Carpet Monsters and Killer Spores: A Natural History of Toxic Mold

Book Description

Molds are everywhere: we inhale their microscopic spores from birth to death. But when an investigation in Ohio revealed that babies suffering from a serious lung illness had been exposed to a toxic black mold in their homes, millions of Americans became nervous about patches of mold in their own basements and bathrooms. Before long, lawsuits were filed by the residents of mold-contaminated homes in every state. By failing to address water damage, building contractors, plumbers, and insurance agents were held liable for exposing families to an unprecedented microbiological hazard. The mold crisis soon developed into a fully-fledged media circus. In Carpet Monsters and Killer Spores, Nicholas Money explores the science behind the headlines and courtroom dramas, and profiles the toxin-producing mold that is a common inhabitant of water-damaged buildings. Nicholas Money tells the most important mycological story since potato blight, with his inimitable style of scientific clarity and dark humor.

Customer Reviews:

Carpet Monters & Killer Spores review.......2007-02-12

Outstanding! This is the best and most interesting book on fungi. I highly recommend it to anyone with any interest in the subject. One of the best books I have ever read on any subject.

a sequel please.......2006-03-09

All things black and slimy. I loved your book Dr. Money. Lets add the nasty Chaetomium next time also neurogenic fungus.
How about the politics of the wood industry and Dr.Jeff Morrell who appears to be teaching that "mold and mildew do not cause wood rot". Is this related to the wood industry and building industry not wanting mold reported in inspections and promptly forgetting about soft rots while endangering occupant health? I have this in print from the State of Washington Department of Agriculture- what fun we could have with them.

Funny Fungi.......2004-06-21

If Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) were reincarnated as a mycologist, he would have written this book. Dr. Money's liberal dose of irreverent humor makes his very detailed, erudite book on toxic mold easy and enjoyable to read.

In the preface, Dr. Money says, "Widespread fears about black-mold toxins are a product of the new millennium and deserve a critical, balanced, scientific inquirty. Though I cannot promise anything that boring, I do hope I can dispel some of the media myths about these microorganisms while identifying the real threat that can be posed by a few of these fungi."

Stachybotrys plays a key role in this book. In Chapter 5, Dr. Money discusses the 1993 outbreak of pulmonary hemmorraging (bleeding lungs) in poor children living in Cleveland. When Dr. Money began his book, he first thought that stachybotrys might be an innocent victim of media hype. However, he discovered that stachybotrys chrtarum can produce highly toxic spores. Along with the Cleveland outbreak, he discusses an outbreak of stachybotryotoxicosis in the Soviet Union in the 1940's, and illnesses linked to Stachybotrys among horticulture workers in Europe. Dr. Money also talks about the science used to evaluate the links between Stachybotrys and illnesses, and some of the political issues at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that caused the CDC to soft-pedal Stachybotrys.

This book has a thorough, although daunting, discussion of how allergic reactions are triggered in individuals. The body's allergic reaction is, as Dr. Money points out in Chapter 3 -- Carpet Monsters, an intricate mechanism. Until I read this book, I didn't realize that four types of cells primarily respond to allergens - dendritic cells, T lymphocytes (T cells). B lymphocytes (B cells) and mast cells. Dr. Money talks about each cell type's responses to allergens, and the creation of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies.

"Your Verdict, Please" (Chapter 6) is an overview of mold litigation. It has a very thorough discussion of what happened to Melinda Ballard's home, the resulting litigation, and a breakdown of what the jury awarded Ms. Ballard - and why. Dr. Money also discusses the reduction of the $32 million award to $4 million. This chapter also has a good discussion of how the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Daubert affected the Ballard case.

Dr. Money also discusses mycological warfare -- and he is not using the term as an analogy to what happens in a house with mold. He is discussing the development of mycotoxins as a weapon in armed conflicts.

A Great Book!.......2004-05-05

Nicholas Money is an amazing writer who manages to entertain and instruct at all times. I found myself learning and laughing from cover to cover. "Carpet Monsters and Killer Spores" is a book for everyone. Not only does it provide a wonderful introduction to the study of fungi; it explores the way our lives and destinies are inextricably linked to those of the fungi. Homeowners, attorneys, and people in the insurance industry will find much to enjoy (and fear!) in this book, as will biology enthusiasts, naturalists, and readers of all persuasions.

