Overview

In From the Top Plates Up, production roof cutter Will Holladay, author of the classic roof framing manual A Roof Cutter's Secrets (1988, 2002, 2014), and the challenging workbook The Complicated Roof (2009), shares a bucket load of stories as he reflects back over his 42-year career as a hard swinging roof framer. The book goes back to the early 1970s when the author was a jobsite laborer working for a custom builder, and carries all the way through to 2014 when injuries finally got the best of him. It is the love story of a man and a job. The story of a relentless roof-framing junkie who was never happy unless he was up in the air. Interwoven in the book are intriguing stories of lessons learned - many the hard way - aimed specifically at helping the reader avoid the same pitfalls that tripped him up. The book harbors a kaleidoscope of fun and informative topics, including: his favorite tools; swinging a hammer; avoiding jobsite injuries; dealing with simple or crippling medical events; forging a top-notch framing crew; setting up your work truck; the history and tools of production roof cutting; applying the cool new rafter cutting inventions; the development of modern day roof framing lingo; and, staying in physical shape for maximum jobsite performance. In one stirring chapter, Will tells of his conversion to Christianity while stacking roofs in the Los Angeles housing tracts, and how that decision eventually lead him to a part-time ministry in Central America, where he helps out as a relief pilot and teaches locals rough carpentry skills. The book is truly a collection of the best pearls of wisdom from one of the industry's most beloved roof framers. It is written in a manner that will cause the reader to stop and think, all the while challenging him/her to reach for the stars. 251 photos and 24 drawings.

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9780945186090

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Reviews

"""From the Top Plates Up is filled with the real-life advice one might expect to hear an old time master carpenter share with his crew. It is entertaining and informative at the same time. Definitely a book every carpenter should read."" Shone Freeman, president of S.R. Freeman Inc., a large custom home framing business serving the greater San Francisco Bay Area ""As I read From the Top Plates Up, I found myself fascinated not only by Will's journey as a framer, but also by his journey as a person. In the end, his personal journey becomes as interesting as his professional journey. You will enjoy the book and I recommend it highly."" Rick Tyrell, owner of DSR Design Build (MA and SC), and contributing author to Fine Homebuilding, The Journal of Light Construction, and Design/Build Business magazines. ""As a carpenter I've recommended From The Top Plates Up to every co-worker and even to my boss. It's hard to describe how much i enjoyed this book for fear that I may discredit it. I think every carpenter should read this book, and really this book is not limited to only carpenters. There's so much info packed into this book and I find myself referencing it over and over again. Topics like ""The Ten Commandments of using a Skilsaw, how to deal with prevalent injuries a carpenter will/may face, workout routines for a carpenter, the importance of a good work crew, and the history of production roof framing, That's just a glimpse of stuff that's in this book. Will is a gifted writer, and communicator. Though this book is over 300 pages I hardly noticed it."" Timothy D. Hazlerig Jr."

From the Top Plates Up is filled with the real-life advice one might expect to hear an old time master carpenter share with his crew. It is entertaining and informative at the same time. Definitely a book every carpenter should read. Shone Freeman, president of S.R. Freeman Inc., a large custom home framing business serving the greater San Francisco Bay Area As I read From the Top Plates Up, I found myself fascinated not only by Will's journey as a framer, but also by his journey as a person. In the end, his personal journey becomes as interesting as his professional journey. You will enjoy the book and I recommend it highly. Rick Tyrell, owner of DSR Design Build (MA and SC), and contributing author to Fine Homebuilding, The Journal of Light Construction, and Design/Build Business magazines.

From the Top Plates Up is filled with the real-life advice one might expect to hear an old time master carpenter share with his crew. It is entertaining and informative at the same time. Definitely a book every carpenter should read. Shone Freeman, president of S.R. Freeman Inc., a large custom home framing business serving the greater San Francisco Bay Area As I read From the Top Plates Up, I found myself fascinated not only by Will's journey as a framer, but also by his journey as a person. In the end, his personal journey becomes as interesting as his professional journey. You will enjoy the book and I recommend it highly. Rick Tyrell, owner of DSR Design Build (MA and SC), and contributing author to Fine Homebuilding, The Journal of Light Construction, and Design/Build Business magazines. As a carpenter I've recommended From The Top Plates Up to every co-worker and even to my boss. It's hard to describe how much i enjoyed this book for fear that I may discredit it. I think every carpenter should read this book, and really this book is not limited to only carpenters. There's so much info packed into this book and I find myself referencing it over and over again. Topics like The Ten Commandments of using a Skilsaw, how to deal with prevalent injuries a carpenter will/may face, workout routines for a carpenter, the importance of a good work crew, and the history of production roof framing, That's just a glimpse of stuff that's in this book. Will is a gifted writer, and communicator. Though this book is over 300 pages I hardly noticed it. Timothy D. Hazlerig Jr.

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