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impossible to assess the relative sustainability of other materials performing the same function as wood."

HomeBase In Scottsdale,

Az. HomeBase, Irvine, Ca., has announced plans to open a fifth Arizona location in Scottsdale.

The new 109,505-sq. ft. warehouse, slated to open next spring, will be adjoined by a23,032-sq. ft. exterior nursery.

A remodel of the four existing warehouses in Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix and Tempe will be completed this month.

Armor All Sues Thompson

Aliso Viejo, Ca.-based Armor All Products Corp. has filed suit against Thompson Minwax Co. for nationally airing two tv comrnercials that claim Armor All's new sealer failed to meet "industry waterproofi ng standards."

The suit says Thompson, which has long enjoyed TOVo of the $210 million exterior waterproofing and preserving market, mentions an outdated water repellency standard in its ads and that Armor All Deck Protector Water-proofing Sealer actually repels water twice as long as Thompson's Water Seal.

Bay Area Home Profile

In the San Francisco-Oakland, Ca., metropolitan area, l4%o of homeowners spend $100 or more per month on routine maintenance, according to the Census Bureau.

Other findings for the area:

There were 1,544,600 housing units in 1993, of which 1,439,400 were occupied (54Vo by owners, 46Vo by renters).

59Vo were single-family homes.

The average home in San Francisco was 58 years old, compared with 31 years for the remaining area.

Homes in the area had a median of 2.2 persons per unit and a median of 5.2 rooms per unit, including 2.4 bedrooms.

. During l99l-92, 16%o of the owner-occupied units had some or all of the roof replaced and lOVo had kitchens remodeled or added.

Median value of homeowners' residences in 1993 was $256,258 down l5Vo from a 1993 constant dollar figure of$300,927 for 1989.