Product Review

Beckstrom, a nationally known home-remodeling and improvement expert, has put together an A-to-Z book about pretty near everything one needs to know about planning and building decks and patios: the choices of materials, tools, finishes, and accessories like planters, decorative railings, and benches.

Covering all construction techniques literally from the ground up--from foundations, supports, and basic structural guidelines all the way to final finishes and maintenance--this book offers information on everything the do-it-yourselfer could want to know. Throughout, the book is highlighted with special tips and shortcuts, cost-saving tips and tricks, warnings about pitfalls and common mistakes, and a special emphasis on "learning the lingo": explaining the terminology of tools, hardware, and materials, as well as common building words and expressions. At 356 pages and with hundreds of useful illustrations, color photographs, and a detailed index for easy reference, this is the book you need if you are fantasizing about or planning a deck or patio for your home. --Mark A. Hetts