Discusses floor plans, building lots, log styles, joinery, log house building techniques, insulation, and alternative energy sources.

Although they may seem commonplace, in truth houses are amazing feats of engineering. In order to build a house, a large team of specialized workers must labor together seamlessly. Who operates the heavy machinery required for construction? What are the duties and skills of a contractor, carpenter, mason, or electrician? What makes the walls and ceiling stand, and how does the roof keep the rain out? Readers will take an eye-opening look at home construction, learning what houses are made of and who builds them. The process is engagingly summarized in the steps of building a house.

Build a classic, enduring, and affordable home. With Jack A. Sobon’s careful guidance, you can construct your own timber-framed house in the traditional hall-and-parlor style. From felling trees to cutting timbers, and frame construction to door selection, you’ll find Sobon’s professional advice and hand-drawn illustrations invaluable. Whether you’re a first-time builder or a seasoned contractor looking to expand your repertoire, you’ll find answers to all your timber-frame questions. Open the front door and walk into the home of your dreams.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1877.

How entrepreneurial housebuilders fueled a rapid economy. "A well-written and easily read business book with a historical perspective, quite fit for a general readership interested in the history of American enterprise."—APT Bulletin

The growing housing crisis cries out for solutions that work. As many as 3.5 million Americans experience homelessness each year, half of them women and children. One in four renters spends more than half of their income on rent and utilities (more than 30 percent is considered unaffordable). With record foreclosures and 28 percent of homes underwater, middle and low-income homeowners are suffering. Many congregations want to address this daunting problem yet feel powerless and uncertain about what to do. The good news is that churches are effectively addressing the housing crisis from Washington State to New York City--where an alliance of sixty churches has built five thousand homes for low-income homeowners, with virtually no government funding or foreclosures. This book not only presents solid theological thinking about housing, but also offers workable solutions to the current crisis: true stories by those who have made housing happen. Each story features a different Christian denomination, geographic area, and model: adaptive reuse, cohousing, cooperative housing, mixed-income, mixed-use, inclusionary zoning, second units, community land trusts, sweat equity, and more. Making Housing Happen is about vision and faith, relationships, and persistence. Its remarkable stories will inspire and challenge you to action. This new edition includes significant new material, especially in light of the ongoing mortgage crisis.