Become an expert in concrete overlay and topping.

Learn from this practical instruction manual how to rejuvenate concrete floors, driveways, exterior flatwork, and even wall surfaces. Offer your customers beautiful alternatives to costly removal and replacement of old concrete.

Step-by-step instructions are included for obtaining different finishes – including the use of stamping mats, stencils, spray-downs, micro-topping, scoring techniques, working with gelled acid, polishing, and applying stains, dyes, tints, and even selecting and applying the right sealer. Shows how to set up a mixing station and gives estimated curing times for many overlay jobs. - more

Learn how to turn concrete slabs into works of art your customers will cherish, and in return, reward you with a lifetime of repeat business.

This new book shows you concrete design options available today, how to estimate costs of different techniques and compare those costs to other floor covering options such as carpet, wood floors, tile, or marble.

Find out how to sell your services, write a contract for floor staining, then keep notes and records so you can repeat your performance.

Large color photos show how to correct problem floors, test your stain before beginning, apply dyes, grouts and sealers, and specialty techniques. Full of charts, helpful hints and step-by-step instructions. - more

Become a concrete stamping expert with the practical tips in this book. Here you’ll find hundreds of ideas and sources for stamping designs.

You’ll learn of site conditions affecting stamped concrete and how to avoid problems. Shows everything from preparing the subgrade to erecting forms, installing reinforcement, and placing the concrete.

Gives different methods of stamping concrete, coloring stamped concrete, applying color hardener, release agents, installing expansion joints, and special techniques for finishing and sealing the concrete. - more

Here you’ll find the data you need on average rainfall and runoff requirements so you can figure gutters, downspouts and roof drainage, and install appropriate waterproofing and dampproofing in basements and crawlspaces.

The book gives details for determining slope drainage, doing the grading, complying with street drainage requirements, and dealing with lots with septic systems. Many types of retaining wall are covered, including modular unit walls, bin and crib walls, and more.

Also provides tables for estimating concrete quantities for both poured-in-place and masonry and concrete walls. Includes detailed recommendations for retaining walls in most of the situations you’re likely to encounter. Book w/ CD-ROM - more

This practical manual covers every aspect of stucco design, construction and repair.

You’ll find techniques for attaching stucco to wood frames, steel frames, sheathed material, or masonry. Includes step-by-step instructions on how to install flashing, corner beads, casing beads, control joints, weather-resistant barriers, exterior insulation systems, and one-coat stucco systems.

Shows the recommended method for mixing and applying stucco, both manually and by machine, and illustrates techniques for producing different textures and for creating decorative plaster work such as implants and molds. Explains how to estimate labor and material costs for stucco, as well as equipment rental fees. Also includes practical instructions for stucco maintenance and repair. - Book w/ CD-ROM - more

Build artistic custom concrete floors, cabinets, countertops, sinks, dividers, fireplaces, mantlepieces and more.

You'll learn how to custom design, pour, finish, and seal one-of-a-kind custom interior and exterior floors. Includes information on admixtures, crack control, custom finishes, self-leveling compounds, and reinforcement techniques.

Shows how to apply inlays, linework, and stamps and finishes to concrete floors. Explains how to create custom concrete countertops and sinks.

Illustrates the fundamentals of concrete wall design, including innovative uses for concrete block, applying color and texture on walls, using ties, rebar, and forms for walls. - more

Become a Concrete Countertop Expert. At last, a complete how-to instruction manual on creating countertops from one of the most versatile building materials available.

Here you’ll find step-by-step instructions for making concrete countertops, from planning, building the mold, mixing and pouring the concrete, to curing, grinding, finishing, polishing, and finally installing the finished countertop and backsplash.

You’ll even learn a potential side business of maintaining concrete countertops.

Shows how to pour, how to affect strength, how to affect durability, how to avoid cracks and blemishes, types of aggregates, types of sealants, formwork requirements, proportioning the concrete mixture, how to test and control concrete, slabs on ground, finish and curing, precast and prestressed concrete, steel reinforcing, and special concrete techniques.

