advice Thatching and Thatched Buildings also includes descriptions of over five hundred of the most attractive thatched villages, many of which appear as illustrations in the delightful book.

The Slate Roof Bible

Author(s): Joseph Jenkins

Publisher: Chelsea Green Pub Co

Paperback: 296 pages

ISBN: 0964425807

ISBN-13: 978-0964425804

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“The Slate Roof Bible gives a concise history of the slate industry on both sides of the Atlantic, and the types and colours of slates to be found. Although the author is American, he is descended from Welsh migrs who left with the collapse of the Welsh slate industry around the turn of the century, and this is reflected in the early chapters. The later chapters cover in some depth the design, installation, and maintenance of slate roofs. Also covered are tools, safe working practices, and important details on chimneys, flashings and gutters. This is well done, with clear illustrations and photos – an excellent example of how to produce a practical guide. The first book to be written on the subject of slate roofs since 1926. — The Permaculture Magazine Information Service [England]
“The Slate Roof Bible is a fine book, filled with fascinating information about slate: its history, the industry, and the way to work with it properly.” “I’ve been working with slate for a long time; still, I learned from this book some valuable hints and techniques that I’ve been able to put into practice.” — Fine Homebuilding, July 1998

“Five years of meticulous research, thousands of miles traveled to slate quarries all over the world, particularly Wales, has produced The Slate Roof Bible – and a surprise. This book, potentially tedious reading, is instead a delight. Full of history, lore, and useful advice, Jenkins has written a fascinating book, spiced it with humor and warmed it with his own passion for the subject.” — Doylestown Intelligencer Record [Philadelphia]

“Jenkins tells his tale with pizazz and rollicking humor, offering anecdote after anecdote about what people do, and do not do, to their slate roofs.” — Boston Sunday Globe

From the Publisher

Jenkins Publishing is proud to announce that The Slate Roof Bible was presented with the prestigious National Roofing Contractors Association 2001 GOLD CIRCLE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE ROOFING INDUSTRY. One such award is given annually within the 4,700-member international trade association in the “SERVICE TO THE INDUSTRY” category.