"Should I sell this house,remodel it or tear it down?" If you are wrestling with this question then you've already determined that something about your house is not quite right. And chances are good the problems you've identified and the issues you'd like to address are significant and fundamental to the home, otherwise remodeling would probably be your answer. Although making a big decision like this can be difficult, it also can be an interesting adventure. It requires balancing your heart and emotion with practical decision making. You'll find it to be a very personal decision because often there is no obvious answer.
The decision making process requires completing an assessment of your home and heart to determine the best solution for you and your family. You'll get the best results if you partner early in the process with a design and build professional who has both remodeling and custom home building experience. A good professional will help bring perspective while objectively guiding you through the design and build process. 

In pursuit of the best solution for your home, begin by fully identifying all of your needs and desires currently not met by your home. Typically this list includes a combination of practical problems and lifestyle improvements. The practical issues might include fixing all of the old and drafty windows or addressing the leaking foundation. Lifestyle improvements are issues that you don't like about the home, such as incorrect flow from room to room or a kitchen that isn't conducive to your style of cooking or your entertaining lifestyle. Sometimes you'll find that the entire home is simply antiquated for modern living; maybe the hallways are too narrow,the rooms too boxy, the staircases too steep or maybe the overall layout is just not right for today's modern family. Consider everything. During this early phase it is important to get everything on the table to ensure the critical issues are thought-through and solved by your ultimate decision. 

From here you can begin to look at each of the three solutions in greater detail. Whether you should sell your home and buy a new one ultimately is a value decision that is driven by the current real estate market situation and availability. We're not going to spend much more time on this option; other than to say, if you can sell the home that is not right for you and purchase one that is better suited for your family, that would be a prudent decision if you are not personally tied to your current neighborhood. If however, you cannot find anything in the right neighborhood with the character, personality and features you desire, you probably are faced with the remodel or tear down question.

Once you've decided that you want to stay where you are, it's time to look deeper within the house to determine which path you should pursue. You've identified the functional and lifestyle issues your home presents, now you need to determine the state of your home's bones. Are the mechanical systems in good working order? Do you have old plumbing or is it new? What about the heating and air conditioning, electrical, the roof, siding, windows, foundation, landscape, etc? During this time you should also look into health related issues of the home including mold, lead paint, asbestos and more. It is important to know the condition of all these elements before making a decision to remodel your home.

With the guidance of your design and build professional, you will proceed through your analysis until the path of best choice becomes clear. Some "rules of thumb" to consider; if your existing room sizes and locations are fine but you need more space, you're probably leaning more towards remodeling with an addition. If however, your existing rooms are problematic, you may be leaning more towards a tear down. Also, if you've determined through your analysis and assessment that you may need to "touch" or alter at least 50% of the existing house, you also may want to consider a tear down more seriously. The 50% threshold is only a ballpark figure and will vary for each home and homeowner, but depending on the condition and age of the 50% you're not remodeling, you may find more value in starting over.

Regardless of whether you choose to tear down or remodel, it is important to understand that the cost for each can fluctuate fairly dramatically because of all the variables. Unfortunately, there is no "rule of thumb" as it relates to cost; sometimes a tear down will cost more, sometimes a remodel will cost more, sometimes it will be a wash-it all depends on who you work with and what you want for your home. If during your analysis you find that one approach is more expensive than the other, you need to determine if the added features and benefits provided by this option are worth it to you. Tearing down and building new will allow you to start fresh and accomplish everything you've ever wanted. Also consider the long term added value of custom new construction, both in terms of the customized living space you will enjoy today and the resale value of a newer house tomorrow (versus the value of a more dated structure). However, tear downs present limitations as well; mainly relating to city code such as height restrictions, lot coverage, set-back and more. It is quite possible that if you tear down your current house, you would not be able to rebuild one as large or in the same position because once the existing structure is removed, you must work completely within the current zoning standards. Most codes are more strict today than they were when your home was originally built. As a result, many of today's homes, especially those in older neighborhoods, could not be built new under today's codes. Your analysis and due diligence will allow you to understand all of these parameters before you make your decision.

Usually at a certain point during the assessment of your home you will have gained clarity on the best path to pursue. Although you almost always can make a case for either decision, the right path for you should become clear. You will look at all of your needs, you'll consider the options and impacts of both tearing down and remodeling and then you'll select the approach that is best for your family, your lifestyle and your home. It is a decision based on evaluation of the facts and the opportunities presented by each approach. 

