Building Books Annotated List

A list of introductory books on building relevant for our work on Thenac and elsewhere.

See library / Projects / Building for more extensive set.

Collins Complete Woodworker’s Manual

Beginners guide to working with wood
Reference book (I have the homeowner’s DIY by Collins and it’s very good)
Chapters on all facets of woodworking; tools, joints, design, finishing etc
Easy to understand and clearly explained
In library

Manual of First and Second Fixing Carpentry 3rd ed.

Focussed on construction carpentry
Assumes a basic level of knowledge and understanding
Recommended by my former carpenter and the builder who worked on my house.
In library

Timber Frame Construction: All about Post and Beam Building & Learn to Timber Frame

Heavily detailed guides to erecting timber framed buildings
Not for entry-level/beginners
Excellent detail on how to make the right joint and place the right joint
Focus on traditional methods to create timber framed buildings
In library

The Timber Framer’s Workshop: Joinery, Design & Construction of Traditional Timber Frames

More of a beginner’s guide to timber frame building than the above two book. Grew out of the hands-on workshops run by the author

Talks about the process of building and the community aspect of raising a timber framed house - very Life Itself!

The Passivhaus Handbook

English manual explaining and detailing the ‘passivhaus’ principle of ultra-low energy sustainable housing. More of reference book as opposed to a hands-on guide.

The Green Self-Build Book: How to Design and Build Your Own Eco-Home

Guide to sustainable green building
Interesting collection of real world case-studies
Succinct recap of the Pattern Language
A good section on ‘Building for Longevity’
In library