ibrooklyn Park SPLIT VISIONS A PLANBOOK OF REMODELING i SPLIT-LEVEL AND SPLIT-ENTRY HOUSES BY ROBERT GERLOFF, AIA + JEREMIAH BATTLES

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1 Brooklyn Park Burnsvlle Crcle Pnes Coon Rapds Dakota County Golden Valley Hennepn County Maplewood Mounds Vew New Hope Plymouth Ramsey County Rosevlle Shorevew Washngton County SPLIT VISIONS A PLANBOOK OF REMODELING IDEAS FOR SPLIT-LEVEL AND SPLIT-ENTRY HOUSES BY ROBERT GERLOFF, AIA + JEREMIAH BATTLES

2 Cty of Maplewood Sponsors Mnnesota communtes of Cty of Brooklyn Park Economc Development Authorty Cty of Burnsvlle Cty of Crcle Pnes Cty of Coon Rapds Dakota County Communty Development Agency Cty of Golden Valley Hennepn County Department of Housng, Communty Works and Transt Cty of Mounds Vew Economc Development Authorty Cty of New Hope Economc Development Authorty Cty of Plymouth Ramsey County Communty and Economc Development Cty of Rosevlle HRA Cty of Shorevew Brooklyn Park EDA Washngton County Housng and Redevelopment Authorty Contrbutors Platnum: Wells Fargo Bank Mnnesota, N.A. Gold: Bremer Bank REALTOR Publc Polcy Partnershp Slver: Mnnesota Archtectural Foundaton Bronze: Campbell Knutson, Attorneys at Law CenterPont Energy Mnnegasco Communty Revtalzaton Resources Ehlers & Assocates Inc. Greater Metropoltan Housng Corporaton Holmes & Assocates, Ltd. Kennedy & Graven, Chartered North Amercan Bankng Company ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Premer Banks Ramsay Development Corporaton The Remodelors Councl of the Twn Ctes SM U.S. Bank Home Mortgage Western Bank SPECIAL THANKS TO Executve Commttee: Stace Kvlvang, Char (Ehlers & Assocates) Jenn Tovar (Cty of Burnsvlle) Marjore Mangne (Cty of Brooklyn Park) Cheryl Bennett (Cty of Coon Rapds) Cathy Bennett (Cty of Rosevlle HRA) Ken Doresky (Cty of New Hope) Barbara Dacy (Washngton County HRA) ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN Robert Gerloff Resdental Archtects Robert Gerloff, AIA and Jeremah Battles 47 Sherdan Avenue South, Mnneapols, MN / rgerloff@resdentalarchtects.com / jbattles@resdentalarchtects.com ARCHITECTURE AND WATERCOLORS Peter J. Musty Archtecture and Urban Desgn CharretteCenter Inc Hennepn Avenue South, Ste 27, Mnneapols, MN / petermusty@charrettecenter.com GRAPHIC DESIGN Bran Donahue / be desgn, nc Lyndale Avenue South, Mnneapols, MN / bran-bedesgn@mn.rr.com EDITING AND PROOFREADING Lynette Lamb / lynettelamb@earthlnk.net WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT Mke Musty / mkemusty@charrettecenter.com 1

