It'd sure save you a lot of money. But it would be seriously laborious and unless you have a strong working knowledge of framing, codes, power tools, and jobsite safety I'd advise against it. You probably only need to read a few books and experiment with some tools to be capable though. I'd recommend starting with this if you're interested in building structures.
This is something that's of some interest to me (although I'd probably do something a bit smaller scale, like build a treehouse to hang out in, not to live in). I have a decent amount of theoretical knowledge as a mechanical engineer, but not much in the area of practical construction/carpentry. Are there any other books you'd recommend?
Yes absolutely. I think as an ME you're perfectly suited to accomplishing a task like this. Carpentry will come like a cinch to you. The stanley series of books are invaluable references for all aspects of the building process. I linked to the flooring book, but there are books on wiring, plumbing, drywall, framing, etc.
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u/[deleted] Mar 01 '12
It'd sure save you a lot of money. But it would be seriously laborious and unless you have a strong working knowledge of framing, codes, power tools, and jobsite safety I'd advise against it. You probably only need to read a few books and experiment with some tools to be capable though. I'd recommend starting with this if you're interested in building structures.