Note from the publisher:Now in its sixth edition, this bestselling reference focuses on the basic materials and methods used in building construction. Emphasizing common construction systems such as light wood frame, masonry bearing wall, steel frame, and reinforced concrete construction, the new edition includes new information on building materials properties; the latest on "pre-engineered" building components and sustainability issues; and reflects the latest building codes and standards. It also features an expanded series of case studies along with more axonometric detail drawings and revised photographs for a thoroughly illustrated approach.

Edward Allen, FAIA,has taught for forty years as a faculty member at Yale University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and has frequently taught as a guest lecturer at other institutions throughout the United States. He has designed more than fifty constructed buildings and is the bestselling coauthor ofThe Architect's Studio Companion, Architectural Detailing, Form and Forces, andFundamentals of Residential Construction, all published by Wiley.

Joseph Ianois an author, illustrator, and practicing architect who has taught design and technology in schools of architecture throughout the United States, and has also worked in the construction trades. Currently, he heads a Seattle firm that provides technical and quality management consulting to the design and construction industry. He is the coauthor with Edward Allen ofThe Architect's Studio Companion.

Preface to the Sixth Edition xi1 Making Buildings 3Learning to Build 4Buildings and the Environment 5The Work of the Design Professional 11The Work of the Construction Professional 19Trends in the Delivery of Design and Construction Services 242 Foundations and Sitework 31Foundation Requirements 32Earth Materials 33Sustainability of Foundations and the Building Site 39Earthwork and Excavation 40Foundations 51Protecting Foundations from Water, Heat Flow, and Radon Gas 66Sitework 73Geotextiles 76Designing Foundations 77Foundation Design and the Building Code 783 Wood 83Trees 84Sustainability of Wood 90Lumber 90Wood Products 103A Naturally Grown Structural Material 108Plastic Lumber 110Wood Panel Products 110Wood Chemical Treatments 118Wood Fasteners 120Wood Product Adhesives and Formaldehyde 127Prefabricated Wood Components 128Types of Wood Construction 130FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY 135French American School4 Heavy Timber FrameConstruction 139Fire-Resistive Heavy Timber Construction 142Sustainability in Heavy Timber Construction 143Heavy Timber in Other Construction Types 150Lateral Bracing 152Cross-Laminated Timber Construction 152Accommodating Building Services 156Wood-Concrete Composite Construction 156Longer Spans in Heavy Timber 157For Preliminary Design of Heavy Timber Structures 164Heavy Timber and the Building Codes 164Uniqueness of Heavy Timber Framing 1655 Wood Light Frame Construction 171History 173Platform Frame 174Sustainability in Wood Light Frame Construction 176Foundations for Light Frame Structures 176Building the Frame 184Variations on Wood Light Frame Construction 219For Preliminary Design of a Wood Light Frame Structure 222Wood Light Frame Construction and the Building Codes 222Uniqueness of Wood Light Frame Construction 2246 Exterior Finishes for Wood Light Frame Construction 231Protection from the Weather 232Roofing 233Windows and Doors 240Paints and Coatings 244Siding 248Corner Boards and Exterior Trim 257Sealing Exterior Joints 258Sustainability of Paints and Other Architectural Coatings 260Exterior Painting, Finish Grading, and Landscaping 260Exterior Construction 2607 Interior Finishes for Wood Light Frame Construction 265Completing the Building Enclosure 273Sustainability of Insulation Materials for Wood Light Frame Construction 282Wall and Ceiling Finish 285Millwork and Finish Carpentry 285Proportioning Fireplaces 286Proportioning Stairs 300Flooring and Ceramic Tile Work 302Finishing Touches 3048 Brick Masonry 309History 310Mortar 313Sustainability of Brick Masonry 316Brick Masonry 316Masonry Wall Construction 3399 Stone and Concrete Masonry 349Stone Masonry 350Sustainability in Stone and Concrete Masonry 362Concrete Masonry 370Other Types of Masonry Units 381Masonry Wall Construction 38210 Masonry Wall Construction 387Types of Masonry Walls 388For Preliminary Design of a Loadbearing Masonry Structure 396Spanning Systems for Masonry Bearing Wall Construction 396Detailing Masonry Walls 400Some Special Problems of Masonry Construction 406Movement Joints in Buildings 408Masonry Paving 414Masonry and the Building Codes 415Uniqueness of Masonry 41511 Steel Frame Construction 421History 422The Material Steel 424For