About the Author

Respected nationally for his books about house design and construction and construction management, David Gerstel has been a licensed builder for 35 years. His interest in building and in writing about it dates back to his elementary school years in North Carolina when he built forts and treehouses and wrote an illustrated guide to iconic historical structures from the Parthenon to the Blue Mosque for his sixth grade class. Later he studied at University College, London, England and Brandeis University in Boston where he was editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper. After graduation he set out to learn the whys and hows of crafting buildings, eventually becoming a master carpenter. His company has long been respected in his community for the integrity of its work and its upfront business practices. David's books have all earned praise for their depth of research and expertise along with their readability and humour.  In his free time he plays tennis and reads about history, financial and  environmental issues, and building design and construction.