To provide a detailed reference, the scope of the book had to be limited. I decided to focus on the parts of a building that contribute most significantly to its longevity. Virtually all the drawings, therefore, describe details relating to the structural shell or to the outer protective layers of the building. Plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems are described only as they affect the foundation and framing of the building. Interior finishes and details are not covered because they are the subject of a companion volume, Graphic Guide to Interior Details (The Taunton Press, 1996). The process of construction, covered adequately in many references, has here been stripped away so as to expose the details themselves as much as possible. Design, although integral with the concerns of this book, is dealt with only at the level of the detail.
The details shown here employ simple, standard materials. With this type of information, it should be possible to build a wood frame building in any shape, at any size, and in any style. Many local variations are included.
