Homesteading is an expensive hobby. One of the things George did to support that hobby was to become a builder specializing in the renovation of old houses and low-cost energy-efficient construction techniques for simple new houses. Over two decades of hands-on experience are condensed into his three published books, described below. Unlike most how-to books, his reflect real life experience rather than textbook ideals. He teaches you what can go wrong and how to a fix it when it does. And,because he was an English major before he became a carpenter, his books are a good read, too.
Check them out:
Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (order online: Taunton Press 2003)"Nash captures in words and photos the spirit of remaking old houses while providing huge amounts of down-to-earth information. If I had to pick a single book for the aspiring renovator, Renovating Old Houses would be it - hands down."
Journal of Light Construction
Here is a book about fixing up those fixer-uppers, written for homeowners who want professional results and for professionals who are serious about renovation. If you love old houses, you know that this emotional attachment demands a wealth of practical knowledge. That's just what you'll find in this old house owner's manual. You'll learn what it takes to make an old house convenient and livable by today's standards while still retaining or restoring the spirit of the original. Nash starts from the beginning, explaining how to evaluate whether an old house is a diamond in the rough or a broken-down wreck not worth your effort. He tells you how to set priorities and how to handle virtually every aspect of renovation including replacing damaged framing, rotted sills, and crumbling foundations and chimneys, upgrading plumbing and wiring, rebuilding old windows, and selecting and installing appropriate finish materials.
"From foundations to finishes, George Nash packs each page with first-hand, practical insights about mending the bones and keeping the character of old houses -- even better in this new edition."
- Gordon Bock, Editor-in-chief Old House Journal
Coming soon: The Old Houses Metabook
Downloadable articles on various topics drawn from the book and treated in expansive detail. Invaluable hardcore nuts-and-bolts hands-on how-to, only $3.95/ download.
Wooden Fences (order online: Taunton Press, 1997)
In this visually stunning book George Nash celebrates the art of the wooden fence in its full range of styles, with practical information on designing, building, and maintaining a fence. Color photographs by veteran National Geographic photographer James P. Blair make this book as beautiful as it is informative.
"I never expected the modest fence to be treated so eloquently and thoroughly. When presented in this manner, the fence deserves our determined and loving examination. Although I picked this up as a gift for my husband, I quickly found that I couldn't stop turning the pages."
Bloomsbury Review
Do-It-Yourself Housebuilding (Sterling Publishing, 1995)
order online at Amazon.com
This 700-plus page 3-lb doorstop of a book includes over 1700 photos, drawings, and diagrams that cover every step of housebuilding from the planning stages to the finishing touches, from foundation to the roof and everything in between. You'll learn about choosing and clearing the perfect site, framing or floors, walls, ceilings and roof, exterior trim and siding, painting and staining and finishing options, stairs, doors, windows and skylights, decks, porches and garages. Also covered in detail are plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems, insulation, chimneys, fireplaces, and woodstoves, tiling, kitchen cabinets, landscaping, and important safety tips and discussions of code compliance. All presented with special emphasis on techniques best suited to the non-professional owner-builder, energy efficient construction, sustainable and native materials.
"It's a how-to book without a how-to feel, a coffee-table book that might actually find its way to the workshop."
Philadelphia Inquirer