3 2 INTRO DUCTION WHO INVENTED THE SPLIT? We don t know precsely who nvented the house type we now call the splt-level (or ts common varant, the splt-entry), but we do know the splt frst appeared n the Chcago area durng the 193s. Modern Homes, a Sears & Roebuck planbook publshed n 1935, ncluded several houses wth all the trats of the contemporary splt-level: lvng spaces a half-flght of stars up from the garage level, bedrooms stacked over the garage a half-flght up from the lvng level, and a half-basement level wth daylght wndows. It took some tme before planbook edtors, bulders, and homeowners settled on a name for ths new house type. Sears tred callng them modern homes, but that name ddn t stck. Other early names ncluded mult-level homes, hllsde homes, and splanches (splt-level ranches). By the late 194s, just as the post-wwii buldng boom was gearng up, the term splt-level became wdely accepted. From ther modest begnnngs n Chcago, splts spread rapdly across the Mdwest and other northern states, though the house type s also found throughout the Unted States and Canada. Splts were an alternatve to the Cape Cods and ramblers that had domnated post-wwii suburbs. Because they were bult on dfferent levels wthout a full basement, they cost less to buld than ranches. And whle they were only a storyand-a-half, they had the presence of a two-story home. Splts also offered a unque separaton of socal space, wth bedrooms perched a half-story above the formal lvng space, and the nformal lvng space found a half-story below. The splt was desgned to appeal to a new generaton of homeowners, and t caught on quckly. WHAT IS A SPLIT? Splts are unque for the way n whch they dvde the lvng spaces nto multple levels, shakng up the tradtonal Amercan housng pattern of formal rooms on the man level, wth bedrooms upstars and a full basement below. Three factors drove ths break wth tradton. Frst, home buyers were demandng more square footage n houses, but lots weren t gettng any wder. Stackng the bedrooms over the garage was a smple way to squeeze a larger house onto a lot. Second, home buyers were lookng for houses wth a more substantal presence. Ranches, however effcent, just ddn t have the same emotonal appeal as the tradtonal two-story Colonal, or even the story-and-a-half Cape Cod. Splts look more substantal. Thrd, and most mportant, bulders n the Mdwest were seekng ways to mnmze the costs of excavatng full basements. WHY IS A SPLIT A SPLIT? Splttng the house nto dfferent levels was a clever way to mnmze excavaton and smplfy footngs and foundaton walls, and hence reduce constructon costs. In southern states, where wnters are warm, ranch houses can be bult on smple (and nexpensve) slab-on-grade foundatons. In northern states, however, houses are bult on stable frost footngs, contnuous strps of concrete poured safely below the depth of typcal frost penetraton. Splttng the house allows a garage slab to be at grade, a basement level to st a half-flght below grade, and both to st on frost footngs, safe from wnter heavng (see llustraton). In other words, the splt desgn s drven more by constructon expedency than by desgn ntent. Ths half-basement has addtonal advantages. It s less expensve to dg, for example. It also allows for taller wndows, makng for brghter, sunner bedrooms (though splt-level basement bedrooms stll aren t deal). And because t s only a half level away from the lvng levels, t seems more lke part of the house. In other words t s a basement that sn t really a basement. THE splt-level HOME PEAKED IN THE 195S AND HAS CONTINUED TO QUIETLY PROSPER EVER SINCE.

4 WHAT S A SPLIT-LEVEL AND WHAT S A SPLIT-ENTRY? Two dstnctly dfferent house types the splt-level and the splt-entry are lumped together under the general descrpton of splt. A typcal splt-level home has three or more dstnct areas of lvng space, each separated by a half level. For example, the garage and famly room are on the lower level, wth the prvate bedroom area drectly above t. Halfway between, located vertcally and adjacent to these spaces, s the formal lvng area, whch brngs the three spaces together. Any house wth three or more dstnct lvng areas s a splt-level. A typcal splt-entry home has two dstnct floors stacked on top of one another, connected by a flght of stars, much lke a ranch house rased halfway out of the ground. The front entry, however, s located at the halfway pont between the two levels, hence the term splt-entry. Any house where the man entry s on a separate level from the rest of the house s a splt-entry. HOW DID WE SELECT THE HOUSES? The three types of splts featured n ths book splt-entry short-faced, splt-entry longfaced, and splt-level tradtonal (see photos below) are the most common varatons bult n the Twn Ctes area. The names are purely descrptve and of our own devsng; they evolved as a tool to help dfferentate the nfnte number of varatons creatve bulders have desgned over the years (see photos on page 5). However dverse, splts share some smlar characterstcs: they re bult on two or three levels, have smple hp or gable roofs, are found on standard suburban stes (rarely on cty lots), and have front doors and garages facng the street. WHY DID WE CREATE THIS BOOK? Most of the splt-level and splt-entry homes bult n the nner-rng suburbs n the 194s, 5s, and 6s don t work well for today s lfestyles. They feel cramped, chopped up, and dark n comparson to most houses beng bult today. We have created ths book to help homeowners and potental buyers make ther homes more modern and lvable by offerng straghtforward, cost-effectve solutons to common splt problems dentfed on our web ste (see page 4). Our goal s to show homeowners a vson of how splts can be transformed wth a lttle thought, care, and cash. The book s dvded nto three sectons, one for each of the three most popular types of splt. For each type, we frst ntroduce the basc desgn, then show deas for how to expand the entry, mprove the facade to ncrease curb appeal, open up the man level, redesgn the basement, and better connect the house to the yard. Wherever possble, we show deas for remodelng the exstng house rather than addng on. Short sdebars scattered throughout the book answer common questons about such basc projects as how to rebuld a deck, replace a wndow, or add a freplace. In the fnal pages we dscuss how to start a remodelng project, ncludng tps on how to survve the remodelng process. Remodelng can be a tral, yet the benefts are many. Remodelng wll make your splt more effcent and lvable, lghter and arer, more attractve and welcomng. Remodelng wll also ncrease your house s appeal and market value. 3 Splt-Entry Short-faced Splt-Entry Long-faced Splt-Level Tradtonal

