Build Smarter with Alternative Materials
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This book is for construction professionals who want a clear understanding of alternative materials and how using them can enhance their projects – both residential and commercial. It covers the materials - including their strengths and any limitations – as well as installation tips and manhour estimates.

Here you'll find the true facts, not the hype, about a variety of alternative materials. These are quality components that can help you deliver a better overall product – something your customers will enjoy and benefit from long after you leave their projects!

All the products covered here have been used or well-researched by the author and represent a cross section of available products. Build Smarter with Alternative Materials covers materials used in each phase of a project in order – from the foundation to the ridge peak:

• Foundations
• Walls
• Roof systems
• Framing
• Roofing
• Siding
• Insulation
• Radiant heat
• Doors & windows
• Trim
• Interiors
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Decking
• Outdoors

 And it doesn't stop there. Build Smarter with Alternative Materials lists the manufacturers that make the products and associations that research them. You get the phone numbers, and mailing, e-mail, and Web site addresses so you can connect with the companies, obtain samples, or ask questions about a product or its installation.

Every builder needs a niche – an opportunity to land good jobs without having to underbid every other builder in town. This reference is full of new, exciting materials that you can offer to your customers with confidence. You may be the only builder in your area that knows about them. And this book is your key to that knowledge.

 The Author:

Leon A. Frechette received his license as a general contractor at age 22, and has over 20 years' experience in construction, remodeling, and related fields. As a business owner, he has hands-on experience in both residential and light commercial projects, including designing, bidding, and managing the job. He serves as an expert witness in litigation, and created The Contractor's Helping Hands™ Packet, a series of business forms that help construction managers organize their jobs and communicate with the customer about actual job costs. This is Mr. Frechette's sixth book, and he continues to work on other book projects, columns, and feature articles. He welcomes input from his readers through his Web site at www.asktooltalk.com

Introduction | Table of Contents | Preview A Chapter