Getting a Good House: Tips and Tricks for Evaluating New Construction

Library Journal

How should an excavator back-fill a foundation? What does a good drywall joint look like? How large a gap should a well-fitted door show? These are the types of questions Syvanen addresses. Most of his suggestions are standard good building practices; some are ideas that are uniquely his, developed during his years of experience as a carpenter. With its full-page line drawings and minimal text, this is an exceptionally easy-to-use reference that would nicely supplement more conventional construction inspection guides in larger how-to collections.-- Bill Demo, Tompkins Cortland Community Coll., Dryden, N.Y.