We are building a small cabin out on our land as a way to learn the art of housebuilding. I need to know the best how-to book for doing foundations and putting up a weathertight shell. Anyone use a book that really made things clear for beginners?

-- Ben Wiker (bwiker662@cs.com), July 22, 2001

Answers

Get thee to your local library.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), July 22, 2001.

The Sunset books, really like large paperbacks are sold everywhere, all home improvement centers have them and they are at larger libraries. We have talked about this before but you could certainly learn to build anything with these. From framing to basic plumbing or electricity. It is all about learning one skill at a time, don't look at your cabin as a whole, but as many little parts/skills you have to learn. By the time you finish your foundation, you will be a professional! Then move on to your framing, roofing etc. I found out that I was much better at taping and floating than my husband, also laying the floor tiles. Also lots of home improvement centers have classes on many phases of construction. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), July 22, 2001.

Countryside magazine !!! They had an article on building cabins last year and the May/June 2001 had plans on goat sheds and small barns that we modified slightly to build a fishing cabin by. I know I referenced the cabin issue in answering a thread in the archives, but I will check my CS reference library to get the exact issue number for you.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), July 22, 2001.

People here have spoken highly of various Reader's Digest books - certainly the one in Australia are good.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), July 23, 2001.