Leon Frechette's Build Smarter with Alternative Materials is a valuable resource for builders who are baffled by the many new products that have hit the market in recent years. Organized into chapters by type, product descriptions include photographs or illustrations, a list of pros and cons, and estimates of labor costs for installation. Background information covers tips on successfully incorporating alternative building materials into the projects, as well as manufacturer and supplier lists. The guide ($35; Craftsman Book Company; P.O. Box 6500, Carlsbad, CA 92018; 800/829-8123; www.craftsman-book.com) starts off with a straightforward table of contents that, together with a very good index, makes it easy to locate exactly what you're looking for. Riding the Corporate Paper Trail Businesses incorporate
