 | |
 View Larger |
Prefabulous: The House of Your Dreams Delivered Fresh from the Factory By Sheri Koones ( Taunton )
Release Date: 2007-03-06
Average Customer Rating:
List Price: $25.00
Price: $16.50
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
|  Add to Cart |
|
|
Product Description
This is the only book that gives homeowners who are dreaming about building or planning to build a new home the good and the bad on all types of prefabricated houses. Shows that prefabricated can be mainstream traditional design and does not have to look like a mobile home or a modular "Dwell" box.
Prefabulous describes the many systems available for prefabricating all or parts of a new home, including timber frame and log, as well as modular, panelized, structural insulated panels, steel framing and concrete systems, which are relatively new. Prefabulous describes these systems, compares their advantages and disadvantages, and shows beautiful examples of houses built using these techniques. Although all of these "prefabricated" houses look very different, all of them were manufactured partially or almost completely in a controlled factory environment and transported to the home site to be erected. As a group these systems offer a faster, more energy-efficient, and sometimes more cost-efficient method of building.
Includes a foreword by Not So Big House author Sarah Susanka, who writes: "For homeowners who want to know the options, the advantages and disadvantages of those options, and to see how those prefabricated parts come together into a good, attractive home, read this book."
|
|
 Huge, Wasteful Houses ( cateryan )
In the author's 3/22/07 post in her blog above, she states, "In today's world I believe we are all concerned about preserving our resources and saving energy - prefab construction is an excellent option towards both of those ends." Her book, however, presents huge prefab houses as examples of this perspective. Of the 25 houses in the book, 12 are in the 5000 - 12,000+ sq. ft. range. No matter what construction method is used, excessive materials and space waste natural resources and energy.
Given that the author's previous book was Modular Mansions, it's not surprising that she recommends such wasteful houses. It is highly unfortunate, however, that Sarah Susanka, author of The Not So Big House, chose to write the forward for this book. She said, "Prefab is definitely an idea whose time has come, and this is the book that tells us how to make it happen". Did she even look at the book before writing that recommendation? It is a total contradiction from her own books and apparent philosophy towards building houses that minimize resource use.
|
 A superb introduction to prefab ( katejthomas )
Usually, I find books like this very disappointing. I actually checked this one out of the library to make sure it was worth the money before I bought it. All I can say is YES, it's worth purchasing, and I cannot wait to receive my copy.
This book is a really good introduction to prefab housing options and building materials, with photos spanning the basic models to very VERY high-end examples of the houses that can be built using this approach. (I have to agree with the reviewer who said that, if you want a really in-depth look at the technical side of the process, this is not the best choice for you.) "Prefabulous" manages to make a potentially-daunting subject accessible to readers without being overly light and fluffy or using that condescending tone that so many of these types of books have. Likewise, it's been very handy to show this book to family members and neighbors who are interested in prefab housing as an idea, but don't know anything (yet!) about the nuts and bolts of the process. This book has been really eye-opening for them because of its beautiful photos and well-written, clear, concise text.
All this being said, I should probably explain that I have a Masters Degree in Urban/City Planning from an "Ivy-league" university. Even with my academic and professional training, I found this book to be very informative and fully anticipate that it will be a fine addition to my personal library.
|
Prefabulous ( ehaladay )
Lots of good pictures, but VERY LITTLE indepth and/or technical info about processes and products. Not for someone interested in really learning much about factory fabrication, except "look what we can do".
|
 Prefabulous
Fairly good. But thought maybe it would have had something included about the Dome houses also.
|
Prefabulous book ( dianne858 )
This is a terrific book that I use in my daily business as a REALTOR who is specializing in affordable, green, prefab solutions for my clients.Prefabulous: The House of Your Dreams Delivered Fresh from the Factory
|
|
|
