Congratulations—you are about to gain knowledge and skills that will serve you well throughout your life. You are preparing to learn the basics of residential and light construction. You will learn how a house is constructed from foundation to roof, and you will begin to develop the basic skills needed to build and maintain a structure. You have several choices of how you will make use of this knowledge and skill in your future. You may choose to pursue a career in the construction trades, perhaps as a carpenter, plumber, electrician, or HVAC technician. You may continue your education at a four-year college and pursue a career in con- struction management or engineering. Even if you choose a career outside of construction, your study of carpentry will benefit you as a future homeowner. Modern Carpentry is a colorful, easy-to-understand source of authoritative and up-to-date informa- tion on building materials, tools, and construction methods. It provides detailed coverage of all aspects of light construction. Included are site development, print reading, site layout, excavating, foundation work, framing, sheathing, insulating, roofing, window and door installation, exterior finishing, interior finishing, and mechanical systems. Chapters are arranged in a logical sequence similar to the order builders use to complete various phases of home construction. Special emphasis is given to the construction careers and workplace skills, including attitudes and relationships with coworkers. This textbook strongly focuses on safe work habits in handling tools, materials, and prefabricated components. Green construction practices are emphasized in this 12th edition. Thinking Green tips throughout the textbook highlight items related to sustainable construction within the context of the chapter topic. In addition, a new chapter, Green Building and Certification Programs, provides a “big picture” overview of the key goals of a sustainable construction program and describes the most prominent residential green certification programs. This edition also includes increased coverage of safe work practices and building code requirements. Safety is critical when working with construction tools and materials. Modern Carpentry provides an overview of safe work practices in a dedicated Safety chapter, and then supplements this general knowl- edge with Safety Notes throughout the textbook. Code Notes highlight construction requirements found in model building codes. Modern Carpentry also provides chapters introducing mechanical systems: electrical wiring, plumbing, and heating and cooling (HVAC). More than cursory discussions of principles, these chapters explain how to install such systems. Enjoy your study of construction, the accomplishment of developing new skills, and the satisfaction of building something with your own hands. Most importantly, always work safely. Willis H. Wagner Howard Bud Smith Mark W. Huth Preface Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. iii