Recomended Reading List

[bretstep]

Obviously I havent taken the class yet, but I am anxiously awaiting doing so. I figured I would compile a list of material I can go through since I need to fill the hours with something, due to not sleeping. I have recently noticed a severe decrease in sleep hours since finding the website and the forum. All good hours missed though and even better if I can fill it with some good reading and material. I was wondering what those that are seasoned pro's(members) think of this book list to get the ball rolling. Three of them are new additions and the others are from the LHBA site. Any comments and suggestions would be great. I am looking forward to class. This is all ment to get into the right mind frame of the material that may be covered in class and not replace it. Class will ultimately trump any bad information out there but recognizing it, I assume will be helpful. Since I have to start rethinking the right way, I want to start that process and flush the bad out!

Title: Build your own mobile power tool centers / John
McPherson.
Title: How to build your own log home for less than $15,000 /
by Robert L. Williams.
Title: Living homes : integrated design & construction / by
Thomas J. Elpel.
Title: Code check : an illustrated guide to building a safe
house / Redwood Kardon, Douglas Hansen, Michael Casey
; illustrated by Paddy Morrissey.
Title: Finding & buying your place in the country / Les Scher
& Carol Scher.
Title: One man's wilderness : an Alaskan odyssey / by Sam
Keith ; from the journals and photographs of Richard
Proenneke.

Thank You,

Brett

[Cruiser]

Brett,

Any of the For Pros By Pros series will be helpful. In this series, I have just finished "Working Alone" and "Foundations". I just started on "Measuring, Marking & Layout". I haven't read the log home books you are refering to, but I would probably shy away from them for now so as to not cloud things up before you take the class. I would concentrate on the topics that you know you are going to be involved with such as those I mentioned above and framing, electrical, plumbing, roofing, concrete, etc. Keep reading all you can on the forum and after class you will see the really good stuff on the members side. Welcome aboard and we look forward to seeing you around often!

[bretstep]

I hear ya on the front of not clouding up the info I will get out of the class. I do like to get in the mind frame of the information itself. I am going to read the recommended reading's first. The bottom three on the list are from the site. Thank you for the information and insight. I appreciate it. I am eagerly awaiting the acceptance into the member only side of things and forum.

[loghousenut]

Don't matter what you read. If you are captivated by the thought of what happens here on the LHBA site, you'll get the full benefit of class. You may as well read Mad magazine and Popular Mechanics while you wait for class date. Everything changes somewhere after lunch on the first day. You'll see!!!

[bretstep]

Is there a MAD magazine publication for "wanta be LHBA members"? I picked up the living homes book yesterday at the library and read the entire thing last night. I am 100% aware the class will trump any of the information I read ahead of time though. I have a bad case of "I can hardly wait to take this damn class already" due to excitement and wanting to get to work. Thank you for the input. It's truly appreciated:cool:

[adubar]

Welcome Brett,

A couple of areas that would not hurt is on the subject of "frugality" and "self sufficiency."

Heck, there may even be some entertaining novels/books with good characters that display those qualities (Mr. Proenneke was and is one among them!)

I'm always amazed and delighted to find the range of experiences and self-taught knowledge that my LHBA brothers and sisters seem to carry with them.

Best of luck!

Look forward to meeting you on the other side!

-Drew

[bretstep]

Yeah I picked up his book too "one man's wilderness" and read half of that already. I have always been able to find the best and cheapest way of doing things. It almost seems I have a nack for it. When really it is just taking and outside of the box approach to it. The "frugality" term to me means "common sense" which would be in direct contradiction to the main stream thought process of "spend more than I make and finance everything to the gills, borrow and sell notes to other countries, raise inflation, and never get out of debt, devalue the dollar, the jones' aren't out of reach but why cant I keep up with those guys I am paying $1200 a month for a car i'm leasing that isn't even made here." I hate that way of thinking, and always have. I can't wait to be around some like minded people and look forward to joining the clan and learning from some of the smartest folks out there it seems. It's funny how stupid a lot of the info you can get online is, but sometimes though albeit rarely, you can find some wisdom. Thank You to all who are in the LHBA!!!!!

[edkemper]

> I have always been able to find the best and cheapest way of doing things. It almost seems I have a nack for it. When really it is just taking and outside of the box approach to it.

Looking at the class as a box, your whole concept of "outside the box" is going to explode. This is a level you can't "yet" imagine. It's also a bunch of fun.

[bretstep]

That is exactly what I expect. Anxiously awaiting attending.;)

[ny_log_home_dreamer]

I could not find the recommended reading list on the LBHA web site. If someone is still watching this thread, could you point me in the right direction?
Thank you!

[Basil]

The class won't teach you about stick building processes beyond the very basics, yet there are things you must build that way. For instance, interior walls, gable ends, etc. They also won't teach you how to lay out a staircase...If you think a carpenter is a monkey with a hammer, lay out a staircase that meets code and you'll change your mind.

You won't be taught wiring or plumbing, either. So if you are going to do those things start reading up now. It won't hurt the class experience at all, and will actually give you some things to ask about during class.

[Steve]

Here's the recommended reading list (http://www.loghomebuilders.org/log-homes-stuff-we-recommend). It's not as easy to find on the new website, but it's still up there.

Basil is right, if you want to do your own trades (electrical, plumbing, etc), that's the place to read up on now. You'll save a bunch of money doing it yourself, but the class can't fit those subjects into 2 days along with all of the log home information. So instead, the class covers the specifics that are needed for adapting regular trades to this style of construction.

[John17three]

Yeah I picked up his book too "one man's wilderness" and read half of that already. I have always been able to find the best and cheapest way of doing things. It almost seems I have a nack for it. When really it is just taking and outside of the box approach to it. The "frugality" term to me means "common sense" which would be in direct contradiction to the main stream thought process of "spend more than I make and finance everything to the gills, borrow and sell notes to other countries, raise inflation, and never get out of debt, devalue the dollar, the jones' aren't out of reach but why cant I keep up with those guys I am paying $1200 a month for a car i'm leasing that isn't even made here." I hate that way of thinking, and always have. I can't wait to be around some like minded people and look forward to joining the clan and learning from some of the smartest folks out there it seems. It's funny how stupid a lot of the info you can get online is, but sometimes though albeit rarely, you can find some wisdom. Thank You to all who are in the LHBA!!!!!

I had a great time at the seminar, but don't assume to much about "like minded people." I think most of us operate on a frugal mind frame, but concerning all others facets of life, there's quite a diversity among us. Have fun at the seminar!