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The All-in-One Custom Homebuilders Guide--Fully Updated with the Latest Green Construction Methods

How to Plan, Contract, and Build Your Own Home, fifth edition, gives you the information you need during every step of the homebuilding process--from selecting materials to designing the rooms to working with a contractor. Featuring practical, cost-effective ways of planning, designing, and building energy-efficient homes, the book presents money- and energy-saving options in every chapter.

This thoroughly revised reference explains how you can implement many of the green construction strategies that make up the U.S. Green Building Council's award-winning Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines. Written by experienced instructors and builders, this is the most complete planning and homebuilding resource available.

Learn how to:

Select the building site that best suits your project

Determine floor plans and types of construction, foundations, framing, and finishing

Use energy-efficient electric, lighting, heating, cooling, and insulation

Choose the best quality floors, wall coverings, fixtures, and appliances for your budget

Integrate green construction systems, components, and materials throughout your home

Include amenities such as decks, patios, gazebos, sidewalks, and driveways

Find and work with an established, skilled, and reliable contractor

From the Back Cover

Save and get more from your money 

Pick the perfect site 

Minimize maintenance cost and effort 

Maximize indoor and outdoor space

There are countless reasons why building your own home makes good sense. But for most people, the chance to create the home they've always wanted is #1 on their list. And this all-in-one guide can help you every step of the way toward realizing your vision -- from hiring the right vendors to picking fixtures. 

Whether it's basic planning ("What's your move-in date?") or construction methods ("Wood or steel?"), this trusted reference, now fully updated to cover new materials, techniques, energy-saving options, and environmentally friendly technologies and methods, is the most complete source for homebuilders available.

Written by experienced instructors and builders, and used by thousands of savvy buyers of custom and not-yet-built homes, How to Plan, Contract, and Build Your Own Home will help you: 

Select the right site and supervise its preparation 

Make wise decisions on floor plans, types of construction, framing, and foundations 

Plan for home office use, communications upgrades, "smart house" technology, and a home that will serve your needs throughout your life 

Choose the newest and most economical and efficient types of insulation, roofing, plumbing, wiring, and more 

Select amenities such as decks, patios, gazebos, sidewalks, and driveways 

Evaluate doing it yourself vs. subcontracting 

Know when you'll move in with a helpful calendar-style checklist 

Select the right mortgage

About the Author

Richard M. Scutella (Erie, PA) has written several books on new construction, home buying, home maintenance, and safety, including both editions of Homebuyer's Checklist. He has designed and supervised the construction of many new homes, and is a member of the Handyman Club of America and the Quikrete Company's Home Projects Council. 

Dave Heberle (Erie, PA) is the author of McGraw-Hill's Construction Safety Manual, and co-author of all three previous editions of How to Plan, Contract and Build Your Own Home. He's written numerous articles on home-building, and is a former realtor who has also designed and built homes. He currently is a consultant on environmental safety and health issues.