Preliminary Design of a Steel Structure 427Joining Steel Members 435Details of Steel Framing 441The Construction Process 451Fire Protection of Steel Framing 468Longer Spans and High-Capacity Columns in Steel 473Fabric Structures 482Industrialized Systems in Steel 486Sustainability in Steel Frame Construction 487Steel and the Building Codes 488Uniqueness of Steel 48812 Light Gauge Steel Frame Construction 499The Concept of Light Gauge Steel Construction 500Sustainability in Light Gauge Steel Framing 501Light Gauge Steel Framing 502Other Uses of Light Gauge Steel Framing 511For Preliminary Design of a Light Gauge Steel Frame Structure 513Insulating Light Gauge Steel Frame Structures 513Advantages and Disadvantages of Steel Framing 514Light Gauge Steel Framing and the Building Codes 514Finishes for Light Gauge Steel Framing 514Metals in Architecture 516FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY 522Camera Obscura at Mitchell Park, Greenport, New York13 Concrete Construction 527History 528Cement and Concrete 529Sustainability in Concrete Construction 532Making and Placing Concrete 535Formwork 540Reinforcing 541Concrete Creep 555Prestressing 555ACI 301 560Innovations in Concrete Construction 56014 Sitecast Concrete Framing Systems 565Casting a Concrete Slab on Grade 567Casting a Concrete Wall 571Casting a Concrete Column 577One-Way Floor and Roof Framing Systems 578Two-Way Floor and Roof Framing Systems 587Other Uses of Sitecast Concrete 592Sitecast Posttensioned Framing Systems 592Selecting a Sitecast Concrete Framing System 594Innovations in Sitecast Concrete Construction 594For Preliminary Design of a Sitecast Concrete Structure 597Architectural Concrete 600Cutting Concrete, Stone, and Masonry 604Longer Spans in Sitecast Concrete 608Designing Economical Sitecast Concrete Buildings 611Sitecast Concrete and the Building Codes 611Uniqueness of Sitecast Concrete 61215 Precast Concrete Framing Systems 621Precast, Prestressed Concrete Structural Elements 624For Preliminary Design of a Precast Concrete Structure 625Assembly Concepts for Precast Concrete Buildings 626Manufacture of Precast Concrete Structural Elements 627Joining Precast Concrete Members 633Fastening to Concrete 634Composite Precast/Sitecast Concrete Construction 647The Construction Process 647Sustainability in Precast Concrete Construction 648Precast Concrete and the Building Codes 649Uniqueness of Precast Concrete 64916 Roofing 661Low-Slope Roofs 663Building Enclosure Essentials: Thermal Insulation and Vapor Retarder 668Steep Roofs 688Sustainability in Roofing 702Cool Roofs 702Green Roofs 705Photovoltaic Systems 706Roofing and the Building Codes 707Building Enclosure Essentials: Dissimilar Metals and the Galvanic Series 70817 Glass and Glazing 717History 718The Material Glass 720Sustainability of Glass 722Glazing 734Glass and Energy 744Glass and the Building Codes 747FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY 750Skating Rink at Yerba Buena Gardens18 Windows and Doors 755Windows 756Plastics in Building Construction 766Sustainability of Windows and Doors 777Doors 777Other Window and Door Requirements 78319 Designing Exterior Wall Systems 791Design Requirements for the Exterior Wall 792Sustainability of Exterior Wall Systems 797Conceptual Approaches to Watertightness in the Exterior Wall 798Sealing Joints in the Exterior Wall 803Loadbearing Walls and Curtain Walls 807Building Enclosure Essentials: Air Barrier 808The Exterior Wall and the Building Codes 81220 Cladding with Masonry and Concrete 817Masonry Veneer Curtain Walls 818Stone Curtain Walls 825Precast Concrete Curtain Walls 830Exterior Insulation and Finish System 836Keeping Water Out with Masonry and Concrete Cladding 840FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY 842Seattle University School of Law21 Cladding with Metal and Glass 847Aluminum Extrusions 848Sustainability of Aluminum Cladding Components 852Aluminum and Glass Framing Systems 854Double-Skin Facades 868Sloped Glazing 869The Curtain Wall Design and Construction Process 869Metal Panel Cladding 87122 Selecting Interior Finishes 877Installation of Mechanical and Electrical Services 878The Sequence of Interior Finishing Operations 880Sustainability of Interior Finishes 882Selecting Interior Finishes 883Trends in Interior Finish Systems 88823 Interior Walls and Partitions 891Types of Interior Walls 892Framed Partition Systems 893Sustainability of Gypsum Products 898Plaster Ornament 910Masonry Partition Systems 924Wall and Partition Facings 92424 Finish Ceilings and Floors 931Finish Ceilings 932Types of Ceilings 932Sustainability of Finish Ceilings and Floors 943Finish Flooring 944Types of Finish Flooring Materials 948Flooring Thickness 961Appendix 966Glossary 968Index 999