As Money explores the "black molds" that have received so much attention in our news media, he also explores the cultural event surrounding their reception. The book is fascinating not only as a biological work, but also as a sociological study. Thorough research and diligent attention to detail provide Money with a unique, scientifically grounded perspective, and his quirky humor will have you laughing out-loud all the way through.

Importantly, Money does not provide any easy answers to the pressing questions raised by black molds. Instead, responsibly, he shows us what science knows and what it does not know, giving us a sound, factual basis for interpretation of the many wild claims we see in the media. The only negative factor involved with this book is the fact that readers everywhere have had to spend many hours (and dollars) cleaning their bathrooms like maniacs and replacing moldy shower curtains after reading it!

This explains it all.......2004-04-03

A well written book .Vary interesting and easy to understand .Great picture of Hunter The Mold Dog .

Oriental Rugs Today: A Guide to the Best New Carpets from the East

Average customer rating:

Beautiful book
An informative and engaging introduction to modern rugs
Only book of its kind
Very Basic
the best guide i've run across

Oriental Rugs Today: A Guide to the Best New Carpets from the East
Emmett Eiland
Manufacturer: Berkeley Hills Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Reference | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1893163466

Book Description

Demystifying a confusing and intimidating subject, Oriental Rugs Today is the first book devoted exclusively to new pieces. It discusses issues of dye and finish, looks country by country at examples from every major contemporary source, and profiles the artisans who revived the use of handspun wool and natural dyes. Written for both aficionado and novice, this edition includes 20 percent more material and new information on Nepalese and Iranian rugs, making this must-have guide to the subject. 100 color photos are included.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful book.......2007-01-22

This is one of the best books I've found on Oriental Rugs. The text is very well written and specific to each type of rug shown, and the photography is excellent. Photographs are of representative rugs for each type ("tribe"), and the rugs shown are very colorful with intricate patterns that are sure to stir the heart of every lover of orientals.

An informative and engaging introduction to modern rugs.......2005-02-14

Unlike the gentleman below, I had little knowledge of oriental rugs prior to reading this book. I found it to be a perfect place to start my education. The text was informative, particularly in regards to the "renaissance" in traditional rugmaking techniques over the past 20 years. He does a wonderful job of covering the pros and cons of natural vs. chrome dyes, and handspun vs. millspun wool - again without being overly opinionated or judgmental despite his personal leanings.

The writing was engaging, fair, and accompanied by high-quality photographs (n.b. the photos on his website are the highest resolution I've seen anywhere). He gives equal weight to each country's production. Helpful information is also provided regarding approximate prices per sq. ft.

In fact, I liked his book so much that I just purchased two rugs from him - two years after reading the book, and after looking at dozens of sites on the web and a handful of shops in person.

Only book of its kind.......2004-03-30

I've read both editions of this book and, yes, the first edition only had a few words on Iran but, as the author explained, there was an embargo at the time. The new edition has an entire chapter on new rugs from Iran, with photos of some really gorgeous rugs.

Most of my personal knowledge about rugs was that rugs made today are lifeless, uninteresting pieces cranked out from rug factories in places like India and China, or poorly made, touristy pieces from places like Turkey. Boy was I wrong. It's good to know there are finally interesting, attractive, reasonably-priced, handmade carpets available again.

The possibility that some carpet made in Iran in the last year or so may rival the beauty of my 19th-Century Persian Bidjar is stunning.

Very Basic.......2001-05-02

As someone who already has an intermediate knowledge of oriental carpets, I was disappointed by this book. It is extremely basic - something akin to a Dick and Jane primer. It provides only a few pages of information on carpets from each region (if you can believe it, Iran [Persia] was lumped together with two other countries, and all three countries were covered by approximately only five pages, including illustrations. It does not provide any information on specific carpets (i.e. Nain, Bokhara, Yahyali, etc.), but did explain the general difference between wool types, dyes, etc. Also, while it did have several photos of carpets, many of them seemed to be photos of novelty carpets, and not of traditional designs. Overall, I believe that this would be good for someone who knows absolutely nothing about oriental carpets and is only looking for general information. In my opinion, there are much better books on the subject for both beginners and experts alike, such as Oriental Rugs, A Buyer's Guide, by Lee Allane.

the best guide i've run across.......2000-06-12

I saw a review of this book in HALI magazine, and have found it clarifies a lot of things that I found confusing and intimidating about buying an Oriental rug. It explains exactly where the rugs in today's rug stores come from, and how much you should expect to pay for them. It's well written and very much on the level-you don't get the impression the author is pushing you to go out and buy something. There's a lot of mystification in the Oriental rug business, and although the book is not an expose in any sense, I felt better equipped to buy a rug and get a good value than I did after reading other books on the subject, most of which seemed out of date. Lots of color plates too.

