Irish Stone Walls
by Pat McAfee
This guide by stone mason Pat McAfee covers the history of an ancient tradition with illustrated examples and instructions for constructing, conserving and repairing stone walls.
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Stone Buildings:
Conservation, Repair, Building
by Pat McAfee
The materials and skills needed to preserve and rebuild any old stone building, from the humblest cottage to the grandest castle, are examined in this book. Many stone buildings throughout the world have become derelict or incorrectly repaired because there is a false impression that it is either impossible or very expensive to make old buildings habitable. Using traditional techniques, this guide shows the proper methods of restoration and maintenance while examining how the buildings were originally constructed.
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Art of The Stonemason
by Ian Cramb
The author, a fifth-generation master stonemason who has worked on the U.S. Capitol building as well as numerous edifices in his native Scotland, has compiled an impressive guide to both building and restoring stonework. Excellent illustrations, photographs, and a comprehensive text all help explain an extremely complex subject in terms comprehensible to lay readers. Cramb shows how to build numerous structures, including walls, arches, and towers, and how to restore or preserve existing edifices.
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Practical Stone Masonry Self Taught
by Fred T. Hodgson
Practical instructions showing how to lay out and work arches, stone steps, stairs and handrails, skew bridges and arches, circle work, niches, classic and gothic stonework, plain and ornamental.
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Modern Practical Masonry
by E.G. Warland
Containing a full description of Tools and machines; details and construction; hoisting and setting of stonework; principles of stone-cutting; building stones and their classification; preservation of stone; geometry and setting out.
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Practical Masonry
by W.R. Purchase
A Guide to the Art of Stone Cutting, comprising their construction, setting-out, and working of stairs, circular work, arches, niches, domes, pendentives, vaults, tracery windows, etc.
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The Slate Book:
How to Design, Specify, Install and Repair a Slate Roof
by Brian Stearns
Finally, a book about slate roofing that is complete and up to date. This book is the most important tool for a slate roof project. Written for owners, architects, engineers, specifiers, installers and consultants, this book establishes a basis for communication and understanding for all parties. Addressed are issues such as estimating the cost of a slate roof, material handling, venting a slate roof, installing slate on cones and eyebrow dormers, and the use of Ice and Water Shield.
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The Slate Roof Bible:
Understanding, Installing and Restoring the World's Finest Roof
by Joseph Jenkins
Although the author is American, he is descended from Welsh migrs who left with the collapse of the Welsh slate industry around the turn of the century, and this is reflected in the early chapters. The later chapters cover in some depth the design, installation, and maintenance of slate roofs. Also covered are tools, safe working practices, and important details on chimneys, flashings and gutters. This is well done, with clear illustrations and photos - an excellent example of how to produce a practical guide.
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Bricklaying System
by Frank B. Gilbreth
Reprint of the classic by a bricklayer and early time/motion study pioneer. Gilbreth was the father in the popular memoir, “Cheaper by the Dozen”. He also was the brick contactor for major building projects at MIT (Lowell Laboratory of Electrical Engineering) and elsewhere.
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A Guide to Dry Stone Walling
by Andy Radford
English waller Radford demonstrates proper technique from basics to advanced dry stone walling. Includes curved walls, walls on slopes, retaining walls and advanced walling techniques.