Here we provide an updated reprint in both searchable text and original copies in PDF format of Hubbard Cobb's Your Dream Home, illustrated by Sigman-Ward, first published by Wm. H. Wise & Co. New York, originally published in 1950.
From site selection and obtaining financing through each step in construction of a single family home the simple procedures and drawings in this book are still useful for anyone building or repairing a home or other small structure.
The authors include build-plans, elevations, work sketches, and materials list for each phase of construction of a modest home of several designs. Useful for construction historical research, the material cost estimates given in this book were based on U.S. construction costs in 1950 in the Midwest, East, and West coasts with edits to typical building costs for 2019.
We provide an index to each book chapter that links to the individual chapter as either a PDF File or as a searchable Text File. The PDFversions of these files include all of the original images that may not be seen in the searchable text version.
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?
Build Your Dream Home
Table of Contents
Each chapter of this book are given in three formats: web page, ePub, and PDF showing the pages in their original image.
SELECTING THE SITE & BUYING THE PLOT - Bulding Codes, Zoning, Deed Restrictions, Country Property, Picking the Property, Public Utilities, The Individual Site, Soil Conditions, The Size of the Plot, Checklist for Choosing the Site, Buying the Plot Checklist for Buying the Plot
FINANCING THE NEW HOUSE - options for getting the money to finance a build-it-yourself home. How to Get a Mortgage, Kinds of Mortgages, FHA Loans,A GI Loan, Combination VA-FHA Loans, Construction Loans, The Long-Range View, Checklist on financing.
CUTTING COSTS, BASIC MATERIALS, NECESSARY TOOLS - where to find savings when building your own home; don't cut the wrong costs. What Material to Build With, Tools Required for the Job, The Framing Square and Its Use.
FOUNDATION LAYOUT & CONSTRUCTION - Excavation, Footings, Forms for Poured-Concrete Foundation Walls, Pouring the Foundation Walls,
The Girder, The Chimney Footing, Masonry-Block Foundation Walls, Foundations Without Basements,
Additional Footings, Concrete Floors on Ground, Stone Wall Foundations, Post and Pier Foundations,
Backfilling, Installing Drain Tile, The Basement Floor, Termite Sheathing, Materials List for Foundation and Floor Slab,
House Plans: Elevation Plans, Floor Plans
FRAMING THE HOUSE -The Sill, Joists, Framing the Floor Openings, Bridging, Sub-Flooring, Framing the Walls,
Framing for House with Concrete Slab Floor, The Breezeway and Garage, General Floor Plan of House, Garage and Breezeway,
Foundation Plan of Garage and Breezeway, Front Elevation of Garage and Breezeway,
Right Side Elevation of Garage and Breeze way, Rear Elevation of Garage and Breezeway,
Left Side Elevation of Garage, Plan of Garage and Breezewray, Framing the Garage and the Breeze way.
Sheathing the exterior walls, Making the Openings for Doors and Windows,
Scaffolding, Ceiling Joists, Framing the Roof, Framing the Dormer Windows, Roof Boards / sheathing,
Installing Gutters, Installing Roofing Materials, Materials List for Framing the Basic House.
CHIMNEY & FIREPLACE CONSTRUCTION - chimney base, fireplace, chimney construction, furnace chimneys, tests, materials list for chimney construction, Chimney and Fireplace Construction for Other Types of Homes
SIDING CHOICES & INSTALLATION - building paper, housewrap, wood siding, asbestos shingles, asphalt shingles, stucco, materials list for siding the basic house
PLUMBING SYSTEM INSTALLATION - The Water Supply,
Types of Water Pipe,
Galvanized Steel Pipe,
Brass Pipe,
Copper Tubing,
Pipe Size,
Cast-Iron Soil Pipe,
Installing the Plumbing System,
Fresh Water Supply,
Hot Water Heaters and Storage Tanks,
Testing the Drainage System,
The House Sewer Line,
Sewage Disposal,
Materials List for Plumbing System
ELECTRICAL WIRING INSTALLATION BASICS - wiring methods, wire size, number of circuits, wiring the house, materials list for electrical equipment & wiring
PAINTING & FINISHING YOUR HOME - exterior painting, interior wall finishes, wallpapering, finishing woodwork, materials list for painting the basic house
How To Build It For Less Than $3500 The Dream House That Grows
Original author: Hubbard Cobb, Sigman - Ward, Illustrators and Architectural Consultants. Material Costs Based on Estimates Secured in First Half of 1950, in the Midwest and on the East and West Coasts, updates to 2019 costs.
