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Rating: 
Summary: Revised but not better
Review: In writing a book review I seem to be negative so often that I wonder if there is a problem with my outlook on life. Maybe there just is not that much good and accurate information being published or perhaps being "negative" is a part of critiquing books or maybe my definition of "negative" is wrong. I guess the reader will have to decide. At any rate the book, "Rex Robert's Your Engineered House-Revised, Updated, and Edited by Charlie Wing" is out of print for probably a good reason. Charlie Wing's "revision and updating" detracts from and degrades the original classic. It attempts to update with information on new techniques & materials and corrupts the original intent of Mr. Robert's book. And that is the crux of the matter-Mr. Wing either doesn't agree with Mr. Robert's original book idea or with Rex Robert's vision. Rex Robert's philosophy on house building was keep it simple, well thought out, livable, enjoyable, durable and economical. He recognized some Building Codes, custom, fashion, and prejudice (not to mention ignorance) can make building ones own home a needlessly expensive proposition. Rex Robert's was an engineer and consequently his reasons for doing things the way he did was logical from an engineering perspective not to mention seasoned with Mr. Robert's many other talents and accomplishments. Mr. Wing updates some materials and costs but his editing and updating also takes the form of deleting some of the most important parts and ignoring others. For example the tin foil Rex Robert's used for a radiant barrier he totally deleted. Construction techniques and the progression of construction stages used in the original where also deleted such as how and why Mr. Robert's built a foundation, roof, floor, and walls and in that order. He deleted Mr. Robert's explanation of dew point/ condensation and then has an illustration of a building technique that could lead to condensation problems. And there are other examples of things substituted or left out. The original was a book, I believe, that was designed to get you to think. To question convention yes, but not dismiss convention just to dismiss it but to see if convention was serving or being served. Not intended to be the last word on construction techniques or styles it was intended to delve into the basic function of a structure and how people could adopt an economical perspective to what is now considered the single most expensive purchase most people will ever make. The original book was a wonderful example of an argument for certain ways of building a house that one would love to live in and doubly so when there was a non-existent mortgage. Rex Robert's rarely mentioned building codes (UBC) and instead concentrated on a building style that answers economy and comfort versus convention. I wonder if Mr. Wing would agree? There is merit in being true to your vision and there is merit in changing the vision if enlightened by new knowledge. But I think the book Rex Robert's published in 1964 answered his vision much more than the butchered version Charlie Wing published in 1987. The spirit of the original book could have been much better served by being annotated than being revised. Look for the original '64' book from a used book dealer. Forget the newer one.
Rating:
Summary: Revised but not better
Review: In writing a book review I seem to be negative so often that I wonder if there is a problem with my outlook on life. Maybe there just is not that much good and accurate information being published or perhaps being "negative" is a part of critiquing books or maybe my definition of "negative" is wrong. I guess the reader will have to decide. At any rate the book, "Rex Robert's Your Engineered House-Revised, Updated, and Edited by Charlie Wing" is out of print for probably a good reason. Charlie Wing's "revision and updating" detracts from and degrades the original classic. It attempts to update with information on new techniques & materials and corrupts the original intent of Mr. Robert's book. And that is the crux of the matter-Mr. Wing either doesn't agree with Mr. Robert's original book idea or with Rex Robert's vision. Rex Robert's philosophy on house building was keep it simple, well thought out, livable, enjoyable, durable and economical. He recognized some Building Codes, custom, fashion, and prejudice (not to mention ignorance) can make building ones own home a needlessly expensive proposition. Rex Robert's was an engineer and consequently his reasons for doing things the way he did was logical from an engineering perspective not to mention seasoned with Mr. Robert's many other talents and accomplishments. Mr. Wing updates some materials and costs but his editing and updating also takes the form of deleting some of the most important parts and ignoring others. For example the tin foil Rex Robert's used for a radiant barrier he totally deleted. Construction techniques and the progression of construction stages used in the original where also deleted such as how and why Mr. Robert's built a foundation, roof, floor, and walls and in that order. He deleted Mr. Robert's explanation of dew point/ condensation and then has an illustration of a building technique that could lead to condensation problems. And there are other examples of things substituted or left out. The original was a book, I believe, that was designed to get you to think. To question convention yes, but not dismiss convention just to dismiss it but to see if convention was serving or being served. Not intended to be the last word on construction techniques or styles it was intended to delve into the basic function of a structure and how people could adopt an economical perspective to what is now considered the single most expensive purchase most people will ever make. The original book was a wonderful example of an argument for certain ways of building a house that one would love to live in and doubly so when there was a non-existent mortgage. Rex Robert's rarely mentioned building codes (UBC) and instead concentrated on a building style that answers economy and comfort versus convention. I wonder if Mr. Wing would agree? There is merit in being true to your vision and there is merit in changing the vision if enlightened by new knowledge. But I think the book Rex Robert's published in 1964 answered his vision much more than the butchered version Charlie Wing published in 1987. The spirit of the original book could have been much better served by being annotated than being revised. Look for the original '64' book from a used book dealer. Forget the newer one.
Rating: 
Summary: A needed update well done
Review: Other opinions notwithstanding, Charlie Wing has done a much needed update on a classic, innovative reconsideration of housebuilding. Wing had the benefit of 20 years of hindsight on what worked and what did not work among Rex Roberts many sugggestions for fundamentally changing the basic American house. Wing, educated in physics and experienced in the building trades, helped found an owner-builder school prompted by Mr. Roberts' original book. His buildings and Mr. Roberts are the basis for his update. The tin-foil insulation is not mentioned because it was a disaster -- it did not insulate but it did cause condensate and rotting, even on Mr. Roberts own house. Enough said. If you insist on reading the original, take no action based on it until you determine whether it's included in Mr. Wing's update. Otherwise, enjoyable and thoughtful reading all round. I've built a house based on these principles and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Rating: 
Summary: This book inspired my thinking about building a house
Review: This is a wonderful book. In spite of being written in 1964, it provides insight that withstands the test of time. Unfortunately it's out of print and the publisher says they will not be reprinting it. A few copies are still available if you're willing to hunt for them!
Rating:
Summary: This book inspired my thinking about building a house
Review: This is a wonderful book. In spite of being written in 1964, it provides insight that withstands the test of time. Unfortunately it's out of print and the publisher says they will not be reprinting it. A few copies are still available if you're willing to hunt for them!
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