5 To gan a better understandng of how splts work and don t work, and what projects we should attempt, we started a webste amed at splt-level and splt-entry owners. The webste served as a place to post comments regardng splts. The webste succeeded beyond what we had ever magned. We receved wonderful comments from people throughout Mnnesota and across the country. On the webste we asked people to answer three specfc questons about lvng n a splt. The responses to these three questons would determne the desgn projects that we would undertake n ths book. The followng s a summary of the most common responses. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SPLIT-LEVEL HOME? The dstnct separaton of dfferent levels for dfferent uses. The bedrooms are n one area, the lvng room, dnng room, and ktchen are n another area, and the famly room and utlty rooms are n stll another. The basement doesn t seem lke a basement. Ths refers to the lower level beng only partally underground, thus allowng for larger wndows and more lght n the spaces. The open floor plan. Havng levels only a half a flght away makes the homes seem more open and connected. The open entry also adds to ths feelng. WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE ABOUT YOUR SPLIT-LEVEL HOME? The front entry s too small. There s not enough room on the landng and the coat closet s often cramped. There s a lack of storage and closet space. The bedroom closets are too small and there s lttle general storage. There are heatng problems and t s especally dffcult keepng a common temperature on all levels. There are too many stars. It s hard to brng n groceres and hard for the elderly to get around. The homes lack style and curb appeal. The fronts of the homes are often bland and the entres are subdued. 4 WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT YOUR SPLIT-LEVEL HOME? Enlarge the foyer/entry and make t easer to meet and greet guests. Increase the sze of the ktchen and make t more open. Improve the exteror appearance of the house, especally the front entry and the flat front. Add wndows and more natural lght to the ktchen, dnng room, entry, bathrooms, and basement. Create a master sute and a master bath. I GET THE FINISHED SPACE OF A TWO-STORY, MORE HEIGHTTHAN A ONE-STORY, BUT A LESS IMPOSING LOOK THAN A FULL TWO-STORY HOUSE. John from New Hope

6 WHAT IF MY HOUSE IS DIFFERENT? The photographs below show the three splt-level and splt-entry types we have chosen as models for ths book, along wth many of the common varatons found wthn each type. As you can see, houses that mght look very dfferent on the outsde can be structured very smlarly on the nsde. Two very dfferent words are used to descrbe houses: type and style. Type descrbes the general structure of a house. A ranch house, for example, s a type of house n whch all lvng s on one level. Style descrbes what the house looks lke. A ranch house, for example, can be wrapped wth Colonal- or Prare-style detalng and stll be a ranch. A splt-entry or splt-level s a house type, not a style. As you can see n the photographs below, the same house type can take on many dfferent styles. So f you can fnd a house n the photographs below that looks lke the type of house you re famlar wth, then you should concentrate on that house type n readng ths book, as the desgn deas n that secton wll be most applcable to your house, usually wth only mnor changes. SPLIT-ENTRY SHORT-FACED VARIATIONS Mounds Vew Burnsvlle Brooklyn Park Crcle Pnes Apple Valley Brooklyn Park SPLIT-ENTRY LONG-FACED VARIATIONS Burnsvlle Maplewood Oakdale Mounds Vew Shorevew Burnsvlle SPLIT-LEVEL VARIATIONS 5 Golden Valley New Hope Plymouth Coon Rapds Golden Valley Rosevlle