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (Magic Carpet Books)

Average customer rating:

What Price Revenge?
A little too slow for me
A Story from Far Off
An enchanting, if under-developed, book
Fantasy Fiction Fans Unite!

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (Magic Carpet Books)
Patricia A. McKillip
Manufacturer: Magic Carpet Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0152055363

Amazon.com

Almost destroyed because of a man's fear and greed, Sybel, a beautiful young sorceress, embarks on a quest for revenge that proves equally destructive. Winner of the World Fantasy award, this exquisitely written story has something for almost every reader: adventure, romance and a resonant mythology that reveals powerful truths about human nature. Locus praised it for its "marvelous heroine... and chilling sorcery" and The New York Times called it "rich and regal."

Book Description

Sixteen when a baby is brought to her to raise, Sybel has grown up on Eld Mountain. Her only playmates are the creatures of a fantastic menagerie called there by wizardry. Sybel has cared nothing for humans, until the baby awakens emotions previously unknown to her. And when Coren--the man who brought this child--returns, Sybel's world is again turned upside down.

Customer Reviews:

What Price Revenge?.......2007-09-19

Sybel has inherited the gift of 'calling' from her father and grandfather. From them she has also inherited a menagerie of legendary magical creatures, The Black Swan of Tirlith, Cyrin the Boar, Gyld the Dragon, Ter the Falcon, Gules the Lyon and Moriah the Black Cat. She is content in her mountain fastness until one day a handsome young man brings her a infant and asks her to care for him. Thus despite herself she is drawn into the world of men with its rivalries, wars and troubles.
Patricia McKillip's 'The Forgotten Beasts of Eld' starts oddly, as Sybel has inherited all the animals already- one is expecting the story to give some background on how the animals came to be under her control, but no her father and grandfather 'called' the animals and they just came. The story itself concerns how despite her best intentions Sybel is drawn into the political machinations of rival factions within the kingdom. Both sides fear her power will be used by the other side, leading to a plot by a powerful wizard to enslave her by magical means. Sybel escapes and in the second half of the book she plots her revenge. But soon it becomes clear that her revenge will cost her the love of her husband and her adopted son, and ultimately her true self.
This is one of those books that would probably benefit by being twice as long, there is just so many ideas and threads that aren't developed to their full potential.

A little too slow for me.......2006-09-07

I didn't really enjoy this story as much as I usually enjoy fantasy, and it perhaps had something to do with the writing style, which was almost too mellow and introspective -- and quite slow. There just didn't seem to be enough actual activity going on. I was a little surprised to find this book in the children's and not teen section at my local library, given both the writing style and somewhat adult ideas. That isn't to say there is anything indecent or offensive, only concepts that I felt younger children would be less likely to be interested in or follow.

A Story from Far Off.......2006-06-29

One of the pleasures of young adult fantasy literature is that often the best of it will a subtle, insightful, and very much approachable exploration of life's themes and humanity through whimsical and alluring metaphor. The Forgotten Beasts of Eld does not quite accomplish this, but the rhythmic pace and language McKillip chooses is as much to blame for this as to credit for a final product that feels like a modern legend of yore. If one were to translate a minstrel's tale into common speech this could be what it would sound like. And there is a desirable, very pleasurable effect in that which allows a smooth read from cover to cover.

That smoothness sometimes becomes an enemy of the storytelling, however. When McKillip sculpts her tale to reveal some truly aching insight into human nature the effect is dulled around the edges by constant distance from the characters. With a character often referred to as "Ice Lady" as the protagonist whose journey it is to find her humanity, it makes sense that sometimes the empathy between her and reader may be vague. But when the reader seeks out the comfort of those supporting characters whose gradual accomplishment is to help her find it, they are as those of the legend McKillip's style echoes: far away.

From this far away place, that style does manage to bring to fancy the forgotten beasts of the title. The mythology of the story is modestly enchanting with a quiet individuality. The world McKillip creates is alive and a pretty place to be for 343 large print pages.

