Two of HighCraft's design team (Jennifer & Bryan) recently completed course work and training for CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist). This is a relatively new program established by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in collaboration with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

Remodeling
Success 101

Q: How do contractors achieve a "random" pattern using aggregate or veneer stone?

A: Manufacturers of aggregate and veneer stone and brick products work hard to provide remodelers and trades people with an accurate level of color and texture variation when they order these products. They also suggest patterns to achieve more authentic or random applications. Manufacturers may also offer installation training to ensure that remodelers and homeowners get the results they want.

Professional remodelers enjoy the challenge of improving older homes while maintaining their architectural character. It's a delicate balance, requiring both artistry and the skill that comes from experience. The result, however, is a remodeled home that serves modern lifestyle needs but retains treasured design value.

Part of achieving that balance is using finish materials and products that match those of the existing house. Frequently, older materials like those used on the exterior of the original house are either no longer available or can't provide the type of performance that homeowners or remodelers demand. New materials are easier to maintain and more cost effective than duplicating the labor-intensive features of a former time. The trick for the remodeler is to find modern materials that support and blend with an older home's character and existing finishes.

Professional remodelers make a point of becoming familiar with the latest materials and methods that allow them to meet homeowner demand for authentic but low-maintenance design features with long-term value, such as:

• Beaded ceilings. Using beaded laminate panels measuring 4x8 feet, remodeling contractors can achieve a dramatic, authentic look on porch and interior ceilings. These panels go up faster than the thin, individual wood planks used originally for such ceilings, thus protecting the client's budget for both material and labor.

• Trim. Molded rigid foam (called polyethylene) creates deep, perfectly formed interior and exterior trim pieces in any profile, saving the materials and labor required to piecemeal (or build out) wood trim by hand or the cost of hiring a plaster craftsman.

• Brick and stone. Veneer (or thin) bricks and stones in just about any color and style weigh less and require no extra structural support while providing the look, feel, and permanence of the real thing. Aggregate or composite stone also weighs far less and is easier to handle than real stone for accents on exterior facades, fireplace mantels, or other surfaces.

• Clapboard or shingle siding. While real wood siding or shingles require frequent maintenance, fiber-cement and other composite wood or synthetic materials deliver long-lasting performance and good looks. These new materials also are made in panels, rather than individual boards, to speed installation and reduce construction costs.

• Wood flooring and paneling. You may have noticed that the beautiful wood floor in your grandmother's house showed gaps between the boards in dry weather and was likely to squeak. Modern wood floors that are engineered and factory-finished significantly reduce warping when seasons change and eliminate the need to periodically sand and refinish the planks to maintain their appearance. An 'engineered' wood floor means that a veneer of real wood has been pressure-laminated to a plywood substrate, providing the look of solid-wood flooring with the stability of plywood, at a fraction of the cost.

• Entry doors. Professional remodelers may turn to fiberglass entry (or front) doors to replicate the grain and species of real wood. The homeowner can easily maintain these doors. Unlike solid wood doors, fiberglass won't warp or peel, even in direct sunlight, and is insulated to deliver superior thermal qualities. Unlike steel doors, fiberglass won't dent.

These are just a few examples of how professional remodelers can meet their clients' desires for authenticity in their remodeled home. Materials and methods have improved to the point where few homeowners can tell the difference from the "real thing" except, perhaps, when they realize the money and time they've saved.

Warm regards,

info@highcraft.net
www.highcraft.net

c. 2007 All rights reserved.

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