Building Construction Illustrated, 6th Edition — Francis D.K.
Every part of a building, drawn so you finally understand it.
The book architecture schools have used since 1975.
Anyone who has stood in front of a set of plans, or in a half-built room, has had the same experience — nodding along while someone explains it, and not really following. Construction is learned by looking, and almost every book about it is written in words. This one is drawn. Francis D.K. illustrates every system in a building by hand, from the footing to the roof edge, and writes just enough beside each drawing to tell you why it's there.
Specifications
Author: Francis D.K
Edition: 6th Edition
Covers: Site & Foundations • Floors • Walls • Roofs • Moisture & Thermal Control • Doors & Windows • Finishes • Mechanical & Electrical Systems
Suitable for: Homeowners • DIY Renovators • Students • Builders • Practising Professionals
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“This is a great book for anyone in the building trades or homeowners who want to make sure improvements are done right. Illustrations are detailed and easy to understand. Consistent with building codes and a great reference.”
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
Great book for homeowners and tradesmen alike
“This is a great book for anyone in the building trades or homeowners who want to make sure improvements are done right. Illustrations are detailed and easy to understand. Consistent with building codes and a great reference.”
Beautiful and practical overview of construction methods
“I've heard this book called the bible for designers and architects, and now I see why. Straight forward language, beautiful and concise illustrations, covering almost all the major construction elements and methods. I was glad to get the most updated copy which includes CLT. It has helped me from the first moment I cracked the cover.”
Great resource for school or work
“I was introduced to this series in undergrad and have purchased 6+ copies for work and colleagues through the years working in development — great for novice folks and a good visual reference for non design and construction professionals.”
All the details you will need
“I'm using this book for a Construction Materials course and it is very detailed. The book's diagrams are helpful and give you just what you need to understand how materials are used.”
Well written, easy to read, lots of illustrations
“Great value for money, well written, easy to read, lots of illustrations. Well worth the purchase. As described.”
If you're working detail drawings, this is the book
“So informative and technical. If you're working detail drawings this is the book you will need!”
Finally understand what's behind the wall
You've stood in a half-built room, or in front of a set of plans, and nodded along while someone explained it. You didn't really follow. Nobody does, the first time.
Here's why: construction is taught by looking, and almost every book about it is written in words. Building Construction Illustrated is the exception. For nearly fifty years Francis Ching has drawn every part of a building by hand — the footing, the stud wall, the roof edge, the flashing — and written just enough beside each drawing to tell you why it's there.
Read one spread and the next set of drawings you see makes sense. Read the book and you'll never nod along again.
Every system, in the order a building goes up
This isn't a collection of tips. It's the whole building, from the ground up, drawn the way an architect thinks about it.
- The site and foundations — soils, footings, slabs, basements, drainage and waterproofing.
- Floors, walls and roofs — wood, steel, concrete and masonry systems, and how each one carries its load.
- Keeping the weather out — moisture and thermal protection, insulation, flashing, roofing and cladding.
- Doors, windows and finishes — stairs, interior finish work, and how it all meets.
- Mechanical and electrical — plumbing, heating and cooling, lighting and power, laid out so you can see where they run.
Whether you're planning a renovation, studying for an exam, or trying to check a contractor's work, the answer is on a page that's drawn, not just described.
Updated for how buildings are built now
The sixth edition isn't a reprint. It adds what's changed on real job sites: mass timber (cross-laminated and nail-laminated timber), resilient design, diagrid structures, modular foundation systems and smart façades — with new drawings for each.
Codes and standards are brought up to the 2018 International Building Code, LEED v4 and CSI MasterFormat 2018, and the guidance on insulation materials and fire-rated wall and floor assemblies has been revised throughout.
So when the drawing in front of you says CLT, you'll know exactly what you're looking at.
The book they keep on the desk for a career
Rated 4.7 out of 5 by more than 1,160 readers on Amazon.
"I was introduced to this series in undergrad and have purchased 6+ copies for work and colleagues through the years."
— Verified reviewer, Amazon
That's the pattern with this book. People buy it for a course, keep it through their first job, and end up buying copies for the people they work with. It has been in print since 1975 and translated into more than eighteen languages because it does one thing no other construction reference does: it lets you see how a building goes together.
