Building Book Resources

In the past, I have read dozens of books on the subject of building. What I found was that too many books on the subject of barns, sheds, tree houses and cabin retreats are merely coffee table pictures and did not really show and help an individual how to accomplish the project. I have searched high and low to find resouces that help to the do-it-yourselfer in learning how to design, build and enhance small buildings. I hope you enjoy these books as much as I have.


Handmade Houses: A Guide to the Woodbutcher's Art By Art Boericke/Barry Shapiro

This book is strongly suggested for anyone looking for inspiration. This compilation of photos is a great visual library for getting those creative juices flowing.

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Step by Step plans for ten assorted chicken coops including a chicken tractor.

I have bought and read every book I could find about designing and building small buildings. I have to admit that David Stiles has done a fabulous job in presenting building knowledge to a do-it-yourselfer. The illustrations, drawings, and pictures capture the imagination. I have personally reread this book several times and have made it required reading for the carpenters that work with me here at the shop. A must read for anyone thinking of constructing an outbuilding sanctuary.

This is a great book. This book will actually teach you how to build. Eight chapters cover all aspects of construction, including planning, tools, foundations, framing, roofing, siding, wiring and finishing. Information is given not just on standard framing techniques but on pole framing and timber framing. More than 400 photographs show you how each aspect of your project is done. This is the best “how-to-build” book that I have come across and I strongly recommend it to anyone who is learning the carpentry trade.

If you have been fortunate to view this book in the past you understand its cheerful charm. The Tree House book is for the inner child in us all. It is filled with wonderful full color pictures for inspiration, ideas and motivation. Whether you are thinking about a sanctuary for yourself or your children this book will excite you. It tells the stories of dozens of tree houses and the people who built them, from simple platforms nailed together by kids to arboreal palaces constructed and lived in by grown-ups.

What a truly great surprise. I am unsure how this book eluded me for so long. Tiny tiny houses is in its 10th printing. I understand why, the sketches and drawings are superb. There are forty little buildings displayed in black and white they range in square footage from 5 sq. ft. to the largest at 324 sq ft. There are simple designs, houses on wheels, and famous cabins including Henry Thoreau’s. Lester Walker is an architect with a passion for small structures. Many of the designs are easily assembled by a do-it-yourselfer.

Cottage Water Systems by Max Burns

I strongly suggest this book for anyone attempting to set up interior running water for your rustic retreat, cottage, or cabin in the woods. Max Burns has supplied the ins and outs of drinking and waste water systems that are set up on a shoe string budget.

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Retreats: Handmade Hideaways to Refresh the Spirit by G. Lawson Drinkard III

I have not personally reviewed this book.

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One third of the pictures featured in this Better Homes and Gardens publication are of Jamaica Cottage Shop designs. Includes assembly instructions for a 4x10 woodbin. The best book to date outlining shed kits and nationwide distributors.

Jamaica Cottage Shop is featured in IdeaWise Yards and Gardens with several designs. It offers hundreds of inspirational ideas and helpful tips for the do-it-yourselfers seeking to create outdoor living spaces that are both attractive and practical. This new release is written by Nancy Baldrica and published by Creative Publishing. I highly recommend this book for individuals seeking design ideas for backyard retreats.