One final side note: I was a bit disturbed by how the heroine is constantly described as "beautiful": "slender," "thin," and always "forgetting to eat." I've never minded an attractive protagonist but, after the eighth mention of her starved allure, I lost my appetite.

An enchanting, if under-developed, book.......2006-06-13

In my memory this was a perfect book, and so I was a little afraid to read it again. I know a lot more about writing now than I did when I first read this so many years ago, and I'm a more discerning reader. Would the book withstand my higher standards? Or would it crumble and fall? The answer is, a bit of both.

I've found that McKillip's newer books ("Ombria in Shadow" and "Winter Rose," for example) have a very enchanting, fairy-tale feel to them. "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld" projects a younger, less well-developed, yet similar feel, and it certainly swept me up in the events of the book. The pacing wasn't as well-timed (the book was a bit slow and meandering in places), but the book never lost me. The story is predictable in some places, yet refreshingly surprising in others.

The characters in this book were also less well-developed than those of later books. I came to care about and sympathize with them, but they were less well-defined. I'm not sure if this will make sense, but there was less of a sense of age about them--almost all of them seemed to occupy the same young space. Their dialogue was a little less riveting and more rambling. And finally, the tone was mildly melodramatic in places.

Yet despite all this, the book caught me up again almost as strongly as it did 15 or so years ago. The nascent feeling of enchantment tugged at my heart and made it easy to forgive the book's flaws. It is clear that Patricia McKillip has improved her skills greatly since the first publication date of this book (copyright 1974, if you're curious!), yet it is also clear that she began with a formidable talent. "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld" may not be her best work, but it is well worth reading for anyone who already enjoys her books. Yes, it has flaws. But it still weaves a spell around my heart.

Fantasy Fiction Fans Unite!.......2006-02-10

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld is the strangest fantasy fiction romance I've yet to read. It isn't the typical dungeons and dragons scene, it's not packed with raw action and archetypal wizardry -- so why should any respectable fantasy fiction fan bother with the book? Because it's an awesome piece of political, war mungering work.

I have to admit, the beginning of this book is a little boring. First, it tells about the geneology of a family of wizards who have the power to call and enslave powerful monsters to their will and who happen to live on a mountain. The first few chapters read very much like the Bible: blah blah son of blah blah and so on.

We don't get to the good part until we come to Sybel, a lone witch-lady who is the descendant of all the aforementioned wizards and who lives on the mountain alone with her animals. Her life is changed forever when a man dressed in armor rattles her gate and demands that she cares for the baby in his arms. The witch-lady and the warrior enter into a very amusing argument until at last the young witch complies and is left to raise the child alone.

If you love fantasy fiction, you'll love this book when you get into the thick of it. One of my favorite characters is Ter Falcon, a bird with a constant thirst for blood. He's always begging Sybel (who has complete control over him) to let him kill someone and I find it quite amusing:

"And Drede."

"No."

"And Drede."

"No."

One of my other favorite scenes is the part where Sybel has been captured by a powerful wizard who (under the orders of the dreaded King Drede) has her imprisoned in his tower and is preparing to rob her of her conscious mind. In other words: he's been ordered to make her into a veggetable. Yet once Sybel and the wizard have been left alone, the wizard reveals his secret desire to run away with her as his companion and maybe even as his own veggetable. When Sybel refuses, the wizard is preparing to rape her when suddenly she whispers a word of power (the word is the name of a powerful beast) and her attacker is literally crushed flat.

And lastly, here are some more of my favorite lines:

"So. You married me for my animals. I always knew it." (Sybel)

"I married you because you never laughed at me. Except when I asked you to marry me." (Coren/Warrior with baby)

And after all this enthusiatic rambling on my account, if you still won't check this book out, I don't know what else to say! But it really is an amusing book and still holds a place on my shelf of favorites.

Flooring 1-2-3: Expert Advice on Design, Installation, and Repair (Home Depot ... 1-2-3)

Average customer rating:

Great Book - A little Optimistic
horrible condition

Flooring 1-2-3: Expert Advice on Design, Installation, and Repair (Home Depot ... 1-2-3)
The Home Depot
Manufacturer: The Home Depot
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Buildings & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Do-It-Yourself | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0696215888
Release Date: 2003-06-21

Book Description

This new Home Depot book takes the challenge out of installing and maintaining the most popular styles of flooring, and assures success even for beginners.