FOR PROS BY PROS

• Form and pour a solid foundation.
• Install concrete piers and footings.
• Lay groundwork for patios and decks.
• Waterproof a basement and keep it dry.
• Retrofit and repair foundations.

You'll find how to troubleshoot and correct common masonry mistakes, how to use concrete in the home landscape, and how to build a foundation that will last and resists the forces of nature and time to provide a sturdy base to build on. - more

A must-have reference for contractors who want to remain competitive, , Green from the Ground Up is also a remarkable resource for homeowners who require the clearest and most thorough green building information available.

Filled with hundreds of clear full-color photos that illustrate every aspect of building green – including, foundations, framing, roofs and attics, doors and windows, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, insulation, siding and decking, ventilation, solar energy, interior finishes, landscaping, and more. Even includes tips on reducing air leakage and sound transmission.

This is the revised edition of the popular manual, with updated information on everything from on-site preplanning and layout through the construction of footings, foundations, walls, fireplaces and chimneys.

There’s an added appendix on safety regulations, with all the applicable OSHA sections pulled together into one handy condensed reference. There’s new information on concrete, masonry and seismic reinforcement. Plus improved estimating techniques to help you win more construction bids.

Current labor and material prices for thousands of concrete and masonry jobs and specialty items. Don’t waste hours working up a material list for every job you bid. Instead, use this manual to develop quick, accurate cost estimates. Do the material take-off only when you have the contract.

Provides manhours, recommended crew, and gives the labor cost for installation.

Includes a CD-ROM with an electronic version of the book with National Estimator, a stand-alone Windows estimating program, plus an interactive multimedia video that shows how to use the disk to compile construction cost estimates.

Atlas Construction Business forms come in both Adobe PDF and Microsoft Word format. The Word forms are fully customizable so you can change and/or add information tailoring each form to meet specific job applications. Just add your company name and information for fully customized, professional looking forms. All PDF forms come in a fill-it-in-before-you-print format and you can print as many copies as you like. You can also save your completed PDF documents to your computer if you own a read/write Adobe Acrobat program.

Please note that the information in these documents is designed to provide outlines that you can follow when formulating business or personal plans or agreements and are not meant to provide legal advice. - more info

Effortlessly keep track of daily events and occurrences including: weather conditions, craftspeople, contract extras, equipment usage and rental, material purchases, overall progress, safety concerns, accidents and more with the Construction Daily Project Log for Construction & Maintenance.

Complete with enough log sheets to track more than 12 months of work, you can use your completed Daily Project Log to keep accurate records of jobsite activities, document events during the course of construction, compare the accuracy of initial estimates, gauge your overall productivity and better manage your resources and costs. - more info

Basic Blueprint Reading and Sketching -

Updated to the latest ANSI, ISO, AWS, and ASME standards, this 50th Anniversary Edition helps individuals develop skills in reading and interpreting industrial drawings and in preparing simple technical sketches.

It is written to be a consumable, interactive text/workbook that provides basic principles, concepts, ANSI and SI Metric drafting symbols and standards, terminology, manufacturing process notes, and other related technical information contained on a mechanical or CAD drawing.

Each unit features a basic principle and at least one blueprint and assignment that encourages users to practice newly learned skills. - more

Increase Profits by Incorporating Sustainable Practices into Your Building Operations

Filled with environmentally friendly methods that reduce the impact of housing on natural areas, Be a Successful Green Builder contains everything needed to get started in the green building business and develop a thriving enterprise.

• A plain-English guide to developing a lucrative green building enterprise
• Information on selecting the best green building products
• Valuable tips on preparing winning bids
• Step-by-step advice on expanding a green building business - more

Improve Your Ability to Read and Interpret All Types of Construction Drawings

Blueprint Reading is a step-by-step guide to reading and interpreting all types of construction drawings.

Filled with hundreds of illustrations and study questions, this easy-to-use resource offers a complete overview of construction drawing basics for every aspect of the construction process- from site work, foundations, and structural systems to interior work and finishes.

Break into the lucrative swimming pool construction business with this practical how-to guide. Here you'll learn how to get the permits and do the surveying, planning and layout for a typical pool, including how to read a soils report.

