These classic Allan Staines manuals have become the go to books for Apprentices, Builders, Owner Builders, Renovators and the home handy man in Australia for many years. These new editions brings the illustrations and text right up to date with the latest methods applied across Australia.


The Australian House Building Manual ISBN:9781875217076

The 9th Edition of this popular title. A book worth its weight in gold to everyone involved in house building.

This entirely Australian manual is thoroughly researched in co-operation with the Australian Timber, Brick, Concrete and other relevant associations. It is written in Allan Staines usual easy to comprehend style.

It now has over 660 clear and technically accurate drawings covering each stage of construction. The text and drawings correlate well. The manual covers the foundations and carpentry aspect in detail as well as brick veneer, cavity brick and concrete brick systems and weatherboard.

The manual provides current trade practices and hints that help bridge the gap between theory and practice. For these reasons it is an essential class room text.


Companion to The Australian House Building Manual.

This is all Australian title has large scale drawings to make it easy to understand how the various stages and components fit together. The owner builder is shown how to plan the house to suit the chosen allotment and the most economical methods of owner building.

You will learn how to identify and correct faulty building practices, the correct trade terms to use, and how to order building products.

This manual will provide you with the confidence to build a typical Australian home in weatherboard, brick veneer, cavity brick or concrete block.


The Roof Building Manual ISBN: 9781875217304

The new improved and enlarged 5th Edition describes roof building in an easy to grasp style with new quick and easy table and bevels essential to all trades persons or owner builders.

With simplified tables and bevels set out for immediate use, The Roof Building Manual is suitable for cut-on-site roof building and cathedral ceiling roofs. This step by step guide is full of easy to follow instructions. An indispensable aid for teaching Apprentices, plus quick and easy to use tables and bevels for all roof pitches from 5 degrees to 75 degrees. Bevels drawn on the page ready to transfer directly to the bevel too. A Builder's dream.


The Australian Renovator’s Manual ISBN: 9781875217083

The Updated 7th Edition – covers most of the popular renovations and alterations around the home with trade methods and hints described. The all Australian practical guide for renovations and alterations in line with the Building Code of Australia.

This book is specifically designed to deal with problems confronted when renovating or altering an existing dwelling. It also shows step-by-step how to accomplish popular renovation projects. 

The Australian Decks and Pergolas Construction Manual,

This book is another in Allan Staines popular range of building books. His graphic and technical skills based on practical experience and the most recent technology will make this book a must for the professional and the 'Do-it-Yourselfer''.

There are a number of tables, covering post and stirrup footing sizes, deck bearer and stair stringer sizes, roof beam and rafter span tables, design loads of various fastening brackets, cyclonic strength ratings for various components and other information essential to the successful design of a deck or pergola.