Remodeling shows what wood can do

gether to totally remodel a New Orleans, La., area residence with the results to be featured in a national consumer magazine. The Southern Forest Products Association, joined by the American Wood Council, American Pllrvood Association and Western Wood Products Association. will demonstrate what wood products can do for an aging three-bedroom home. The four organizations are all members of the Wood Products Promotion Council.

The search for a candidate home has been completed. Parameters established for the project described it as being 20 to 30 years old, approximately 1500 square feet, with three bedrooms, living and dining rooms, bath, kitchen and garage. After looking at about two dozen prospects, SFPA chose a home in suburban Metairie that filled the bill.

Family Circle, a nationalmagazine devoted to better living, is interested in devoting editorial coverage to the project. Home projects editor Bob Anderson calls the choice of the home "very typical," adding that it is the ideal candidate for some extensive remodeling work. Anderson will work in close cooperation with SFPA over the next year developing plans and supervising the actual work. SFPA has arranged for the services of a local architect and remodeling contractor to bring all the "wood-related" ideas to reality.

What do the sponsors have in mind? In addition to creating expanded living areas inside, plans are to step outdoors and enlarge the home's usable area with treated wood decks, outdoor storage units and other amenities. Fences, boardwalks in

SFPA plus three other associations to showcase wood pro. ducts in aging home... national consumer magazine scheduled to feature results...dealer tieins can boost sales.

front of the home's entryway and new siding are other projects being considered for the exterior. Many possibilities exist for using wood products in the remodeling process, both inside and outside the home, according to Richard Wallace. SFPA coordinator for the project.

Once the architect's plans are approved by the magazine, actual work will begin, probably sometime in June. Fomily Circle plans to feature the completed home in a Spring 1986 issue.

Dealers should start thinking now of ways to capitalize on the interest which this renovation will create. Advertisements, remodeling clinics and displays can all be tied into the project. Promotions by the sponsors as well as the national coverage in Family Circle will reach homeowners all over the south.

Projects such as this create wide spread interest and draw attention to the possibilities of remodeling, but they are useless to the dealer who is not prepared to support the interest created. Now is the time to plan for the spring of '86 and more home improvement sales.