I am very happy to announce that after a full year of editing, writing, photographing, reviewing, proof-reading, and then proof-reading again, the new edition of Fundamentals of Residential Construction by Allen/Schreyer/Thallon is now available! As before, it comes in an eBook version as well as a hardcover.
For this edition, I was able to implement many updates and changes. For example, all IRC tables have been updated to the 2021 version and new IRC references have been added to every chapter. Content was updated throughout and, where possible, I replaced images with newer ones. Overall, this volume now has over 1250 illustrations and weighs in at 814 pages.
The materials section received an overhaul in that plastics as well as metals are now properly included. Also, being an educator, I tried to make the chapter exercises more relevant to the reader by illustrating at least one per chapter. And the list of interactive SketchUp exercises - a companion feature that I introduced...
A classic fence option from my backyard
As we discuss in Chapter 22, there are many options when it comes to fences, both in terms of design as well as material. Common material options are wood (naturally resistant or pressure treated), vinyl, and of course metal (mainly galvanized steel). However, as a recent story (linked below) from the New York Times highlights, there are other options as well, namely stainless steel in this case. This article also discusses some of the socio-economic factors that are relevant in this context: fences as status symbols, cultural representation, etc.
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I mention NAHB's The New American Home project in Part One of the book as an educative and highly publicized annual showcase for house construction and design. With the IBS starting soon, the latest incarnation is now being revealed through various videos. See the most recent video below and find more images/videos/products at the links underneath to learn what's in store for this year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeButuj_lsk
More Information
The New American HomeIBS YouTube Channel...
Several recent announcements may affect how natural gas will be used in our homes in the future. Below is a link to New York City's announcement that bans natural gas in all new buildings. Add to that a report that outlines the environmental impact of gas stoves - even when they are off!
https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1471028573150793728
https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1488013952533639173...