Once the decision is made the real adventure begins. When you begin your project you will be presented with another set of decisions to make. Whether you remodel or tear down to build new, the key is to select a design and build professional that can help you translate who you are as a family into your new dream home. If you decide to tear down, a word of caution; many classic neighborhoods are being compromised by people who simply select a house they like from a model home tour or new development and build it into the neighborhood without regard for the history or context of the surrounding homes. The best new home "in-fill" construction is that which looks as if it has always been there. If it stands out like a sore thumb, the neighborhood has been compromised and the tear down has failed. Don't simply pick a layout that you like and plop it in your neighborhood; design finesse and sensibility is key for you,your new home and the legacy of your neighborhood.

Rest assured that the decision you make will be right for you and your family. When faced with a decision such as "should I sell, remodel or tear down," each person will come to a different conclusion based on their values, dreams, family situation and neighborhood. Have fun with the process by clearly identifying your objectives and looking beyond your preconceived ideas. Your sense of adventure and individuality will allow you to see beyond what your home is now. You'll be able to see what it can be. Enjoy the journey!

Mark Peterson is the principal and chief designer at M|A|Peterson Designbuild in Edina. The company was named the 2002 "National Contractor of the Year" by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

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Whether you are starting to remodel this fall or are simply dreaming about remodeling sometime in the future, you will want to look at the advice our experts have given to us. These quality construction companies and remodeling specialists will help you do things right the first time. Good planning is the key to a successful remodeling project and these experts can steer you in the right direction. They know from experience what things you should be considering and that can be invaluable to you in avoiding mistakes and getting exactly what you want from your remodeling project.

Lake Country Buildershas been building and remodeling in the metropolitan area for years.In addition they now offer the same design and build services in the Brainerd lakes area. The most attractive part of this new division is that you can work with their designers in the metro area on a day to day basis,while they worry about all of the workings going on up north. Building and remodeling in these two different geographic areas brings along different problems and desires. We asked two architectural designers at Lake Country Builderswhat things people should consider when designing their project. Bob Near and James Croft have noticed a lot of differences as they do design work in the two areas. Often times lake homes here in the metro area are a primary residence while homes in the north are a secondary residence used mainly as a retreat. The function of the home is the main thing to consider when you are building or remodeling.Our experts offer you the following list of things to think about when building or remodeling a lake home.

Metropolitan or Urban Lake Homes Function is first Great room area for daily family living Convenience is a priority More refined More contemporary More arches and gables View is a priority More service entries with mudrooms and storage Attached garage Kitchen accessible from garage for day to day use More amenities Efficiency is a priority Gourmet kitchens More curb appeal More gas fireplaces More closet and storage space

Up North Family retreat and congregating place (instead of living space) Goal is to relax or have fun (instead of function) More creature comforts Open floor plan,but not overly dramatic Great room for family and extended family Detached garage used mainly for boat & toy storage Needs gathering space & a space to retreat to for privacy More basic kitchens (less roll out shelves,knife drawers,etc.) Less closets & storage (aside from garage space) More rustic,more logs More trapezoid windows More lake appeal than curb appeal Functional,central entry that everyone uses Bigger premium on land, views and trees

  

Michael Anderson,founder of Storganize (previously called Glenwood Design), has been outfitting homes with storage equipment for 19 years. That is long enough to see trends and needs change. These days people have way more "stuff" than they know what to do with. He has found that the most common desire of people when it comes to storage is to have their "stuff" behind closed doors. But you also need to combine this desire with the need to be able to see everything housed within the storage unit. That way it will be quick and easy to find what you need. He emphasizes the fact that everyone has differing needs and space availability so there is not one single solution that will work for everyone, therefore an expert coming to the site will produce the most benefit, and create the best personal solution. Here are some suggestions from the professionals at Storganize:

Don't Clean Yet, Call First

• Consult a professional to save you time, effort and most of all space
• Let the storage designer see things as they are currently in order to assess your storage needs; don't clean before they come
• Take inventory of your stuff; decide which things you use vs. what is simply there, and part with whatever you are able
• Store the things you use close at hand so they can easily be found when needed; the rest can be stored in less accessible places
• Choose the design that suits your personal life (no wasted space)
• Use quality products so they will last a lifetime
• Boats and Water Toys
• Try to house these bulky items in a garage,as their own storage unit would be too big and expensive
• Try hanging canoes, windsurfers, and paddles on racks
• House all smaller items inside of storage units to avoid pile ups on your larger items, thus making everything difficult to find and use

Closets 

• Consider using a small "extra" room as a closet in older homes
• Have a multiple purpose room such as an office/closet combination or a craft area/closet
• Use regular shaped spaces; this will result in better storage than irregular shapes
• Be sure that the built-ins you choose are adjustable so you can move things around as needed

Built-Ins
Built-ins can be the key to good storage as they hide things from sight so your space won't feel cluttered. They open easily, and the contents are easy to view and access. Mudrooms, laundry rooms, garages, under the stairs, and, of course, your current closet can all offer a place for built-ins. Whether it's for all the items in the garage, your entertainment equipment, the lake toys,o r the home office, built-ins can provide you with an easy way to stay organized!

