House-Dreams: How One Man's Vision Became a Family Home

Rating:
Summary: Avoidable mistakes by an amateur homebuilder
Review: Although well-written - the author is a writer - more than anything else it suggests why individuals should use building industry professionals instead of the do-it-yourself approach. The author makes a tragic mistake which almost certainly emerges from his lack of experience. Instead of buying new windows compatible with his house design, he buys used wood windows coated with lead-containing paint and strips them himself. In the process he contaminates his own home with lead dust, and his little daughter is lead-poisoned. The restored windows also lacked insulating glass, making his new home not as energy-efficient as it could have been. He could have purchased new wood divided light windows with standard glass that had the historical appearance he wanted for a modest amount of money. His plan also resulted in some awkward plan features that could have been avoided had he hired an architect or a house plan service. He also hires a student from Scotland to provide a lot of critical labor, thereby avoiding paying trade wages and insurance for a skilled worker. In the end the price he paid at the time he did the work shows that he didn't save much money after all.......

Rating:
Summary: For those who dream to build their own
Review: Because I hold the seemingly far off dream of one day designing and building my own quiet secluded nest, I was delighted when this book was recommended to me by Amazon.com. I usually don't even read those pesky E-mail advertisements sent to me . . . but the title alone "House Dreams", caught my eye. Hugh Howard completes an amazing task of actually making the reader feel like he/she is part of the building process of his dream home. While some of the architectural history flew way over my head, the book was still a delight to read based on Howard's delectable annecdotes pertaining to how taking on such an enormous task of building his own home, effected his family. This book keeps the hope alive in me that one day too, my dreams could come true.

Rating:
Summary: Is your dream to build your own house? This book is for you!
Review: Because I hold the seemingly far off dream of one day designing and building my own quiet secluded nest, I was delighted when this book was recommended to me by Amazon.com. I usually don't even read those pesky E-mail advertisements sent to me . . . but the title alone "House Dreams", caught my eye. Hugh Howard completes an amazing task of actually making the reader feel like he/she is part of the building process of his dream home. While some of the architectural history flew way over my head, the book was still a delight to read based on Howard's delectable annecdotes pertaining to how taking on such an enormous task of building his own home, effected his family. This book keeps the hope alive in me that one day too, my dreams could come true.

Rating:
Summary: For those who dream to build their own
Review: I have never responded to another's review before, but the one from "A reader from Warwick, RI USA" is utter nonsense. Review the book, don't bother us with inane, self-serving blather about new windows and unions. The book provides the reader with the romance and hardship of following a dream to fruition and for that I, for one, could not put it down. Board by board, nail by nail. It is exactly what I, as one who longs to build my own home some day (using old windows, no less), wanted to get out of the book. To quote Willy Wonka, "We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of the dreams." Thanks to the author for keeping the dream alive.