How to Plan, Contract and Build Your Own Home

A guide to planning, contracting and building your own home. It is designed to help the reader make crucial decisions, such as selecting a building site in the area in which you want to live, design considerations and construction methods.

Introduction. Part 1: What to Build. Chapter 1: A House Divided. Chapter 2: House Styles and Types. Chapter 3: Traffic Zoning and Planning. Chapter 4: Size Planning. Chapter 5: Prints and Drawings. Part 2: How to Build It. Chapter 6: Footers and Foundations. Chapter 7: Floor Framing. Chapter 8: Wall Framing. Chapter 9: Roof Framing. Chapter 10: Roof Exterior Finishing. Chapter 11: Exterior Wall Finishing. Chapter 12: Stairs. Chapter 13: Windows. Chapter 14: Doors. Chapter 15: Garages. Chapter 16: Fireplaces. Chapter 17: Plumbing. Chapter 18: Electric. Chapter 19: Lighting. Chapter 20: Heating and Cooling. Chapter 21: Insulation. Chapter 22: Wall Covering and Trim. Chapter 23: Burgler-Proofing Your Home. Chapter 24: Bathrooms. Chapter 25: Kitchens. Chapter 26: Floor Coverage. Chapter 27: Home Offices and Work Spaces. Part 3: Where to Build It. Chapter 28: City, Suburbia, or Country? Chapter 29: Selecting a Building Site. Chapter 30: Orientation, Positioning, and Landscaping. Chapter 31: Driveways, Sidewalks, and Patios. Part 4: Who Should Build It? Chapter 32: Selecting a Contractor. Chapter 33: Working with Your Contractor. Part 5: Moving In. Chapter 34: Setting Up Your Maintenance Program. Chapter 35: The Final Inspection. Chapter 36: Moving into Your New Home. Part 6: Appendices. Index.