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The Housebuilding Handbook cover

Norman S.

It gave us the confidence to finally start!... Couldn't recommend this book more.

Norman S.

The Housebuilding Handbook

$39.95 Regular price $59.95
SAVE 33%
(2251 Reviews)

💵 Save 20-40% of a contractor charge
🎨 Every stage of building a house - step by step
🏗️ Catch costly mistakes - what to check
📖 720-page book – shipped to your door

  • 60 Day Guarantee
  • Secure Checkout
  • Free Bonuses
  • Owner-Builder Cost Sheet Owner-Builder Cost SheetTrack every quote and payment, stage by stage $0.00$9.99
  • Build Inspection Checklist Build Inspection ChecklistWhat to check before each stage gets covered up $0.00$9.99
Can I really build a house myself?

Yes. It was written for first-time builders, not professionals.

It walks you through every stage: the site, the foundation, the frame, the roof, the walls, the plumbing, the heating and the wiring. Even if you hire out the big jobs, you'll know how each one should be done.

Do I need building experience?

No. Every stage is shown in full-color drawings.

You learn the tools and materials before you need them.

Who is this book for?

Anyone building a house, adding a room or finishing an attic.

And anyone hiring a builder who wants to know what they're paying for.

60-Day Guarantee

Read it. If it's not for you, send it back within 60 days for a full refund. No questions asked.

Open book on a lap with a plan

Build it right the first time

A house goes up one stage at a time. Miss a step and you pay for it later.

You've watched a hundred videos and still can't see the whole thing. Clips show one step, never how it connects.

This guide walks you through every stage in order, from the site to the wiring, in clear drawings.

✓ 800 full-color illustrations

✓ 12 stages in order: site, foundation, framing, roof, windows and doors, wiring, plumbing, heating, insulation, drywall, flooring, finish

What you'll learn inside The Housebuilding Handbook

What readers reported after finishing:

95%

said it saved them money on their build

89%

felt confident enough to start the build they'd been putting off

92%

wish they'd had it before getting their first contractor quote

Results from an 11-month post-purchase survey

What Readers Say

Holding the book at a build site
No course, no school training, just years of repairs. This is the one book that covered everything you'd learn in formal training, without the professor-talk. You could build a solid home from the pictures alone.
Joseph R.
Open book on a lap with a plan
I don't trust the construction industry anymore, so I'm overseeing our addition myself. The diagrams for framing and foundation work are second to none. Mandatory if you want to protect your budget.
Rebecca T.
Holding the book in a room under construction
I saved $150K on a $400K house thanks to this. It shows you how to spot-check contractors and unreliable subs. Saved us from some very expensive mistakes.
Robert M.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the book cover?

Here's what's inside:

  • Choosing the site
  • Tools and materials
  • Foundations
  • Framing floors, walls and roof
  • Doors, windows and stairs
  • Chimneys and flooring
  • Plumbing, heating and electricity
  • Smaller jobs like finishing an attic or adding a room
  • Green building and energy-saving options
Is it up to date with building codes?

It's the 2025 revised and expanded edition. Codes change and differ from town to town.

Check with your local building department before you start. The book teaches the methods. Your inspector sets the local rules.

What's new in this edition?

800 new full-color illustrations and a cleaner two-column layout.

A chapter on greener building. More on safety and cordless tools. Energy-saving options like structural insulated panels and radiant floor heating.

Who wrote it?

R. J. DeCristoforo, with Mary DeCristoforo.

R. J. wrote dozens of how-to books and columns for Popular Science and Popular Woodworking.

I'm hiring a builder. Is it still worth it?

Yes. You'll know each stage before it starts.

So you can talk to your builder and ask the right questions.

How big is it?

720 pages. 9½ by 7½ inches, paperback.

What if it's not what I expected?

You have 60 days. If it's not for you, send it back for a full refund. No questions asked.

Need help?

Questions about your order? Email us at nordhealth.info@gmail.com and we'll get back to you.

Easy returns

Not what you expected? You have 60 days. Send it back for a full refund. No questions asked.