Synopses & Reviews
How do you get started when you are looking for an older house to renovate? This book will help you in your search and show you how to go about renovating the house you finally select. Prepared by the Forest Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, it is a clear, thorough, and completely up-to-date manual.
Appraising the worthiness of an older home is easy when you follow the pointers on what to look for when examining the foundation, floor and wall framing, exterior sides and trim, plumbing and heating systems, roof, insulation, possible termite infestation, and more, including how to make a final evaluation of the overall condition of the house. Then the book shows you how to develop your plan for expanding, adding a room, remodeling the kitchen, adding a bath and similar construction, and how to recondition or replace floors, siding, the roof, windows, doors, insulation, interior walls, ceilings, kitchen cabinets, closets, and much else. A full glossary of housing terms and 133 illustrations add to the clarity of the text, while a complete index lets you use the book for specific repairs or a major overhaul.
With the high cost of new homes, many people are considering the substantial advantages of renovating an existing home lower cost, more space for the money, and a higher quality in materials and design. Anyone considering the purchase of an older home for renovation will find this book the perfect place to begin.