Architect's Portable Handbook Review

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(More customer reviews)This handbook brings together all the rules of thumb and reference facts for architects. Its quite the cheat-sheet for quick references especially in terms of costs. He has included cost (labor and materials as a % of the total) for just about everything in generic terms. Need to know a budget number for a solid core door relative to a hollowcore? its in there, painting by sf of drywall vs CMU or even fee % breakdowns. Having this book makes you look good and esp for architects that know the big picture but cant'remember the actual size of a conc block or what 11 block courses equal (vert or horiz) I tell people to get this book and keep it in your car or briefcase, so you can go look up the answer to those questions that put you on the spot esp on the job site.

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Organized in easy-to-follow CSI Materformat, which parallels typical job progression, the text covers initial planning and estimating through design and construction. Included are materials and specifications checklists, design data for major building materials and components details.

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Building Systems for Interior Designers Review

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(More customer reviews)This updated guide to technical building systems for interior designers comes from members of the building design team and has been revised in its second edition to address the concerns of blending the interior designer's functions with a design team's overall building objectives. Technical building systems and engineering systems are explored for interior designers in chapters that discuss how to communicate with architects, engineers, and contractors alike. Any college-level arts collection needs this.

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The first desk reference on technical building systems for interior designers
Building Systems for Interior Designers is the first book to explain technical building systems and engineering issues in a clear and accessible way to interior designers. The technical knowledge and vocabulary presented here allow interior designers to communicate more effectively with architects, engineers, and contractors while collaborating on projects, leading to more accurate solutions for problems related to a broad range of other building considerations with an impact on interior design. Information on sustainable design is integrated throughout the book, making it a relevant tool for current and emerging trends in building design.
Written in a straightforward, nontechnical style that maintains depth and accuracy, this book is the first complete text applicable to interior design courses and provides thorough preparation for the NCIDQ exam. Engaging, clear illustrations support the text, which is accessible to those without a math or physics background.
Topics covered include:
Heating and air conditioning systems
Environmental issues
Water and waste
Thermal comfort
HVAC systems
Electricity
Lighting
Security and communications systems
Fire safety
Transportation systems

With numerous case examples illustrating how interior designers apply this material in the real world, Building Systems for Interior Designers is a valuable book for students, as well as a practical desktop reference for professionals.
Content from this book is available as an online continuing professional education course at http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-320255.html#fire_safety. WileyCPE courses are available on demand, 24 hours a day, and are approved by the American Institute of Architects.

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Working Drawing Manual Review

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(More customer reviews)Fred Stitt's systems approach to working drawings was, and remains, a revelation, if not a revolution. You get your money's worth just from utilizing the modular layout and detail numbering systems alone.
Stitt thinks ahead and realizes that standardization and reusability are important to the architect who is trying to run a profitable and productive practice. So the ability to come up with, say, a standard foundation-to-wall detail, and be able to easily incorporate such standards into a drawing set, is a key aspect of productive profitability. And by adopting a modular sheet layout system, it becomes much easier to fit the sheet together, and avoid cramming details into wierd margins (which still, to this day, happens all too often).
Just so you know where I'm coming from, I was a practicing architect for twelve years, and I used Stitt's working drawing system throughout my career. In fact, I brought that system into several bay area firms, where it is used to this day. Now, I practice law, and I see from the other end how valuable a clear, concise set of working drawings is to controlling the building process and minimizing exposure.
As with many of Stitt's books, this one is a real help.

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Prepare flawless construction documents every time. How would you like to save up to 50% of the time and money spent on design services for your next building project? Working Drawing Manual, by Fred A. Stitt, gives you systematic checklists for quickly organizing and managingthe huge mass of data needed to prepare accurate construction documents for any new building. Guaranteed to help you avoid costly delays, changes, job-site miscommunications and lawsuits, these handy checklists make it a snap to plan the scope and content of each set ofdrawings...decide exactly what needs to be drawn...and understand how each item in a drawing relates to others. With this easy-to-use guide, you can: make quick work of site plans, floor plans, interior and exterior elevations, roof plans, building cross sections, reflectedceiling plans, schedules, details and wall sections; stay on top of new technologies and code requirements; get up to speed on the New Uniform Drawing Format & CADD Layering Guidelines; improve your skills with the AIA CEU self-study module; and much more!

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Black & Decker Codes for Homeowners: Electrical Codes, Mechanical Codes, Plumbing Codes, Building Codes Review

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(More customer reviews)I have a very old house and find myself crossing over all areas of maintenance. I am not a professional electrician, plumber or contractor; but I am confident in my skills and comfortable with taking on most tasks. Having a multi-subject guidebook to check the codes and proper configurations is indispensable. Swapping out a 40-60 year old 3-way light outlet, and all the switches, to a 4-way configuration is not something I do every day. This book provides great guidance and excellent drawings of every configuration I needed in my home.

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Codes are a fact of life for do-it-yourselfers, but getting good information on codes can be a nightmare. Anyone who has ever opened a code book (or even a code interpretation book) looking for the answer to a building, wiring or plumbing question has found the same thing: a lot of arcane, technical words and cross-referencing, pages of meaningless charts, but no information that make sense. Codes for Homeowners combines decades of experience by author and IRC-certified home inspector Bruce Barker with Creative Publishing's famous studio photography, and the result is the first truly clear and easy to use codes reference book for homeowners and tradesmen alike. Current with 2009 International Residential Code (IRC).

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