Old-House Doctor

The author, a professional carpenter with more than 20 years' experience in ""doctoring'' old houses, provides the layperson with a reliable guide to treating the ailing geriatric dwelling. Evers teaches the reader how to research the history of an old house through deeds, records, maps and genealogies, and the house's integral structure and on-site archeological remains. He prescribes remedies for crooked frames, wood damage caused by fungus and insects, and faulty walls, ceilings and floors. Chapters on plumbing, wiring, ventilation, energy conservation and decoration, as well as sources of old house materials and a comprehensive bibliography, are included. Evers's enthusiasm for his subject makes for reading that is as entertaining as it is enlightening. Lucid directions, ably complemented by Hason's black-and-white drawings, make this a valuable reference for the do-it-yourself carpenter. BOMC and QPB selections. (April 18)