Customer Reviews

Remodel! An Architect's Advice on Home Renovation

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This book gives you step by step instructions - to the point of including samples of phone questionnaires, Request for Proposal letters, the agenda for the architect interview, etc. It tells you how to interview for an architect and a contractor, and what to expect at each stage of the remodeling process. It relies heavily on formal AIA procedures, but if you're investing a lot in a renovation and you're new to remodeling, the AIA procedures are probably the best way to go. If you read just one book about remodeling, I recommend this one! (Too bad it's out of print.) I also recommend Rusk's On Time On Budget for more good info (but Rusk does not give all the details that Gibson gives).

ReModel seemed to strike a perfect balance between an instructional/guide book and a series of mini-case histories. This combination provided a great source of information for me as a homeowner who has added a large addition to my existing house. It helped me understand/prepare for the design and construction process. I imagine everyone undertaking an addition has differing needs and seeks out different sources of info, but reading ReModel was a welcome break from browsing web pages and blogs on how to build an addition. It had a tone and a pace to it that made it easy for me to picture the process of dealing with adding on to my house. It had a few areas that Gibson writes about that helped my project directly:

Use redlines (architect and customer revisions of drawings in progress) as a communication tool.
Gibson advises that the use of vinyl siding is inevitable because it is cheap and easy to install but the trim can be its weak point. We discussed this with our builder and came up with a way to hide the trim with some wood outside corners, glad I knew about that from the book.

As a first-time homeowner grappling with the prospect of a mid-level, whole-house renovation this summer, I scoured my local library in search on any and every book I could find on home renovations. Unfortunately, many non-DIY books seem to concentrate on new home construction vs. the remodeling of existing homes. REMODEL!: AN ARCHITECT'S ADVICE ON HOME RENOVATION is one of the volumes I located that falls into the latter category.

In REMODEL!, author and architect Greg Gibson shares his advice for homeowners who wish undertake a home renovation (particularly additions). He covers the process from start to finish, including hiring and working with architects, designers, and general and subcontractors. The discussion runs the gamut, from interview questions to the necessity of contracts and shopping for fixtures and furnishings.

While Gibson does offer many helpful hints, his writing style is somewhat scattered and disjointed. Too often, the text takes the form of a rambling conversation rather than a concise how-to guide. The author's predilection for analogies and clichés is a bit disconcerting after awhile, and he has a tendency towards tangents. Additionally, a number of photos are sprinkled throughout the book - but more often than not, they have little-to-nothing to do with the topic at hand. Sometimes, they fill an entire page or group of pages; other times, a small paragraph of text is wedged under or between photos. As a result, I found myself flipping back and forth through the chapters, trying to figure out where the book's text picked back up after a section of photos. Annoying, to say the least.

Overall, the book just doesn't flow well. It's hard to articulate, but there's also something a bit off-putting about Gibson's tone. Look closely, and you'll find all sorts of jabs and digs in REMODEL!, be they at fellow architects and designers, general contractors, subcontractors, or past clients. Sure, they may have been well-deserved and presented as a cautionary tale for the reader, but they didn't have to be served up in such a bitter fashion. Just sayin'.

If you're thinking of hiring an architect or other design professional to spearhead your home renovation, REMODEL! is probably worth a look. At the very least, it offers a glimpse into the mind of an architect. This, in fact, is REMODEL!'s greatest strength - giving you, the homeowner, and idea of what to expect (and what is expected of you) when working with a home design pro. In terms of vetting general contractors, choosing a design scheme, financing a home reno, and other aspects of home remodeling, I've seen better books on the subject.