Masonry

Stonescaping Idea Book (Taunton's Idea Book Series)

The right kind of stone and how you incorporate it in your landscape and garden can make all the difference. Stone, a broad term that includes pavers, fieldstones, bricks, rocks and boulders, and stone veneer, can be used to create a distinct yet practical component to any yard. And with the variety of natural and manufactured stone products widely available today, incorporating stone in the landscape is no longer out of reach.

Stonescaping Idea Book showcases a wide range of inspiring and practical ideas for using stone in all types of landscape settings and for all budgets and regions of the country. Along with tried-and-true designs for inviting walkways and beautiful walls, new ways of using stone in gardens and patio spaces are also presented. You’ll discover ideas for creating graceful streams, waterfalls, or even simple fountains that will help transform your backyard into a private retreat. And you’ll find a wide range of outdoor living spaces that family and friends can enjoy for years to come. As the examples in the book demonstrate, there is a world of stone to explore; this book will help get you started on the right path.

Topics covered include:
Patios & Terraces
Paths, Walks & Steps
Walls
Pools & Ponds
Seating & Sculpture

Creative Concrete Ornaments for the Garden: Making Pots, Planters, Birdbaths, Sculpture & More

Tiling Complete (Taunton's Complete)

Written with the DIYer in mind, this all-encompassing manual takes a head-on approach to every home tiling situation--except those best left for the pros. Loaded with photos and laid out in an intuitive, accessible format, Tiling Complete makes it a snap for even the most hesitant of novices to get the job done right the first time. The authors begin with a thoughtful introduction and move to tile styles and shapes, tools, preparation and installation, plus grouting, sealing and caulking. There is a complete project section and a stress-reducing chapter on Problems and Troubleshooting. Also included are tips on maintenance and repair so that the finished product will shine for years to come.

Concrete at Home

Fu-Tung Cheng's surprise bestseller Concrete Countertops paved the way for a fresh look at a familiar surface. His new book moves beyond the kitchen and transforms this commonplace material into an elegant medium that can be used throughout the house. Combining cutting-edge design with helpful how-to information, Concrete at Home offers ingenious ideas for planning and building walls, fireplaces, mantels, hearths, and exterior and interior floors, as well as tips on incorporating architectural elements such as counters, sinks, columns, and water pieces into the project. The construction of forms, footings, and ties is detailed in clear, easy-to-follow instructions, and special attention is given to finishing techniques, including adding color, texture, and inlays.

Decorative Concrete (Sunset)

0-376-01160-2

Stonework: Techniques and Projects

Readers will learn to collect and handle stone while creating walls, stairs, pools, and even waterfalls.

Setting Tile (Fine Homebuilding)

Michael Byrne's Setting Tile is packed with more than enough information for those thinking of taking on a tile job in their home. It is so detailed and thorough that it serves as a Tile 101 introduction for those interested in entering the trade full-time or simply improving their skills and knowledge. Byrne opens this revised and updated version of his previous effort with a brief description of how tile was made 6,000 years ago. Granted, the history lesson may not help someone who's planning to tile a kitchen counter, but Byrne's passion and interest for the subject pay off for the reader in other ways. He advises his readers, for example, that even after they've found the right tile for the bathroom floor or kitchen counter--the one that is just the right color and that the manufacturer recommends--to take those tiles and put them through a few of their own tests. Rub it with your favorite frying pan to see how easily it's marked up and, in turn, cleaned off. Scuff it with junior's hiking boots to see how it endures a day in the life. "I tell my customers in the end that, no matter what grade of tile they select, they can be the best judge of a tile's suitability." Byrne devotes chapters to materials, tools and safety, troubleshooting and repairs, and surface preparation. And in his chapter stressing the importance of doing a proper layout long before setting that first tile, Byrne also gives the reader a few clever ways to check levels, straightedges, and carpenter's squares for accuracy. This is a highly detailed book loaded with technical information that relies equally on photos and illustrations. It's also more about materials and tile samples than completed jobs. Don't buy this book if you're looking for glossy color photos of pristine tile jobs; buy it if you want to learn how to correctly install such jobs. --John Russell

A beautiful tile job can make a room. And now with the help of this book and new, readily available materials, you can design and install your own tile floors, walls, countertops and shower stalls. All the up-to-date information you need is right here.

Rustic Fireplaces

Rustic Fireplaces
Written and photographed by Ralph Kylloe
Fireplaces have become elaborate works of art in rustic home design. From stone and rocks to elaborately carved wood and antlers to a variety of metals and wrought iron, Kylloe has collected designs for more than 100 fireplaces and hearths that will inspire homebuilders, homeowners, craftspeople and anyone looking for ideas on how to incorporate the warmth and artisanship of a good fireplace into their home.
Kylloe's work has been featured in USA Today, the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and has been seen on the Today Show. Kylloe's titles have sold more than 120,000 copies.

Art of The Stonemason

Drawing on five generations of family tradition as stonemasons in his native Scotland, Ian Cramb created this masterful work to pass on his knowledge and experience to craftsmen who wish to learn the ancient, but still necessary, principles of the stonemason's art. Since original publication by Betterway Books in 1992, this book has established itself as an essential learning tool for masons doing new construction and also those engaged in restoration of historic stone structures.
Beginning with a detailed discussion of building with "random rubble", which is the name for the early Celtic art of building with irregular stones bedded on mortar, the author proceeds to more complex projects such as fireplaces, stairs, arches, bridges and more. There is extensive treatment of various restoration techniques involved with historic structures both in the US and Britain, some as old as 1000 years. In additon the author covers various types of stone, stone-cutting, etc. as well as using tradional mortar mixes, which have demonstrated their utility in stone walls and buildings which have lasted for many centuries.
The Art of the Stonemason is profusely illustrated with the author's meticulous line drawings and photographs.
Ian Cramb began his apprenticeship at the age of 14 in Dunblane, Scotland. Surrounded by large estates, farm buildings, a ruined 13th century bishop's palace, two large fifteenth century castles, a Gothic cathedral, and numerous other stone buildings, Dunblane was an apprentice stonemason's paradise. In 1957 Mr. Cramb took over as master stonemason on the restoration of the monastic buildings around the abbey on Iona. He rebuilt the cloisters, restored St. Michael's Chapel, and also restored St. Oran's Chapel in the Cemetary of Kings, built in 1075. In 1959 Mr. Cramb moved to the US where he set stone and marble on the Capitol building, and then he acted as stone and marble mason for the Raeburn Building and World Bank Building in Washington, DC. He now lives in Bangor, Pennsylvania.

Tile Your World: John Bridge's New Tile Setting Book

A comprehensive and in-depth guide for amateur and professional ceramic tile setters. TILE YOUR WORLD takes the reader from the early history of the craft, all the way through to advanced residential tiling techniques. Projects range from kitchen and bathroom floors to custom tile shower installations. Kitchen counters and back splashes are also covered. TILE YOUR WORLD contains over 300 black and white photos and line drawings and 6 four-page color inserts. Eight appendices and a full index are included.