The details that do-it-yourselfers want, and the education that buy-it-yourselfers need:

Design and planning
Selection and installation
Care and repair

In-depth information on virtually any flooring project:

Proper preparation
Detailed materials lists
Step-by-step how-to photos

ReadersÂ' favorite features help simplify each project:

Skill scales
BuyerÂ's guides
Tips from Home Depot pros

Customer Reviews:

Great Book - A little Optimistic .......2007-07-07

This is a great book to read before selecting flooring materials as it provides a lot of valuable information on the installation, maintenance and repair of the floors. It also shows how different materials fit together.

There are step by step directions, but no time allowances for band-aids or such. They try to make it look like Joe Homeowner at work but there's not a beer can or half eaten hot dog in sight. However, there are a lot of shortcuts and very good advice on the things that usually take years to learn. There is also advice for those who need to heed the "Do Not Try This At Home". Sage advice not to undertake a major floorinig project just before a holiday with a family gathering.

Looking at some of the time allowances I think they are optimistic, even when adjusted for beginners.

Highly recommended.

horrible condition.......2007-03-22

the book itself was very good and informative but the condition that all these home depot books came in were USED/WORN and i purchased them NEW from your site. you shouldn't pawn off used books as new ones to loyal customers. you people really disappointed me because your merchandise is usually as advertised. really sad.

Average customer rating:

An excellent book for Householders and Decorators alike.

Carpets for the Home
Amicia de Moubray , and David Black
Manufacturer: Rizzoli International Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0847822001
Release Date: 1999-11-20

Book Description

Whether one lives in a classic townhouse, country farmhouse, or urban apartment, choosing the right carpet can be a daunting prospect; this is the first book to guide the reader through the process. The selection of carpets featured in these pages includes both antique and contemporary Oriental, European, and American carpets. Over 200 photographs illustrate a broad range of inspired color schemes in different interiors with carpets of all sizes, to aid the carpet collector or homeowner in showcasing their treasures.

The authors discuss the various types of interiors for which carpets are intended, with focus on why and how the design, colors, and textures of specific carpets work with certain room settings. Imaginative ideas showing how carpets can be used to create a wide variety of design effects are included, such as Wild West rooms with Navajo rugs, stunning ethnic-style outdoor rooms with Turkoman flatweaves and Indian dhurries, rustic French farmhouses with cotton runners, Manhattan lofts with carpets used as wall hangings, country houses in Europe and America with floral Savonnerie carpets, and attractive staircases covered with Turkish kilims. There is also a discussion of the history of carpet display in the western domestic interior-- from the earliest export of Oriental rugs to Europe in the fifteenth century to the present day, the age of the designer carpet.

Detailed information is given about the typical characteristics of each type of carpet by geographical area, such as the weave, size, and use of traditional motifs. The book concludes with a glossary of terms, a useful list of further reading, practical information on care and repair, and an international directory of carpet dealers and museums with noteworthy carpet collections.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent book for Householders and Decorators alike........2000-08-03

This book is more then just a reference guide of carpets from around the world. It shows how carpets can be used in various interiors, from country houses to a city pied-a-terre. The authors go into detail about color, design, and texture and use actual interiors to show the many ways that carpets can be used. From the great rooms of Chatsworth, to staircases, entry halls, bedrooms in a small cottage, nothing is left to the imagination. Useful chapters include "Care & Repair" and an excellent international directory. There are also excellent examples of antique, traditional, and contemporary rugs from every part of the world as well as a good section on Kilms. This book is very useful for anyone who wants to get ideas about how to use and decorate with rugs, and more importantly WHICH rug is best for a particular setting.

The Carpet Installation Training Handbook

Average customer rating:

Never seen carpet installed but want to do it yourself anyway? Get this book.
Great book on carpet installation
Good data - Horrible editing

The Carpet Installation Training Handbook
Eric Larson
Manufacturer: Caliber Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Buildings & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0967369606

Book Description

This is the complete carpet installation training handbook. It covers all of the beginner through advanced terms and technologies. This handbook walks you through all of the installation procedures step by step. The handbook includes: measuring for carpet, stretch-in carpet procedures, hand sewing, glue down carpet, steps, non-stretchable carpets, carpeting around posts and over ledges, among other valuable information. The Carpet Installation Training Handbook is illustrated with action photographs of real installers working on real jobs, unlike other dull technical instruction books that leave you in a daze. It's written in plain English and packed with information. It is one of the best books on the subject.