Chuck Reese, owner of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, is passionate about what he and his company can do for their client's lake properties. His locally owned and operated company (but backed by a national organization) can offer you many ways to enhance your lake property and quite possibly give you the highest impact home improvement for your dollar. In addition to the usual lighting objectives: security, safety, and curb appeal, he also helps people to go farther with their lighting; creating outdoor living spaces, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and extending their view. He told us his philosophy about lighting, "It's not about the fixture, it's about the effect and the function." The possibilities of what good lighting can do are endless.

Chuck begins by meeting with the client and discussing their objectives. He really listens to them and asks many questions to figure out exactly what the client is looking to accomplish with their lights. Is it curb appeal they want? Are they looking for safety with lighted steps or other hazardous areas? Is it security against intruders they are after? Do they want to create a certain atmosphere? Would they like to create an outdoor living space? After much discussion he creates a plan and lights the client's property with a portable system so they can actually see what the finished product will look like. Then they make any adjustments to finalize plans. That way there are no surprises when the project is complete. He offered us the following advice on specialty lighting.

Creating An Outdoor Living Space

• Choose a focal point for your space; this can be a water feature, a tree, or a sculpture
• Light the focal point to enhance it, not to compete with it or detract from it
• Think of the space as a painting or photograph with varying light levels in order to highlight what you want and minimize what you don't want
• Try to see the space as a room, using shrubs or trees as walls, a canopy of trees as the ceiling, and openings as windows
• Make guests comfortable by lighting paths and walkways
• Use soft ambient light on patios,pools and decks
• Use only enough light to walk safely and see people's faces,but not so much that it gets in people's eyes or attracts insects
• Think about the view from the indoors
• Think about the view from the lake
• Consider competing light from neighbors or streetlights

Special Considerations for Lake Homes

• Remember steep inclines and steps should be lit for safety
• Be sure to light the approach to the dock for sure footing
• Consider lighting the dock itself
• Consider lighting your boathouse
• Check the view of your home from the lake and adjust lighting accordingly

And as a final note Chuck addressed the approaching feeling of cabin fever that comes with fall and winter. As the days get shorter things can become depressing. Creating an outdoor space with lights will extend your view on long dark nights. Where windows can create a black wall on a dark night,outdoor lights can create a scenic outdoor space. The expanded view will help alleviate your cabin fever in addition to making your home a warm, inviting, safe haven!

Wood flooring is hot and getting hotter. The latest trend is wide plank;the wider the better. And people are no longer looking for perfection in their wood, they are looking for age, distress, and the beauty of imperfection. Recovered timber that is milled into wide plank flooring is what people are after.

Manomin Resawn Timbers is a twelve- year-old, local company that retrieves timber from old buildings across the country, custom mills that timber, and installs it into high-end homes. There is a much higher degree of craftsmanship involved in this flooring causing the price to be higher than regular hard wood flooring. Builders and customers believe it's worth the extra cost because the floors produced are truly one of a kind.

While most hard wood floors are anywhere from one inch to six inches wide with a seven foot board length, reclaimed timber can be up to ten inches in width and as long as twenty feet. This huge width adds a lot of character to the end product. In addition, the timber is older, stronger and more stable because it was allowed to dry naturally. For this reason it can be milled into a wider plank. Newer wood milled at this width would crack and shrink causing problems down the road; it doesn't have the advantage of age. Also, the older trees have tighter ring structures further adding to the strength and beauty of the flooring. It is even possible to put this sturdy product in a basement right over cement as long as there is no moisture. There is no need to float the floor as you would need to with modern wood flooring.

Besides the greater width, reclaimed timber has a more distressed, antique look. It is a more exotic floor with many variations and a lot of character and is able to fit into many different styles of homes, from New England style cottages to timber frame or log homes. Its ability to fit into so many styles is what makes this flooring so popular in both upscale homes and cabins throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin.

  

This high quality flooring involves a great deal of craftsmanship in its making and installation. Manomin Resawn Timber likes to work with the home builder as well as the client; that way installation occurs at the right time. For example, this flooring should go right under the kitchen cabinets if possible. And when re-rocking a fireplace, the boards can slide right into a gap underneath the hearth for a proper fit and a better look. It is also important to get the newly-installed floor covered with red rosin paper or a thin board upon completion. That way the finished floor will be protected from any damage during the rest of the building and finishing of the home.

