Barns sheds and outbuildings Plan, design, build

This is a serious how-to book for the weekend do-it-yourself home owner wanting to build a garden shed, or the farmer wanting to build a barn, or the urban rehabber wanting to convert a barn into an alternative residence. Wagner and DeKorne start with the basics for planning the project--building the foundation, framing, assessing environmental needs, wiring, plumbing--through finishing the building. However, for those with more conceptual ideas than hands-on skills, this book offers a detailed section on outbuilding designs, plus numerous detailed layouts and color photographs of buildings in various phases of construction. The illustrations, coupled with commentary, provide basic information that anyone wanting to secure the skills of a contractor should know. For do-it-yourselfers and those who hire others to do the work, this book provides the basic information to help both parties realize their desires within code and within their aesthetic and budgetary needs. --Vernon Ford Copyright 2005 Booklist