has info others don't. This book is a bit out of date and geared toward the outback builders who want to build a cabin cheap. I'm one of those so I liked it but there's no color pictures etc. Has lots of information on how to get the job done without a lot of money and deals with the complete house including site selection all the way through move in. 400+ pages where most are only around 200. I'd get another book if I was just getting one, but makes a good addition to the newer ones.
12 year old out dated book Do not recommend buying, black and white old, old pictures, unless you feel like taking out a chain saw (or axe) and using antique tools to build one, forget this book.Outdated Material ... I have been building regular frame construction houses and wanted to try something new by building some log homes in the mountains of Colorado where I live. I bought about every book that Amazon had to offer on log home construction. I was excited to get my copy of "Complete Guide to Building Log Homes" as it seemed to be the "bible" I was looking for. I was extremely disappointed. First off the book was printed in 1990 and the material used is 10-15 years out of date with today's construction methods. Even the pictures look like they are from the 1960's. There was even a picture where he tells you how to hand mortice an end joint and he is building a home with bark still on the logs !!!! That just isn't how things are done today. No mention of tongue and groove joints, prefinished and pre cut packages, D-cut logs, etc. He is out of date with todays construction. This book is a waste of money when there are books ... on building log homes that are written less than a year ago. Save your money. I sent mine back !!!!
