Two new books provide details on how to efficiently build homes as well as take them apart. Prefabulous: The House of Your Dreams, Delivered Fresh From the Factory, by Sheri Koones (a Smart HomeOwner contributing writer), demystifies the concept of the prefabricated house, and explains why these factory-built homes are greener, more efficient, sturdier and more cost-effective than site-built homes. The book examines all types of prefab houses, including modular, panelized, timber frame, concrete and steel, as well as log construction and homes built with structural insulated panels (SIPs). After an introduction describing the development and benefits of prefab houses, the author provides real-world examples of these homes, with colorful photography throughout. (The Taunton Press; $25).

Turning its attention to the other end of the spectrum, Unbuilding: Salvaging the Architectural Treasures of Unwanted Houses explores the value of salvaged materials and describes the green art of "unbuilding" a home. Written by two leading salvage experts, Bob Falk and Brad Guy, the book explains how to safely dismantle a wall or an entire house, and examines the quality of such salvaged materials as hardwood flooring, windows, doors, mantles and period lighting. Sidebars and pullouts throughout the book provide helpful tips, such as how to remove flooring, cast-iron fixtures or vinyl siding. (The Taunton Press; $30).