Customer Reviews:

Never seen carpet installed but want to do it yourself anyway? Get this book........2007-01-10

This book is thorough enough to teach you, on it's own, how to install stretch-in carpet in your home. I used it to learn what I needed to know to install stretch-in carpet in a basement bedroom with a concrete floor and on my bullnose staircase. Its the only comprehensive carpet installation reference I could find, but luckily, it was all I needed.

As others have noted, it is riddled with misspelling and covers lots of information a DIY carpet installer doesn't need-- like how to dress and how to handle customers. None of that bothered me since it did a fine job teaching me what I wanted to learn.

Great book on carpet installation.......2004-01-18

I work for a property management firm. We just started doing out carpet in house. I searched for installation training as was unable to find any. I even went to many different flooring tool suppliers and I was still unable to come up with any references on the subject. This book is an invaluable training aid for new installers. A follow up video would be great.

Good data - Horrible editing.......2003-09-27

This is a good book on how to lay carpet. The carpet on my stairs was wearing out and I wanted to replace it myself from extra carpet I had from the original installation. Eric Larson's book gave me the information to do the job.

I read the rest of the book and, although I did not use the data, the information seemed complete and the instructions were generally clear. It's clear that Eric wrote the book for apprentice carpet installers and I applaud his textbook-like approach with the questions and answers after each chapter. Based on the information contained and the approach used to teach it, I would give the book four to four and a half stars.

My complaint is about the editing, which is attributed to Dr. William G. Burns of San Antonio. The English used in the book is atrocious. Sentences and clauses run together without any punctuation, sort of the way someone would speak in informal speech. Many of the sentences are just fragments, either without a verb or without a subject. Possessive forms do not use an apostrophe (Jacks hammer instead of Jack's hammer). It's clear that this book was written on a word processor and the spell check was used without any human judgment. There are many places in the book where the wrong word is used, but not misspelled. That is, "their" is used where it should be "there". "To" is used when it should be "too". "And" is used when it should be "an" ("three eights of and inch"). The book is riddled with errors of this nature. My favorite is where Eric writes that "...the installer should asses the job..." instead of "assess".

I realize that Eric is a carpet installer and not an English major, and I do not fault him for the poor English usage. I do fault him for not realizing his weakness and finding a better editor, even if that editor would drive him crazy with rewrites and markups. There's simply no excuse for putting out a book, especially one that is to be used as a textbook, with such poor English usage.

However, if you can get past the mangling of the language, the book does have some good information on carpet installation.

Average customer rating:

I know the author

This books says it all

Pays for itself many times over!

Landlord Floors
Alan J. Fletcher
Manufacturer: Aj Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Cleaning, Caretaking & Relocating | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 097178020X

Product Description

A Valuable Resource for Landlords and Property Managers! This book should be on the bookshelf of every property manager and maintenance supervisor. It contains everything you need to know about carpet and vinyl flooring replacements and repair.

Customer Reviews:

I know the author.......2002-04-02

I know the author very well, his know how is of the highest quality,he knows his stuff!!Im sure that all who read this book will be blessed.

This books says it all.......2002-02-28

Thanks a zillion times for finally coming up with something I can use. It's simple, easly to follow, and concise. This guy knows his stuff. I recommend this book to any landlord who needs to save time and money and significant amounts of it. BRAVO Mr. Fletcher.

Pays for itself many times over!.......2002-02-26

If all you got from this book was a single useful fact to help you decide on one carpet/flooring installation, then you've paid for the book - perhaps many times over.

But if you only got one useful fact - then you're still on page one.

I manage apartments for a living. Replacing carpets & flooring is an expensive part of apartment turnover. No matter how many times I've done it, I still feel like flooring salespeople are like used-car dealers. They'll tell me whatever I want to hear for the product at whatever price I'm able to pay.

I wish I had a flooring expert by my side. Now, I do (in a way). This book is written in a very comfortable, casual style. It's almost as if the author is standing there tutoring you on all the aspects of flooring. He has a real understanding of the cost/benefit of different flooring materials and he understands the sensitivities of apartment management.

It's chock-full of tidbits of useful information, tips & tricks. I don't remember it all yet - but next time I have to buy flooring material, I'm going to re-read the important sections and go to my dealer a lot more prepared to understand what it is I'm buying - and to save money doing it!

