Others say...

"Excellent Resource"
I am still using my 1985 Edition! It is a resource you will want to keep around. The technical background and drawings are great! It has some of everything - residential and nonresidential. Thanks Edward Allen-great book.

"A *MUST* have!"
I am a construction engineering major and we used this textbook in our construction materials class, and I must say that it is fantastic. It covers a wide array of materials and methods used throughout the construction industry and it gives history lessons on said materials and processes. *This is a definite MUST HAVE for any architects, civil/structural engineers, construction managers/engineers, as well as M.E.P. engineers and applied engineering designers/ET's.* -M.

"Good Enough"
I found this book to be very good. The materials and methods used in construction are vast and constantly changing. This book does well at giving the reader a good working knowledge of both. There may be better sources, but this one is good enough.

"my leisure reading"
this book is an excellent overview of construction materials and practices. i really recommend this book to beginning structural/civil engineers who want to know more about construction. I would absolutely recommend this to architects because it's very practical.

"it helps"
We used this book in my building construction class i took as a second year architecture student. The book is good for people who are learning the basics of how things work, are put together, what types of materials are used for different situations, etc. However if you are looking for detailed drawings, I would go elsewhere. The book is good for generalized explanations, so I did learn a lot from it.