Interior Materials & Surfaces: The Complete GuideNote from Charmaine: I bought a large supply of this book - it is a GREAT, useful book that details the good & green aspects of materials, and warns of the bad!! For example: I would never have thought of using Zinc as a countertop... but it is endlessly recycleable, and stands up to wine spills well, and has been used in French wine bars for decades. Versus using the 'evil' commercially processed MDF board which keeps offgassing fumes forever. (It's a shame it is promoted so heavily on the HGTV decorating programs! - choose real wood instead.) Publisher's review: Interior Materials and Surfaces is an indispensable guide for homeowners and for professional renovators, decorators, interior designers and stylists. Comprehensive reference to every type of surface material for floors, walls and ceilings. Interior surfaces add beauty, structure and comfort to homes. Available in a stunning range of natural and synthetic materials, these surfaces are both cosmetic and functional. Interior Materials and Surfaces covers the full range of home surfaces from three points of view: technical, practical and aesthetic. The book provides comprehensive details on each material, featuring their pros and cons, general uses, and alternative applications. Chapters cover a wide range of options for do-it-yourselfers and professionals alike: Wood -- hard and soft, wood composites and veneers Plastics, resins, rubber and linoleum Metals, iron, steel, copper, brass, aluminum, zinc, lead and gold leaf Glass Fabrics and papers Leather and suede Paints, varnishes, lacquers Stone, ceramics and tiles Concrete and cement Plaster and plaster composites. Each material is profiled with details about its properties, use and maintenance, safety tips, availability and relative cost. Jargon-free text with color photographs provide easy installation instructions and important advice on uses. Full color-Paperback: 256 pages Publisher: Firefly Books (March 5, 2005) Language: English ISBN: 1552979660 COLOR- SOFTCOVER 6" x 9" size |