It's not only useful - it's an easy read. Clearly the author knows his stuff and is able to present it without making me feel like I'm a dummy.

Customer Reviews:

Welcome reprint of a classic.......1999-07-29

Barnard's classic, now back in print, is not only a decorating book, but also an encyclopedia of ethnic textiles, their history, and their care. Every page is filled with gorgeous color photographs of the use of textiles in settings from the American southwest (Navaho blankets) to London (Middle Eastern Kilims) to Paris (African Kuba cloth). Items from hats (Afghani) to huipils (Guatamala) are shown framed, used as furniture coverings, made into pillows, or just hung imaginativly on a wall. I am delighted to find it back in print in a soft cover version. Each time I've loaned out my precious hardbound copy (and then only to special people), I have made SURE I got it back. A must-have for anyone who loves textiles, and at a ridiculously low price given the size of the volume and its plentiful illustrations.

Average customer rating:

Saved me money!
A Quick and Helpful Read
More information than expected
Perhaps better information elsewhere?
A very useful and informative guide.

Carpet Buying Secrets Revealed
Alan J. Fletcher
Manufacturer: AJ Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Floors | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Consumer Guides | Reference | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0971780250

Book Description

A complete consumer carpet buying guide. Consumers will learn how to select the proper carpet and padding for their needs, learn about fibers and quality ratings, keep from being ripped-off, hire experienced carpet installers and have the whole job done properly and at a reasonable price.

Written by a 25 year expert in the carpet business. It is a must-read for any consumer that plans on buying carpet for the home, office or rental.

Customer Reviews:

Saved me money!.......2007-08-18

This was a great investment that helped me get the best quality at the lowest price. Thanks to this book, I was more knowledgeable than most carpet salesmen. They'll tell you anything to make a sell. Be armed with the best information before you make a large purchase such as carpet.

A Quick and Helpful Read.......2004-05-20

Helpful information is provided which certainly makes the book worth the cost. However, it is short and should be combined into one book with another book by the author, "The Quick and Easy Guide to Carpet Shopping."

One tip that seems to have worked well for us is to get estimates on a specific brand and style of carpet. That way the sellers are forced to deal against each other simply on terms of price.

More information than expected.......2003-09-25

I recently purchased this book, and saved 425 dollars on carpet for my rental. If I saved this much on every rental, I could take a vacation!! Anyway, there really wasn't a question that I had that wasn't answered by this book. I heartily recommend this to anyone who is going to buy carpet.

Perhaps better information elsewhere?.......2003-09-20

I did not like this book because: It was too short. It was only 60 pages. 60 pages of paper stapled in the center. The information could be helpful to some If they had never read anything anywhere else ever about carpeting. I didn't feel like this "book" was worth the money. I think there might be more informative resources at a more economical value for the carpet buying consumer.

A very useful and informative guide........2002-10-28

Before I read this book I was confused and did not know enough about carpet to know whether or not I was going about it in the right way. The stores I visited were not much help either, and in fact, they made me even more confused. I did an internet search hoping to gain a better understanding about selecting a carpet that would last, and that's where I found the authors website and about his carpet buying guide. I am glad that I ordered it, his book seems to be fairly complete, and it goes in depth about carpet scams and how retailers can overcharge. It has also helped me understand how this whole carpet buying process works. I have now gained the confidence to know what type of carpet I want and how to go about getting it without the fear of being taken advantage of. It has been quite a learning experience for me and I would recommend this book to people planning on buying carpet.

How to Get Red Wine Out of a White Carpet: And Over 2,000 Other Household Hints

Average customer rating:

How to Get Red Wine Out of a White Carpet: And Over 2,000 Other Household Hints
Erik Bruun
Manufacturer: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Cleaning, Caretaking & Relocating | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Household Hints | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Encyclopedias | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1579122140

Book Description

This must-have reference and sourcebook covers every household problem, featuring new and time-tested solutions, strategies and secrets for each room of the house-and the garden, too.

This handy guide, organized into categories including Indoor Hints, Outdoor Hints, Safety and Environment and Daily Living, features room-by-room cleaning ideas; repairs, refinishing and tools; gardening basics, lawn care and automobiles; home safety, pest control and energy-saving tricks; holiday hints, organizing methods and so much more.

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