7 SPLIT-ENTRY SHORT-FACED Ths short-faced home s the most contemporary of the three homes chosen as models n ths book. Homes lke ths one are stll beng constructed today because the desgn s so economcal to buld. What makes ths home type unque s that all socal spaces lvng, dnng, and ktchen are at the back of the house, whle all the bedrooms face the street. Ths home has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage. FRONT ELEVATION "BEFORE" SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") The two roof forms come together n an awkward way. The house has two smple but low-ptched gable roofs orented perpendcularly to each other. The wndows on the upper and lower levels are stacked or algned, wth a problematc gutter (or empty vertcal space) runnng down the mddle. 6 Before from the street The garage s set back from the front of the house, but the huge garage door stll domnates the facade. The front door s set back more deeply than the garage door, makng t almost nvsble. The upper level cantlevers over the lower level, a trck to gan more square footage wthout buldng more foundaton. A brck veneer base extends across the front of the house. THE ENTRYWAY IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM. THIS IS THE PART OF THE HOUSE THAT EVERYONE SEES AND IS THE FIRST IMPRESSION. Mchael from Burnsvlle

8 The socal spaces lvng, dnng, and ktchen are located at the back of the house, away from the street. The ktchen, dnng, and lvng rooms are solated from one another by the central bearng wall. Someone standng n the ktchen can t talk to someone n the lvng room. GARAGE STORAGE FOYER 6 1" LIVING DINETTE REFR DINING KITCHEN RANGE DW BUILDING GREEN Sustanable or green archtecture s a hot topc n the meda today. But what does t mean to buld green? Buldng green means makng a mnmal mpact on the earth s resources, and buldng n a way that s healthy for a house s nhabtants. Whle ths sounds smple n theory, t s extraordnarly complex n practce. There s only one wndow per level on the sdes of the house. Ths makes the nteror dark and leaves blank facades facng the neghbors. STEP STEP WALK TWO ONE For example, one approach s to specfy all natural materals. Sold hardwood floorng nstead of carpet, cabnets of sold wood nstead of partcle board, cedar rather than vnyl sdng. The front door s so deeply recessed nto the house t s almost hdden, hardly an nvtng entry to the house. The famly room s long, narrow, and dffcult to furnsh or use. The bathroom s lad out awkwardly, wth lots of wndowless wall space. DRIVE MAIN LEVEL PLAN "BEFORE" SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") CRAWL SPACE STORAGE 6 1" FAMILY MECHANICAL DUCTWORK LAUNDRY/ MECHANICAL FURNACE STORAGE D W Another and often contradctory approach s to use renewable and sustanable materals. For example, hardwood floorng comes from ancent (and hard to replace) trees. Most cedar sdng comes from old-growth forests. Sustanable proponents argue we should use smpler, more ndustral products that protect natural resources. For example, nstead of usng cedar sdng, try usng fber cement board, a mxture of sawdust and cement. Green archtecture also works to mnmze energy use. New buldngs are carefully sted to use the sun s heat n the wnter and to keep t out n the summer, to take advantage of breezes for natural coolng, and to use daylghtng nstead of electrc lghts wherever possble. Renewable energy resources geothermal, photovoltac, and wnd are also mportant, but prmarly used for new constructon. The angled walls and awkwardly placed closets make the bedrooms dffcult to use. LOWER LEVEL PLAN "BEFORE" THREE FOUR However green archtecture s defned, ts most mportant dea s to use and re-use exstng buldngs for as long as possble. Therefore, any remodelng project s nherently green, snce t uses resources from the orgnal constructon. Nothng s more wasteful than tearng down an exstng house and buryng t n a landfll. 7 SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17")

