Best renovation books: List of top-rated renovation books
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Renovating is a task that requires a lot of preparation, planning and knowledge. Your tradies will help and advise you along the way but if you're managing the project, you'll need to spend a significant amount of time planning. So, a book with advice, processes, tips, checklists etc can help you along the way a lot. Here are the best rated books on renovations, some from Australia, some from the rest of the world.
Planning Your Perfect Home Renovationby Alex May(Australian)
This book is a complete guide to planning a home renovation, from cost estimators, advice on dealing with tradespeople, room mission statements and more.
The Renovator's Survival Guide by Amanda Falconer (Australian)
6 years after the start date of Amanda's home renovation, chaos and court cases later, she wrote a book about renovating and how to survive it. In her own words "I made a promise to myself after I fired my builder: to finish the house, sue him and write a book about the experience - no matter how much I just wanted to forget it all once I reached the end. I was determined not to let the builder get off scot-free, and determined to help other people avoid the same mistakes.".
What Your Contractor Can't Tell You: The Essential Guide to Building and Renovating by Amy Johnston(American)
Written to switch your time spent from 80% mess and chaos and 20% planning, to 80% planning and 20% reduced mess and chaos. It's the 'inside scoop' that your tradie doesn't tell you. Introduces the concept that with a construction project, you can only ever have two out of time, money or quality - never all three. It's a good split between renovating and constructing a new home.
Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes by George Nash(UK)
Described as "a comprehensive guide to every aspect of making renovations and repairs — whether you already live in, or are contemplating buying, an older home.". It gives you tips on assessing an old house for purchase, restoring and renovating from big to small.
Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House: Bringing Your Home into Harmony with Nature (Natural Home & Garden) by Carol Venolia, and Kelly Lerner(US/UK)
Lots of photos and graphics, real stories and very popular. This book focuses on 'going green' when renovating your home and takes surroundings and nature into consideration when designing your plans. One review says that the author has integrated aesthetics with environmental, sustainable principles.
Make It Right: Inside Home Renovation (Trade Paperback)byMike Holmes(Canada)
Written by a popular TV renovation show star, this is a practical book about renovations from start to finish.
Kitchen Redos, Revamps, Remodels, And Replacements: Without Murder, Madness, Suicide, Or Divorce by Jan Weimer(US)
Comprehensive and detailed - covering topics like wine racks that other books don't, this book is readable and practical with lots of checklists. The author says "I believe hassles are avoidable if you do your homework, stay on top of the job and sever relationships as soon as you see they're not working."
Many books by Ian Stapleton focussing on restoring older homes(Australian)
This is a collection of books focussing on specific areas, colour schemes for old houses, working drawings for old houses, Federation houses, Queensland houses etc. Lots to choose from but less generic than other renovation books above.
If you've read a renovation book you particularly liked, leave a tip as a comment here for others.
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Those Ian Stapleton books look so old school!
over a year ago by Frank -
Don't they just! Apparently most of those have been reprinted and revised through the years but I'd imagine that the content is pretty consistent :)
over a year ago by liz_brock
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