) i Ae 7 Ww provement Council. ‘“This is the thirtieth consecu- tive year of growth for the home improvement industry,’ states Anderson, who also heads Alcoa Building Products, Inc., ‘‘and every indication points toward continued growth.’ The practice of ‘‘selling-up”’ is giving way to the psychology of ‘‘don’t move—improve,’’ as homeowners realize that addi- tions, alterations and major re- placements can transform a home to match a lifestyle. Energy costs, too, are en- couraging home improvements. Homeowners facing rapidly es- calating fuel bills are updating their homes’ energy efficiency through remodeling, often combining projects of aesthetic and practical nature. ‘“‘In addition to providing comfort and decreasing energy expenses, such improvements can often increase the resale value of a home,’’ adds Ander- son. Add to this the fact that ap- proximately 34 million single family homes in the U.S. are at least 17 years old, and you have the additional demand to sub- stantiate Anderson’s expecta- tion that the industry will grow another 10 percent in 1981. As with all burgeoning professions, there are a few querading as reputable home improvement contractors. To determine whether a con- tractor is'a qualified profes- sional, the National Home Im- provement Council, largest pro- fessional association in the re- modeling industry, recom- mends that homeowners contact at least three professionals with established places of business. Make sure the contractor is financially stable, willing to supply the names of satisfied customers and, as an added pre- caution, check with your local Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce. Demanding the highest stan- dards of workmanship and ethi- cal conduct is your right, ac- cording to the Council. NHIC members, for example, are pledged to follow a strict Code of Ethics, assuring consumers of ‘‘the highest standards of frankness, integrity and respon- sibility.’ For most Americans, electric- ity is as mysterious as ESP. But like most complex things, it is really simple when you understand it. The problem ings and wiring diagrams that will help you understand more about your home’s electrical, system and how you can per- form many jobs yourself. If the shingles or shakes on your roof show a great deal of wear, as evidenced by splits, breakage, curled edges or an ex- treme loss of the protective granules found on asphalt shing- - les, it’s time to re-roof your home. Fortunately for today’s homeowners, there is a wide array of materials, colors, styles and textures to choose from when re-roofing. This choice lets homeowners enhance the appearance of their home and control costs. Among the most popular roofing materials, reports the National Home Improvement Council, are asphalt composi- tion shingles and wood shakes or shingles. The sooner you repair or re- place a damaged roof, the less likely your home is to suffer ex- pensive structural damage, warns NHIC. The trade association, which has chapters in most states, re- minds homeowners that al- though re-roofing involves con- siderable expense, a high qual- ity roofing job can last up to twenty-five years, which should be considered when choosing materials and a contractor. . 0, AG il Ever wonder if you and your home improvement contractor are speaking the same lan- guage? New techniques and tech- nologies have created some con- fusing terminology. To help keep the public from being puz- zled, the National Home Im- provement Council has pre- pared the following glossary: Berm —a bank of earth, usu- ally piled against a wall for natural insulation. Conduction—the unaided transmission of heat. Convection—the transfer of heat by circulation of a fluid. Double Glazed Glass—two panes of glass positioned in a frame allowing the air space be- tween them to form an insulat- ing barrier. Heat Gain—heat acquired from direct sunlight or from heat given off by people, appliances or equipment. Heat Loss—the loss of heat in a space due to heat escape through windows, walls, floor tion or radiation. Insulation—material used to prevent heat gain or loss. : Rehab— an abbreviated form of rehabilitate; to return a struc- ture to productive use by mak- ing improvements. Remodel —to update a struc- ture by altering its interior or ex- terior. Restoration—to restore a structure to its original state, paying particular attention to ar- chitectural and design details of the period in which it was built® Retrofit—to modify a struc- ture so as to incorporate ener- gy-saving features. R-Value—a number measur- ing material’s ability to resist the flow of heat through it. 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