Product Description

As with all Graphic Guides, this one provides comprehensive information through hundreds of black-and-white illustrations and authoritative text. The author demystifies every aspect of site construction, including proper grading and drainage techniques, irrigation systems, septic systems, outdoor lighting, decks, fences, retaining walls, barbecues, pools, and hot tubs. This is a thorough handbook covering the systems and features of residential sites.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #130415 in Books
• Published on: 2003-04
• Released on: 2003-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Customer Reviews

Excellent reference for residential landscape design
What an excellent little book! As a landscape designer (who provides the aethetic overview for the contractor to install), this book has proven extremely helpful in answering my never-ending questions, "how will ____ be built?" As such, it is invaluable in the design process as well.

Aimed at residential design, every hardscape element I need is explained and illustrated in a professional, thorough, easy-to-understand way. Examples of what's covered: retaining walls, steps, drainage, railings, irrigation, lighting, septic systems, paving systems, deck structures, built-in fireplaces, built-in kitchens, water, pools, spas....etc, etc, etc.
Of the more complicated things (built-in kitchens, swimming pools), the authors kept the details simple, describing the overall concepts, so that a designer can show them, but a skilled contractor would need to fill in. Of the things a do-it-yourselfer can do (e.g. fences, simple paving), there is a more thorough covering.

This book is NOT among the comprehensive construction standards references that must (by necessity of their content) be priced in the $100 to $200 range. This one is focused and kept to-the-point as a quick but thorough reference for all manner of outdoor construction used in residential landscapes.

For landscapers, landscape designers, homeowners, artists--anyone needing professional construction information edited down to the essentials-- I highly recommend this book!

finally the book i've been looking for!!!
i am so thankful to the authors of this book! they explained everything with such clarity and attention to detail. i am recommending this book to a lot of fellow landscape designers. this book has clear and well drawn details on a lot of landcape structures. it is far far better than a lot of text books on the same subject, and it's worth ten times more than its price.

Great for information
This is a great book for detailed inforamtion. Easy to understand, answers questions and gives suggestions.