Like most trends, people are finding out about this product by word of mouth. Interior designers and builders alike can help you find this beautiful "not new" flooring. Once you see it, you'll know there's nothing else like it.

As you drive throughout the beautiful areas in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin you can't help but notice the distinctive log homes sitting majestically atop hills and along lakeshores. Their warm and rustic looks conjure up images of a relaxing and grounded lifestyle. Nearly everyone that sees these homes dreams of owning one someday.

Kuepers Construction, Inc. is a design/build firm in the Brainerd Lakes area with almost 30 years of experience in residential and commercial construction. Bruce Weaver of Kuepers helped to educate us about the different types of building materials being used for log homes.

Milled Log Siding

This siding material is milled from lumber to look like a log, and is available in several sizes and an array of styles. While the corner applications are limited due to the size of the material used, this product can achieve a rustic, warm look at a relatively low material cost.

Full Log Home

This is the traditional, time honored type of log home. Homeowners building this type of home can choose from various wood species and log shapes to fit their taste, and in addition, there are many different corner applications that can be used to achieve various looks with these homes. It is, however, very important that these logs are cut with great precision and care so as to not compromise their structural integrity.

Another point to consider when using this type of construction is the drying method. Kiln drying is a faster method, but can potentially compromise the wood cells, while air drying, although a lengthy process, allows the logs to dry in a natural time frame resulting in a high structural integrity. The drying process is very important because there may be shrinkage of the logs after construction is complete resulting in potential maintenance issues.

Half-Log Construction

According to Bruce, this is the most popular type of log home being built today. The appearance of half-log siding is virtually indistinguishable from full log siding. It gives the homeowner all of the exterior characteristics of a full log home, and allows for a variety of interior finishes to be used. This ability to use various finishes,including sheetrock, is very attractive to homeowners. Half-log siding also offers the benefit of higher energy efficiency as it can be insulated with fiberglass. Due to its appearance, energy efficiency, and elimination of shrinkage concerns, it is easy to see why this is the most popular option. In fact, this type of construction is even being used in renovation projects to give homes and cabins beautiful facelifts.

For many of us building a log home is the realization of a long awaited dream, so weigh these construction choices carefully and don't compromise on quality materials and craftsmanship. But don't dream too long;costs are rising at an average rate of over five percent per year! No matter what your taste or budget, it is possible for you to enjoy the lifestyle of a log home for many years to come.

Jeff Danberry has enough experience and knowledge on remodeling homes to make the Danberry Companyone of the top players in whole-home remodel projects. As the Twin Cities' population continues to grow, and space for new homes becomes more limited, more and more people are choosing to remodel. When spending the large dollar amounts that are often necessary for these projects, it is important that you can trust the company you choose to give good advice and do quality work. One of the remodeling trends Jeff has noticed is the desire to blend the newer parts of a home with the older parts. The desire for consistency leads many homeowners to extend their remodeling projects farther than their original plans. Putting in an updated kitchen often leads to continuing with a mudroom; new siding often means updating windows; even something as simple as new countertops can lead to new cabinets.

Jeff offers the following advice when beginning a remodeling project:

• Interview 2-3 remodeling companies and ask for examples of previous work
• Give a dollar amount that you have budgeted to the contractor
• Choose the person you trust and feel good about
• Get preliminary figures on the project
• Investigate financing options
• Ask for what you want out of the project
• Check zoning and city codes before spending money on drawings
• Be sure to save money for some "fun" things in the project so that you're happy with the final result

Mistakes to avoid:

• Getting designs done prior to setting a budget
• Having plans drawn up without a contractor's help (This often results in drawings that are overpriced and may not be possible.)
• Spending money on drawings that end up wasted because the project wound up being too expensive (Again, set the budget early in the process.)

  

Jeff also brought some interesting facts to light such as: 95% of the people who remodel end up wanting to do more. That is a good indicator that people are happy with their remodeling results. Many people also end up spending 20-30% over their original projections, not because the contractor did a poor projection, but because the client decided to do more and the project grew. Interestingly enough, people are always happy after the project is done and would do it again if given the chance.

The Remodelor's Showcase in early October will feature a remodeled home (shown on this page) done by the Danberry Company. Jeff has been both President of the Remodelor's Council during the mid-1980's and the Chairman of the Remodelor's Showcase in the early 1990's. This show offers an opportunity to anyone thinking of remodeling to see the work of both the Danberry Company and other remodeling companies throughout the Twin Cities.

To see a continuation of this article, search for "Hockey Player and Family Sign Long-Term" or click here

By Mark Peterson

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