Copyright 1950 Wm H Wise & Co, Inc 45010—13,
Printed in the United States of America, Copyright 2019 InspectApedia.com
Acknowledgements
We wish to acknowledge our appreciation for the assistance and information received from the following: Chase Brass and Copper Co, New York, N Y;James F Coley, Westport, Conn; Double-Kaye Plumbing Supply Co, NewYork, N Y; General Electric Co, Cleveland, Ohio; Holland Furnace Co,Holland, Mich; National Electric Manufacturers Association, New York,N Y; National Gypsum Co, Buffalo, N Y; National Lumber ManufacturersAssociation, Washington, D C; Owens-Illinois Glass Corp, Chicago, 111;Portland Cement Association, Chicago, 111; United States Plywood Corp,New York, N Y; Westport Bank & Trust Co, Westport, Conn; WestportLumber Co, Westport, Conn; Federal Housing Administration, Washington,D C; Housing and Home Finance Agency, Washington, D C; NationalHousing Agency, Washington, D C; Office of the Housing Expediter, Washington, D C; U S Department of Agriculture, Washington, D C; U S
Department of Commerce, Washington, D C; U S Office of Education, Washington, D C; Veterans’ Administration, Washington, D C; Victor Civkin, AIA
We wish also to express our thanks to the illustrators of this book: Carl T Sigman; William J Ward, Jr; William A Patrick; Fergus Retrum; Carl RKinscherf; Jane Vincil; Walter J Karl; Walter Freundel
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Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
Field Guide to American Houses, Virginia & Lee McAlester (1984) ISBN-10: 0394739698 ISBN-13: 978-0394739694 includes a pictorial key and glossary to these architectural styles: Folk Houses, Native American Houses (U.S.), Pre-Railroad houses, National Architectural Styles (U.S.), Colonial Houses (1600-1820),
Postmedieval English, Dutch Colonial, French Colonial, Spanish Colonial, Georgian, Adam, Early Classical Revival, Romantic Houses (1820-1880),
Greek Revival style architecture, Gothic Revival style architecture, Italianate style architecture, Exotic Revivals style architecture, Octagon houses, Victorian style architecture Houses (1860-1900), Second Empire style architecture, Stick style architecture,
Queen Anne style architecture, Shingle style architecture, Richardsonian Romanesque style architecture, Folk Victorian style architecture, Eclectic Houses (1880-1940), Anglo-American style architecture, English style architecture, and French Period Houses,
Colonial Revival style architecture, Neoclassical style architecture, Tudor style architecture, Chateauesque style architecture, Beaux Arts style architecture, French Eclectic style architecture, Mediterranean Period Houses style architecture, Italian Renaissance style architecture,
Mission style architecture, Spanish Eclectic style architecture, Monterey style architecture, Pueblo Revival style architecture, Modern Houses including Prairie style architecture, Craftsman style architecture, Modernistic style architecture, International style architecture, and
American Houses Since 1940: Modern style architecture & Neoeclectic style architecture
The American House, Mary Mix Foley, Harper Colophon Books, ISBN-0-060090831-9, ISBN-10: 0060112964 ISBN-13: 978-0060112967 1980, has been a guide we have found useful for recognizing house architectural styles
Building Technology Heritage Library (Web: https://archive.org/details/buildingtechnologyheritagelibrary ) , produced by the Association for Preservation Technology, is a superb resource for old building researchers, owners, or restorers. website: https://archive.org/details/buildingtechnologyheritagelibrary Special thanks to Mike Jackson, FAIA American architect and InspectApedia reader for suggesting this superb resource. Mr. Jackson can be contacted by email at arch419@aol.com
Dutch Houses in the Hudson Valley (NY) Before 1776 (New Paltz area for example), Dover Publications; Re Issue edition (1965) ASIN: B0006BNAD2
In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.