Building with Stone - Hardcover

McRaven Charles

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0690018797 ISBN 13: 9780690018790

Synopsis

"Many homeowners and builders are searching for just the sort of originality and classic features illustrated here."-- "Booklist." A Practical Homeowner Book Club Selection. Over 30,000 copies sold.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Concrete and steel may weigh as much, but nothing can rival stone for its beauty and durability. Building With Stone is an introduction to the art and craft of creating stone structures and projects by a man who has made stonework his vocation.

Throughout the book is Charles McRaven's stonebuilding philosophy -- that careful craftsmanship and time well spent during construction will repay itself many times over. The physical challenges will be offset by tremendous satisfaction and the knowledge that long after the builder is gone, the structure will stand as a personal and historical monument.

Based on years of experience, this book will educate the novice and inspire the seasonal artisan. A stonebuilder at any level will learn how to evaluate each stone and undertake each step in the procedure with an eye toward aesthetics and useful permanence.

In addition to introductory material on acquiring stone and what tools will be necessary, there are chapters with step-by-step instructions on how to build:

-- walls

-- buttresses

-- stone fireplaces

-- a barbecue pit

-- a stone dam

-- a stone bridge

-- a spring house

-- even a home or barn

The final chapter is on proper restoration techniques for stone structures.

Not just a how-to book, but also a good read, Building With Stone is sure to be a reference book and constant companion for all manner of stone journeymen, and will prove to be as enduring a volume as the structures it recommends.

About the Author

Charles McRaven is a stonemason and blacksmith, nationally known for building and repairing dozens of stone structures and log homes. He has written extensively on stone, including the books Building with Stone and Stonework, and articles for Country Journal, Fine Homebuilding, and many regional magazines. He lectures and conducts workshops and private courses in stone construction. Charles lives in Virginia.

Edition details

• Publication date: 1705
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0690018797
• ISBN 13: 9780690018790
• Binding: Hardcover