Customer Reviews

Building Construction Illustrated

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is jam packed with almost everything you could need to know about construction. When I say that, I mean it covers all of the major components. It does not walk you through tiling a floor, but as an example it does show the different methods of framing and provide clear illustration of how each method is done. I only wanted information on residential construction, but this book covers commercial building as well. The drawings are excellent. I found it tough to put the book down and found myself re-reading several sections because of all the information contained in them. It will serve as an excellent reference guide for all of my future projects. I have already changed many of the details for my upcoming project as a result of this book.

While I agree with others that this book is comprehensive in scope, and while it is beautifully illustrated, it is lacking in the details. Our Building Construction class used it as a primary text, and nowhere does it tell you basics. For example, the drawings have few if any dimensions, which are pretty critical to one's understanding of basic construction (e.g., studs spaced 16" on center). Like all of Ching's books, they at first appear chock full of helpful information, but more often than not, I find them beautifully illustrated and light on content.

As an architect I worked for noted, this book gives you just enough information to make you dangerous. Ching provides a beautifully illustrated guide to basic concepts of building construction. It is a great introductory book filled with much useful information, but one can't necessarily build from this book. I use it mostly to explain construction ideas, especially when it comes to wood-frame buildings, than I do as a set of graphic standards. Ching does offer some specific information, such as thermal resistance of building materials and a general span guide for roof and floor trusses, but much of this information is general and should be verified with more precise data books. However, Ching didn't set out to create another "Standard Architectural Graphics" book, but rather an affordable guide to building construction which would provide some useful information to the design student and home builder alike.

Even though it said it was in 'fair' condition, I couldn't find anything wrong with it! Excellent purchase for $5.55

This book is a recommended reading text for one of my design classes. I don't know what I'd do without it! If only it had dimensions (i.e. wall thicknesses, etc.) it would be absolutely perfect!

This is best for a quick review if you already know the material. It's too concise to learn from if you don't. Best part is the amazing drawings; the text is kept to a minumim.

This title is a must have for those seeking to know all the necessary about building construction, it has well constructed chapters, very nice drwaings and quotations, every piece in the building is painstakingly dissected and essential detials are included, starting with the building site ending with materials used in. It could be a reference or a textbook, helps you so much when you are stuck. and it is an excellent price-value deal.

I bought this book expecting a building manual and got the most amazing drawings on the issue that I have seen. It keeps a very logical order, beginning with the managing of the building site and ends with special construction techniques. The drawings are handmade over CAD drawings and that fact doesn't matter because of its quality.

It has at the end the complete CSI masterformat System for specificactions, which scopes the whole field of building and a lot of references to institutions related to each division of the CSI system.

It's a very useful book. I't's less complete in information than the Graphics Standards or the Neufert, but it's precious, and I must say that books need to be useful and complete, but they need to be beautiful too.

I would recommend this book, because is one of the good purchases I have made.

As an architecture student i am overwhelmed every day with pieces of information and references as to where to get more. This text provides excellent examples and descriptions of numerous details in the construction world. The book has been extremely helpful in several of my current classes. I plan on using this text for as long as the book itself will stand. Too bad it's not a hardback!

I teach construction technology to future General contractors and Interior Designers...and this is the best reference book I have found for beginners. When they ask me the size of a door or height of a kitchen cabinet I tell them to look it up...and I have the utmost confidence that it is both in this book and so well illustrated that the students can easily understand it. I call this book the Beginners Graphic STandards. And at about 1/3 the cost. I also reccomend KaffeeKang' book called Graphic Guide to Frame Construction for residential framing.