9 SPLIT-ENTRY SHORT-FACED IDEAS: EXPANDING & RETHINKING THE ENTRY FRONT ELEVATION "AFTER" SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") Placng columns n front of the exstng house frames the new large entry wndow. Extendng the roof provdes shelter for some chars and creates a welcomng front porch. 9 7" 8 1" DECK SKYLIGHTS DINING 8 STORAGE LIVING TV OPEN KITCHEN DW Removng the exstng front entry wall allows for a larger foyer and mudroom. Leavng the wall n place creates an arlock. GARAGE REFR RANGE Extendng a new front entry and a new front porch toward the street makes the front door, rather than the garage door, the focus from the street. Chars add a welcome touch. Placng the front door on the drveway sde of the new entry creates space for a front porch and for a large front wndow, whch allows more lght nto the new mudroom. DRIVE MAIN LEVEL PLAN "AFTER" SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") STEP CUBBIES FOYER STEP MUD FRONT PORCH BENCH 6 1" TWO LINEN SHELVES WALK-IN MASTER Addng a mudroom onto the exstng entry creates space for a bench and storage cubbes, as well as more room for greetng guests.

10 I WOULD LIKE TO IMPROVE THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE OF MY HOME, PARTICULARLY FROM THE FRONT. Northeast Suburb Resdent SPLIT-ENTRY SHORT-FACED FACADE TREATMENTS After from the street Before 9 The orgnal facade has 8 horzontal sdng over a brck base. There are no corner boards, lttle trm, and very lttle detal. Hardest to fx s the gutter, the blank gap between the two sets of wndows. Addng a new entry and a front porch swtches the focus from the garage door to the human door. Re-sdng wth vertcal board-and-batten sdng adds some vsual exctement, whle addng trm under the sofft creates character. Addng a pattern to the bedroom wndows and framng them wth trm adds character and detal, and helps fx the gutter problem.

11 SPLIT-ENTRY SHORT-FACED 1 IDEAS: OPENING UP THE PLAN GARAGE DRIVE "BEFORE" STORAGE FOYER STEP STEP WALK Addng skylghts to the lvng and dnng rooms greatly ncreases the amount of lght n the back of the house. Reconfgurng the closet space creates two larger bedroom closets (one a walk-n) and a large lnen closet over the stars. 6 1" LIVING TWO DINETTE REFR DINING KITCHEN RANGE ONE DW GARAGE STEP FOYER MUD FRONT PORCH WE WOULD LIKE TO REMODEL THE KITCHEN AND DINING AND DRIVE MAIN LEVEL PLAN "AFTER" SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") CUBBIES STORAGE STEP BENCH 6 1" TWO LINEN 9 7" 8 1" LIVING SKYLIGHTS TV SHELVES WALK-IN OPEN DECK DINING KITCHEN REFR RANGE DW MASTER Rebuldng the deck off the dnng room provdes room for a table and chars plus two lounge chars. Wdenng the stars creates a great place for hangng out and takng famly photos. Addng a beam and openng up the wall between the ktchen and lvng room connects the socal spaces, allowng famly members to talk wth each other. The openng, or nteror wndow, also allows lght to flter through, makng the house feel more spacous. Openng up the wall between the dnng room and ktchen allows people n the two rooms to talk, and gves ktchen users vews of the backyard. Addng a ktchen sland creates a gatherng space n the ktchen as well as more storage and counter space. Addng wndows on the sdes of the house ncreases the amount of natural lght nsde. Addng a wndow on a second wall n a corner room also dramatcally mproves the qualty of the space, snce the lght s no longer all comng from one drecton. MAKE IT INTO ONE BIG KITCHEN WITH AN ISLAND AND A PATIO DOOR. by anonymous

