Selling Home Remodeling

By Geotgu M. Hansen \flest Coast Lutbetmen's Association

The opportunists among retail lumber dealers have a potential bonanza at hand in the current popularity of home remodeling. An understanding oI some of the factors involved might make a difference in the closing of a substantial sale.

Remodeling can be the answer to dissatisfaction with an existing home. It need not be expensive unless major structural changes are required. If the home, or portion of a home to be remodeled is of rvood. the problem is simplified because no other material combines strength, ease of working, beauty, and economy to an equal degree.

The criterion, of course, wil be the cost to achieve what is wanted. The desired results may be resale, keeping up with the neighborhood, or more likely just filling the needs and desires of the family for better appearance and comfort or more space.

Of all remodeling, that which changes only the external appearance is the easiest and least expensive. The frame of a well arranged wood house does not get old. Our housing habits have remained stable for many years. What does change are the parts we see, and a remarkable job of modernizing can be accomplished by removing the decorative "gingerbread"' from an old house and installing' new windows and woodwork, some modern "natural" paneling, light fixtures, kitchen cabinets, siding, and refinishing the good solid wood floors. In the case of extremely high ceilings, it might be more "fashionable" as well as conserving of heat to install a lower false ceiling. Styles have changed in gardens, too, so it may be that a face-lifting with handsome wood siding and modern window frames will be better set off with some landscaPing.

A distinctive feature of wood construction is that the old and new wood become alike with a fresh coat of paint. \Arhether the remodeler uses the new "natural" finishes or pigmented paint in the sophisticated new colors, no material is so versatile and paintable as wood.

finished structure, or room arrangements in the original house. Changes in the basic franreu'ork likel1- r'ill l;e involved and care must be takeu not to u'eaken the altered portion.

Space may be added upstairs, in the basement. through a new wing, or by rearranging existing partitions so as to better use the space available.

If the plan is to add a room or tu-o by finishing an attic. the major limiting factors will be a stairway and the height of the attic ,ceiling. Usually the extra rooms are destined for growing children and a stairn'av is much preferred over' folding ladders, etc. which may be hard to reach or hard to use. If the attic ceiling is low, extra height can be achieved by following the gable line insteacl of maintaining a completely flat ceiling. Ceiling height can be added literally by "raising the roof." Tliis is expensive, hos'ever. and practical only u'hen needed space cannot be added any other way.

Attics sometimes require more light and dormers offer a solution when the roof line permits. \\rhile it is comparatively easy to add a clormer, they do require careful rvorkmanship so as to preclude leakage.

New rooms in attic space are comparatively easv to l-reat in lr'inter because the attic floor x.ill be u'armed bv dorvnstairs heat. Outside heat in the summer months can be troublesome unless adequate insulation is pror.ided under the roof and in the sidewalls. Of course, the insulation should have the vapor barrier on the room side so as to keep condensation in the walls to a minimum. The otherwise useless space on the lotv sides can be converted into much valuable drawe; or shelf storage space.

The basement offers another source for ner,v rooms. Since basements are usually partially ltelon' ground level, the new rooms made are more suitable for party rooms, hobby shops or clens that don't require much outside rvindow illumination.

The primary requirement for finishing such extra rooms

Adding space usually is more difficult because of limit- is a dry and damp proof basement. Nerv compounds and ing factors such as size of lot, need for symmetry of the paints for stopping leaks in concrete and sealing out damp-