Build Smarter with Alternative Materials
By: Leon A. Frechette
This book is for construction professionals who want a clear
understanding of alternative materials and how using them can enhance
their projects – both residential and commercial. It covers the
materials - including their strengths and any limitations – as well as
installation tips and manhour estimates.
Here you'll find the true facts, not the hype, about a variety of
alternative materials. These are quality components that can help you
deliver a better overall product – something your customers will enjoy
and benefit from long after you leave their projects!
All the products covered here have been used or well-researched by
the author and represent a cross section of available products. Build
Smarter with Alternative Materials covers materials used in each phase
of a project in order – from the foundation to the ridge peak:
- Foundations
- Walls
- Roof systems
- Framing
- Roofing
- Siding
- Insulation
- Radiant heat
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- Doors & windows
- Trim
- Interiors
- Bathrooms
- Kitchens
- Decking
- Outdoors
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And it doesn't stop there. Build Smarter with Alternative
Materials lists the manufacturers that make the products and
associations that research them. You get the phone numbers, and
mailing, e-mail, and Web site addresses so you can connect with the
companies, obtain samples, or ask questions about a product or its
installation.
Every builder needs a niche – an opportunity to land good jobs
without having to underbid every other builder in town. This reference
is full of new, exciting materials that you can offer to your
customers with confidence. You may be the only builder in your area
that knows about them. And this book is your key to that knowledge.
To write this manual, the author researched hundreds of products
that have come on the market in recent years. The ones he describes in
this book will do the job better, creating a superior, longer-lasting
finished product, and in many cases also save you time and money. Some
are made with recycled products – a good selling point with many
customers. But most of all, they give you choices, so you can give
your customers choices.
In this book, you’ll find materials for almost all areas of
constructing a house, from the ground up. For each product described,
you’ll learn where you can get it, where to use it, what benefits it
provides, any disadvantages, and how to install it -- including tips
from the author. And to help you price your jobs, each description
ends with manhours – for both the first time you install it, and after
you’ve done it a few times.
Contents:
- Why Use Alternative Materials?, 10
2 Foundations, 15
- Permanent Wood Foundations, 16
- Concrete Wall Systems, 21
3 Wall and Roof Systems, 37
- Aerated Concrete Wall Units, 37
- Mortarless Block System, 42
- Structural Insulated Panels, 46
- Insteel 3-D Panel System, 53
- ThermaSteel System, 56
- Panelized System, 59
4 Framing Materials, 61
- Log Homes, 61
- Steel Framing, 64
- Prefabricated Homes, 70
- Sheathing, 72
- Framing Members, 78
5 Roofing Materials, 91
- Shakes and Shingles, 91
- Metal Systems, 97
- Fiber-Cement Tiles, 99
- Corrugated Fiber Roofing, 100
- Miscellaneous Items, 101
6 Siding Materials, 111
- Wood Products, 111
- Hardboard, 116
- Fiber-Cement Composites, 121
- Vinyl-Type Products, 124
- Masonry Products, 131
- Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems, 134
- Siding Maintenance, 139
7 Insulation Materials and Radiant Heat, 141
- Insulation, 141
- Housewrap, 149
- Radiant Heat, 150
8 Doors, Windows, and Trim, 155
- Doors, 155
- Windows, 160
- DecoRoof, 164
- Skylights, 167
- Molding, 169
9 Interior Products, 179
- Wallboard, 179
- Wallcovering/Cabinetry Products, 189
- Flooring, 195
- Problem Solvers, 205
10 Bathrooms and Kitchens, 209
- Repair Instead of Replace, 209
- Solid Surfacing, 215
- Other Countertop Material, 220
- Underlayment, 223
- Paneling, 224
- Fixtures, 225
- Helpful Accessory Items, 228
- Heat and Ventilation, 229
- Let There Be Light!, 232
11 Decking, 235
- Alternative Products, 235
- Wood Products, 246
- Hardware, 250
- Protection, 256
- Railing, 260
- Landscaping, 262
12 Outdoor Products, 265
- Railing and Fencing Systems, 265
- Bulkheads/Retaining Walls, 276
- Patios, 280
- Invisible Pavements, 283
- Miscellaneous, 287
13 Building to Help the Environment, 291
- Reducing Waste and Recycling, 291
- "Green" Building, 293
- Who Can Help?, 295
- Where Do We Go From Here?, 300
Appendix, 301
- Abbreviations, 301
- Who to Contact, 303
- Organizations, 317
Index, 321
About the Author:
Leon A. Frechette received his license as a general contractor
at age 22, and has over 20 years' experience in construction,
remodeling, and related fields. As a business owner, he has hands-on
experience in both residential and light commercial projects,
including designing, bidding, and managing the job.
He serves as an expert witness in litigation, and created The
Contractor's Helping Hands™ Packet, a series of business forms that
help construction managers organize their jobs and communicate with
the customer about actual job costs. This is Mr. Frechette's sixth
book, and he continues to work on other book projects, columns, and
feature articles.
Softcover 336 Pages -
8-1/2 x 11 in.
1572180749
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