Build Smarter with Alternative Materials

New building products are coming out almost every week. Some of them may become new standards, as sheetrock replaced lath and plaster some years ago. Others are little more than a gimmick. In this book, you'll find materials for almost all areas of constructing a house, from the ground up. For each product described, you'll learn where you can get it, where to use it, what benefits it provides, any disadvantages, and how to install it -- including tips from the author. And to help you price your jobs, each description ends with manhours – for both the first time you install it, and after you've done it a few times.

Leon A. Frechette received his license as a general contractor at age 22, and has over 20 years' experience in construction, remodeling, and related fields. As a business owner, he has hands-on experience in both residential and light commercial projects, including designing, bidding, and managing the job. He serves as an expert witness in litigation, and created The Contractor's Helping Hands(TM) Packet, a series of business forms that help construction managers organize their jobs and communicate with the customer about actual job costs. This is Mr. Frechette's sixth book, and he continues to work on other book projects, columns, and feature articles.