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Summary
Summary
While building trends may change, one thing does not: the need to build quality homes at affordable prices. And in today's building market, sustainability is an important part of building homes that last so homeowners can keep long-term costs down. Building an Affordable House, 2nd edition helps readers do that with insight from the people who work in the field every day.
Building expert Fernando Pages-Ruiz knows that from a homebuilder's perspective, competitive, affordable housing represents a basic business plan that blends curb appeal, useful floor space and a low price tag to guarantee quick sales. It is a blueprint that takes the speculation out of spec building and provides the builder with an elusive commodity in the construction industry: peace of mind. Plus, keeping sustainability at the forefront of building decisions isn't simply good for the environment--it's good for the homeowner's bottom line.
Building an Affordable House, 2nd edition provides an updated sensibility to the building decisions every homeowner must make in today's challenging construction environment, whether they are building a brand-new house or renovating one they love.
This update (long overdue after 17 years) includes
all new code information techniques that honor sustainable building practices cost-saving methods that are safe and effectiveThis book reveals the secrets of building better for less and developing your own cost-cutting approach that balances marketability, quality, and price.
Author Notes
Fernando Pagés Ruiz is a builder with a 40-year career in construction who has become a dedicated proponent of building innovation in low-cost housing. Pagés Ruiz speaks, writes, and consults internationally on how to build high-quality, affordable, and energy-efficient homes. His projects have won numerous awards, including the "Green Building Single Family House of the Year" and the "Workforce Housing Award" from the National Association of Home Builders.
Table of Contents
Foreword | 2 |
Introduction to the Second Edition | 3 |
Chapter 1 Money Matters | 6 |
A Hard-Dollar Cost Approach | 8 |
The Affordability Equation | 9 |
Achieving Blueprint Democracy | 11 |
Every House Can Be Built Better | 13 |
Great Expectations | 13 |
Chapter 2 Design | 22 |
Building a Better Box | 23 |
Using a Modular Planning Grid | 28 |
The Exterior Shell | 32 |
Inner Space | 36 |
Lot Basics | 43 |
The Language of Affordability | 46 |
Tiny Houses with Big Budgets | 48 |
Growing Closer | 52 |
Try Things Out on Deeply Affordable Rentals | 56 |
Chapter 3 Foundations | 58 |
Concrete Is the Traditional Choice | 59 |
A Soils Test Is a Good Investment | 62 |
Concrete: More than the Basics | 65 |
Do You Really Need a Footing? | 71 |
Consider Alternatives to Conventional Foundations | 74 |
Slab-on-Grade Foundations Are Affordable | 82 |
Sealing Foundation Walls | 85 |
Chapter 4 Framing | 92 |
Optimum Value-Engineered Framing | 93 |
Building Walls, the New Way | 95 |
Prefabricated Walls Are Still the Future | 109 |
Alternatives to Wood Walls | 112 |
Floor Framing | 144 |
Stairways | 118 |
Girders, Beams, and Posts | 120 |
Installing Subfloors | 123 |
Engineered Floor Systems | 125 |
Framing the Roof | 128 |
Installing Framing Connectors | 134 |
Chapter 5 Plumbing: Less May be Better | 138 |
Smart Layout Cuts Costs | 139 |
Rethinking Supply Lines | 140 |
Choosing Drain, Waste, and Vent Lines | 146 |
Saving with Stainless-Steel Gas Tubing | 149 |
Shopping for Fixtures | 150 |
Chapter 6 Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning | 158 |
Take an Active Role in Planning | 159 |
Selecting the Right Equipment | 160 |
Sizing Equipment for the House | 167 |
Planning the Network of Ducts | 170 |
Fresh Air Is Important, Too | 176 |
Chapter 7 Wiring and Light Fixtures | 180 |
Fine-Tuning the Site Plan | 181 |
Devising a Smart Floor Plan | 182 |
Reducing Lights and Switches | 184 |
Choose Wire Gauge Carefully | 185 |
Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters | 186 |
Consider Aluminum Wire | 188 |
Recessed Fixtures Save Money | 188 |
Solar-Ready | 189 |
Chapter 8 Insulation | 192 |
Making the Building Tight | 193 |
Plug the Small Gaps, Too | 197 |
The Airtight Drywall Approach | 201 |
Choosing the Right Insulation | 202 |
Chapter 9 The Exterior Shell | 206 |
Pitched Roofs Are Better | 207 |
For Siding, No Maintenance Is Best | 210 |
Economizing with Doors and Windows | 222 |
For Walks and Driveways, Skip the Concrete | 227 |
Chapter 10 Interior Finish | 232 |
Design One Detail at a Time | 233 |
Making the Most of Drywall | 234 |
Choose Paint Carefully | 238 |
Installing Interior Trim and Millwork | 240 |
Saving in the Kitchen | 244 |
Flooring Makes a First Impression | 247 |
Afterword: Meet the Future of Homebuilding | 252 |
Recommended Reading | 260 |
Index | 261 |