The Stonebuilder's Primer: A Step-By-Step Guide for Owner-Builders

by Charles K. Long

Writer Charles Long has a well-earned reputation as one of North America's self-sufficiency experts. More than 20 years ago, he and his wife, Elizabeth, fled city life and conventional employment for the country, and have flourished there ever since. Now back by popular demand Long's The Stonebuilder's Primer is a highly readable account of the couple's successful effort to build "a house that will outlast anything made of wood."

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1552092984
• ISBN13: 9781552092989
• Release Date: October 1998
• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.9" x 10.8"

Customer Reviews

Good Stone Primer

Good book. Very serious approach to stonework. The author has strong opinions and conveys them as such. I like this because true artisians have developed their style over time with a lot of critical thinking and experience (meaning things that didn't work out) Should be in your library if you are interested in stone work.

Wonderful resource!

I was very pleased with the level of detail in this book. I was specifically looking for information on stone fireplaces and chimneys and the author does a fine job of being quite specific about measurements and practicalities of building a heavy, tall stone structure. All of the chapters appear to have explicit and careful directions. Many thanks for this valuable resource. It will remain in my library long after the house is built!

Finally a really well written book

I rarely write a review despite the fact that I read so many books, but felt this one deserved special attention. I am looking to build a log home in Southeast Alaska and wanted to have a nice rock wall foundation and a spectacular fireplace. After reading this book I am confident that I can do most of the work myself (except the footing for the foundation) and feel confident that it will look totally professional (and be bomb proof). The book is well written, very readable, has good photos, and is probably the only book you will need to do any and all stone work. It is not a book on slip form and it is not a coffee table book - it is for building in stone.

An unusually good book for beginners

A VERY good book which tells you not only the 'hows', but the 'whys' too. Long does a very good job of anticipating the nuts-and-bolts questions, he even describes some of the newbie problems HE had. He's somebody who has walked the walk, having made many of the mistakes for you in advance.

This book promoted many a daydream...

In pursuit of my pipe dream of building a stone house, I picked up this book. Dangerously, it fed into my (previously-thought) unrealistic plans. The book is well-balanced between science and art; it doesn't stray too far from the "how-to," or science of building a stone house, but it does provide a good measure of humor & pictures. It's quite readable and supportive of the whole daydreaming process, but I get the feeling that if I ever get around to building the stone house, it would also be an excellent reference.