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Rating: 
Summary: A near-perfect book for OUTDOOR masonry projects
Review: The "Book Description" review is correct when it says that
"The Complete Guide to Home Masonry is the most comprehensive and useful guide to masonry for today's do-it-yourself homeowner."About the only thing missing from this one-sentence summary is that the book is nigh-exclusively devoted to OUTDOOR projects. (The short exceptions are damp-proofing basement walls, and repairing fireboxes.) The book features clear step-by-step instructions and color photographs (one good photo for each and every step of every project -- HUNDREDS of photos total) for working with natural stone, stone veneer, brick, glass block, concrete block, poured concrete, patio tile, stucco, and hypertufa. The projects cover all the simple outdoor jobs (such as walkways, walls, and patios), the common elaborations (such as adding lattice panels to a block wall, or laying tile over concrete), and quite a number of complex constructs -- like "Building a Stone Moon Window". EVERY section of text has one or more illustrating photographs to show what they're writing about. EVERY photograph is in color, with good contrast, color rendition, and composition. EVERY project includes an "Everything You Need" box, listing all the tools and materials required. EVERY tool that's used in the projects has (1) a picture in the "Masonry Tools & Equipment" chapter early in the book; (2) a closeup of the tool in use; and (3) explanatory text discussing proper technique. EVERY material used has pictures of all states through its life -- from the bags clearly depicting brand names like "Quikrete" and "Lehigh", to the dry materials, the mixing process, the layout stage, and finishing with the final assembled project. If this book had the same comprehensive coverage for INDOOR projects (tiling bathrooms and creating concrete countertops are high on my wish list), it would be worth SIX stars!
Rating:
Summary: A near-perfect book for OUTDOOR masonry projects
Review: The "Book Description" review is correct when it says that
"The Complete Guide to Home Masonry is the most comprehensive and useful guide to masonry for today's do-it-yourself homeowner." About the only thing missing from this one-sentence summary is that the book is nigh-exclusively devoted to OUTDOOR projects. (The short exceptions are damp-proofing basement walls, and repairing fireboxes.) The book features clear step-by-step instructions and color photographs (one good photo for each and every step of every project -- HUNDREDS of photos total) for working with natural stone, stone veneer, brick, glass block, concrete block, poured concrete, patio tile, stucco, and hypertufa. The projects cover all the simple outdoor jobs (such as walkways, walls, and patios), the common elaborations (such as adding lattice panels to a block wall, or laying tile over concrete), and quite a number of complex constructs -- like "Building a Stone Moon Window". EVERY section of text has one or more illustrating photographs to show what they're writing about. EVERY photograph is in color, with good contrast, color rendition, and composition. EVERY project includes an "Everything You Need" box, listing all the tools and materials required. EVERY tool that's used in the projects has (1) a picture in the "Masonry Tools & Equipment" chapter early in the book; (2) a closeup of the tool in use; and (3) explanatory text discussing proper technique. EVERY material used has pictures of all states through its life -- from the bags clearly depicting brand names like "Quikrete" and "Lehigh", to the dry materials, the mixing process, the layout stage, and finishing with the final assembled project. If this book had the same comprehensive coverage for INDOOR projects (tiling bathrooms and creating concrete countertops are high on my wish list), it would be worth SIX stars!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent and Easy to Follow
Review: This was an excellent book on masonry and concrete projects. It was very easy to read and had several illustrations that show exactly what your project should look like. It goes through every step you should take. This is a great book for beginners and do-it-yourselfers.
Rating: 
Summary: A bit too general but adequate to get basic jobs done
Review: With a chapter covering a project or two in each flavor of medium, this book in a general sense yeilds what you need to build basic walkways, walls, patios. On repairs of existing structures I believe it to do a much better job. I've been looking for something more in depth on the subject of concrete (acid staining, texturing, etc) as an alternative to the standard tile or plain grey concrete. Unfortunately this book could not help me at all, they have one chapter devoted to concrete and its far from inspirational. I'm not asking for the world here, but if someone is going to name a book "complete" and end up with something thats just barely enough, I have to give it a just passing grade. I recommend the following instead, especially since they are 1/2 the price but have better content: (Better Homes and Gardens)
Step-By-Step Masonry and Concrete (sunset)
Complete Masonry: Building Techniques, Decorative Concrete, Tools and Materials *note: Sunset has several books on masonry, 3 of them are called "Complete Masonry", I've only had a chance to look at one of them. Also for inspiration and more in depth coverage of concrete, check out "Concrete Countertops: Design, Form, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath" it is excellent, but you will sort of need a basic book in addition to it.
Rating:
Summary: A bit too general but adequate to get basic jobs done
Review: With a chapter covering a project or two in each flavor of medium, this book in a general sense yeilds what you need to build basic walkways, walls, patios. On repairs of existing structures I believe it to do a much better job. I've been looking for something more in depth on the subject of concrete (acid staining, texturing, etc) as an alternative to the standard tile or plain grey concrete. Unfortunately this book could not help me at all, they have one chapter devoted to concrete and its far from inspirational. I'm not asking for the world here, but if someone is going to name a book "complete" and end up with something thats just barely enough, I have to give it a just passing grade. I recommend the following instead, especially since they are 1/2 the price but have better content: (Better Homes and Gardens)
Step-By-Step Masonry and Concrete (sunset)
Complete Masonry: Building Techniques, Decorative Concrete, Tools and Materials *note: Sunset has several books on masonry, 3 of them are called "Complete Masonry", I've only had a chance to look at one of them. Also for inspiration and more in depth coverage of concrete, check out "Concrete Countertops: Design, Form, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath" it is excellent, but you will sort of need a basic book in addition to it.
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