More Than TOOO Remodeling Contractors Use New'Portable Office'

More than 7000 U. S. remodeling contractors, from Alaska to Florida, will be making extra profits before the end of summer with a unicue new "traveling office."

The lightweight portable carrier, only 9x12x2 incl-res and rveighing two pounds fully equipped, contains 40 pieces of selling and estimating aids ranging from new books on estimating and merchandising to a supply of job estimate forms, color literature and time-saving construction tables for all types of building materials.

The "portable office" idea, already dramatically proven in field tests, was developed by Georgia-Pacific Corp., the big forest products firm.

The company is furnishing the kits through its dealers, wl-ro compiled the extensive rernodeling contractor lists.

H. C. Ellicott, G-P product advertising and promotion manager, said original planning called for 6000 of the kits, "but the names supplied by our dealers from their active remodeling contractor customers now has passed the 7000 mark."

Each kit has a personal touch with the contractor's name and the name of his G-P dealer embossed on the front.

Key pieces irr tl.re kits are a new 46-page "Guide to l\ferchandising Rernodeling," revised specifically for contractors fronr a popular G-P merchandising book published earlier this year, and a just-completecl 34-page plasticbound "Contractor Guide to Estimating." The latter includes comprehen- sive tables for quick estimatir-rg of n-raterials, labor, nailing, load bearing, insulatior.r factors ancl other data for f raming, coucrete. nlasonry. roofing, siding, flooring, rvall materials, decorating and other work phases.

Quick answers are tabulatecl for the number of joists required for any floor and spacing, spans, board foot conversions, excavation yardage, roof areas, live load allor,vances and materials data covering all phases of remodeling.

Handy workir-rg aids include project proposal, job survey and job estimate IOrms.

Full-color Iiterature is designed to help sell remodeling jobs with interesting ideas for kitchens, recreation rooms, living rooms, basements and attics. Full-color literature shows hardrvood wall paneling, specialty hardboards and plywoods, redwood, factory finished flooring and other products manufactured by G-P.

'Ilechnical data also covers steel, gypsum and other non-G-P products.

ilore lhon 700O "porroble oftcct" contoining new rolrr ond oprroting matrriolr ore being didrih. utod notionolly to romodcling conlructon lhrough Gcorgio.PociGc rcrcil building noteriol deolar. The list of contrqctor3, whose nomes ore individuolly embo:scd on eoch soles-oid kit, wos conpiled for G-P by deolers servcd by rhc big plywood, lumber ond hordboord monufoclurer. Key pieces in the kit arc o ncw 46-pogo Gontroctor booklet on merchondiring remodeling, ond o l4-poge booklet thot includer roblcs for cstimoting oll types of moteriolr cnd lobor costs for re:identiql ond commerciol remodcling.

And there is room for additional material the contractor may wish to include.

Among other special tools in the "traveling office" kits are a booklet for contractor employees on time-saving methods of installing wall paneling, and data on "instant finance" available through dealers to cover materials, labor and contractor profit with longterm customer financir.rg and no down payment.

In cooDeration 'ivitl-r national remocleling leaders, G-P is including a full reprint of the "Standards for the Advertising & Selling of Home Improvements" booklet published by the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Nerv York. It currently is biing recomrnended by leaders in the remodeling industry, according to Ellicott.

As part of the new service there is a survev in which participating contractors 'ra'ill help develop ne\,v nationwide figures on such important questions as volume of new and remodeling construction performed by. contractors in various volume groups, preferred types of materials, percentage volume for major types of remodeling jobs, types of financing used, types of services provided by contractor or dealer in different areas of the U. S., what services are most desired from building materials manufacturers, and dealer inventory practices.

The 7000-plus kits are being distributed through G-P dealers free of charge to contractors on the dealercompiled list. A limited number of kits also is available at $2.50 each by writing directly to E. L. Kimball, plywood sales promotion manager at GeorgiaPacific, P. O. Box 311, Portland 7, Oregon.

New Thin Redwood Pcneling For New & Remodeled lnteriors

The natural warmth and beauty of California redwood is now available in a low cost, quickly installed paneling. Nlarketed by The Pacific Lumber Company under the trade name PalcoFace, the new paneling is CRA certified kiln-dried 3/s" thick, clear all heart and A-grade redwood in mixed grain. The paneling is supplied with eased edges, smooth surface on one side, resa'rvn texture on the other. It may be installed with either the smooth or saw textured face exposed.

Installation is by nailing or mastic and, because the paneling is light and easy to handle, it goes up fast in either new or remodeling jobs. Palco-Face is packaged in specified lengths of 7',8', 9 and l0': oanel widths'.ry'. g' and 8". lnformation about installation of the new paneling is available from The Pacific Lumber Company, 100 Bush Street, San Francisco, California.

Mr.