You’ll read about the excavation, backfill, soil compaction, sand and gravel bedding and drainage requirements, and mechanical systems such as pumps, heaters, filters, skimmers, and solar systems.

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!

A practical guide to simplified construction surveying.

How to divide land, use a transit and tape to find a known point, draw an accurate survey map from your field notes, use topographic surveys, and the right way to level and set grade.

You'll learn how to make a survey for any residential or commercial lot, driveway, road, or bridge – including how to figure cuts and fills and calculate excavation quantities.

Learn the Latest Money-Saving Techniques for Troubleshooting and Repairing Any Briggs & Stratton Engine, New or Old!

Turn to the Fourth Edition of How to Repair Briggs & Stratton Engines for expert guidance on completing any Briggs & Stratton maintenance and repair job quickly and easily. This money-saving resource now includes the latest information on overhead valves (OHV), carburetion advances, new muffler designs, and cutting-edge alternators.

Filled with proven techniques for fixing both brand-new and older model Briggs & Stratton engines, the Fourth Edition of this hands-on reference covers everything from ignition, fuel, and charging systems…to starters and engine mechanics. You will find step-by-step instructions for troubleshooting and repairing magnetos…carburetors… governors…alternators…main bearings…flywheels…coils…fuel pumps …air filters…rewind and electric starters…and connecting rods. - more

EXACTLY THE RIGHT TOOL FOR ENGLISH-SPEAKING CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS

When construction managers need to talk about the specifics of a construction job – where the electrical outlets need to go, when the framing will be completed, how a plumbing problem will be solved – they need to be able to communicate clearly and effectively with workers. That task gets considerably more difficult when managers and workers are speaking in different languages.

57th Annual Edition - Current building costs for residential, commercial, and industrial construction.

This Book Is an Encyclopedia of 2010 Building Costs

Estimated prices for every common building material. Provides manhours, recommended crew, and gives the labor cost for installation.

The 2010 National Construction Estimator lists estimated construction costs to general contractors performing the work with their own crews, as of mid-2009.

Includes a CD-ROM with an electronic version of the book with National Estimator, a stand-alone Windows estimating program, plus an interactive multimedia video that shows how to use the disk to compile construction cost estimates. - more

Complete labor, material, and manhour prices for estimating most earthmoving projects. You’ll find how to read site plans, what’s necessary in site preparation, how to determine site cut and fill quantities, how to determine soil swell and compaction, how to work with topsoil, slabs and paving, road work, curbs and gutters, and trench excavation.

Includes factors affecting equipment production and how to include it in your estimate, as well as production rates for excavators, trucks, dozers, scrapers, compactors, graders, pavers, as well as blasting, ripping rock, and soil stabilization.

This is the first ANSI consensus standard on sustainable Green Building for residential construction.

This book was written as a collaborative effort between the ICC and NAHB, and provides "green" practices and standards that can be incorporated into new homes, including multi-family buildings, home remodeling and additions, hotels and motels, and the site upon which the green buildings are located.

This new edition of a classic textbook presents basic mathematic concepts typically applied in areas such as carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, printreading, welding, boilers, and alternative energy.

The Third Edition of Small Gas Engine Repair shows you how to troubleshoot and repair virtually any type of small gas engine used in garden equipment, chain saws, pumps, and standby generators.

Completely revised and updated and offering a step-by-step approach, this bestseller covers all you need to know to repair and maintain a small gas engine and get professional results while saving money.

This in-depth guide by master mechanic Paul Dempsey includes the latest in small engine technology and gives you up-to-date information on overhead valve and overhead cam engines, carburetion advances, digital ignition systems, and more.

Harness the Latest Tools and Techniques for Troubleshooting and Repairing Virtually Any Diesel Engine Problem

The Fourth Edition of Troubleshooting and Repairing Diesel Engines presents the latest advances in diesel technology. Comprehensive and practical, this revised classic equips you with all of the state-of-the-art tools and techniques needed to keep diesel engines running in top condition.

Written by master mechanic and bestselling author Paul Dempsey, this hands-on resource covers new engine technology, electronic engine management, biodiesel fuels, and emissions controls.