12 THE HOUSE IS DARK...WHY DIDN T THEY PUT MORE THAN ONE PER? Crcle Pnes Resdent SPLIT-ENTRY SHORT-FACED REBUILDING A ROTTED DECK Many of the orgnal decks bult on splts need to be rebult today. Be aware that the buldng codes and standard constructon practces have changed substantally snce the 196s. Addng skylghts and wndows and openng up the wall between the ktchen and lvng room creates a brght, open, and exctng space that flows out toward the deck and backyard. Two of the most mportant buldng code changes concern guardrals. Frst, the top of the guardral needs to be a mnmum of 36 above the deck surface. Second, the ndvdual balusters need to be close enough together so that a 4 dameter ball (roughly the sze of a softball) cannot pass through the guardral. Ths rule s desgned to keep small chldren from stckng ther heads through the rals and suffocatng. The materals used to buld decks have also changed n recent years. Redwood, the tradtonal deckng materal, s rarely used anymore. Cedar s ncreasngly expensve, whle pressure-treated lumber, the mracle materal of the 198s, s used less often today because of concerns about ts leachng hazardous chemcals (such as arsenc) nto the ground around the deck. New pressure-treated lumbers are now avalable that are less chemcally toxc. Today many decks are bult from compostes, often recycled plastc mxed wth sawdust or other waste materals. These materals, lke Trex, because of ther recycled content, are envronmentally green. However, snce these materals are qute new, no one s sure how well they wll weather or survve Mnnesota s harsh freeze/thaw cycles. Just as mportant as the deck s materals are ts uses. Now s the tme to make any desgn changes. A deck should be large enough to ft a good-szed table that seats 6 to 8 people, as well as some comfortable sttng chars. Twelve feet by twelve feet s a basc sze; twelve feet by sxteen feet s even better. Also, remember that the more drect the path between the deck and the refrgerator, the more often the deck wll be used. 11

13 IDEAS: STORAGE, BASEMENT, LANDSCAPING FAMILY MECHANICAL DUCTWORK DECK ABOVE W D SPLIT-ENTRY SHORT-FACED STORAGE LAUNDRY/ MECHANICAL FURNACE Movng back the exstng famly room walls provdes that room wth enough space for an entertanment center and a sttng area overlookng the backyard. Convertng the exstng storage space nto a home offce or hobby room s a quck way to gan an extra room. "BEFORE" CRAWL SPACE STORAGE 6 1" THREE FOUR SHELVES OFFICE DESK SHELVES Integratng nto the desgn the dropped celngs necessary for mechancal ductwork makes the room feel less arbtrary and more ntentonal. FAMILY TV SHELVES LAUNDRY/ MECH/ STORAGE D W Keepng the mechancal equpment and washer and dryer n the same spot mnmzes plumbng changes. FURNACE CRAWL SPACE STORAGE 6 1" LINEN Remodelng the bathroom provdes space for a full bathtub and a lnen closet. 12 Remodelng the bedrooms and hallway makes the bedrooms more usable and provdes more closet space. LOWER LEVEL PLAN "AFTER" SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") PORCH ABOVE THREE FOUR SEAT Wherever possble, algn new wndows n the basement wth exstng wndows above. Movng the closets to the outsde wall creates a great spot for a wndow seat. It also frees up the sde wall for a new wndow. THE DOWNSTAIRS FAMILY IS LONG AND NARROW AND DIFFICULT TO FURNISH. Lno Lakes Resdent

14 9 7" 8 1" SINCE OUR LIVING AND DINING ARE ORIENTED TOWARD THE BACKYARD, WE GET TO ENJOY WONDERFUL VIEWS. Cottage Grove Resdent SPLIT-ENTRY SHORT-FACED Addng a shed for extra storage and a covered pato creates a great away place n the yard. Buldng a lly pond or other water garden creates a fancful backyard centerpece. Enclosng the backyard wth a fence makes t feel more lke an extenson of the house. Varyng the sdng patterns and colors and addng detals such as shutters makes for a much more nterestng composton. FENCE DW SHED FENCE FENCE DECK LILY POND PATIO VERTICAL GARDENS REFR RANGE 6 1" Coordnatng the deck, lly pond, and the porch attached to the storage shed anmates the entre backyard. DRIVE FRONT PORCH RAISED BED GARDENS FLOWER GARDEN Plantng shrubs along the property lne defnes the boundares of the yard and creates prvacy for the lower level wndows. Addng trellses for vertcal gardens s a smple way to put an nterestng face on a blank garage wall and add some archtectural detal to the yard. 13 SITE PLAN "AFTER" SCALE: 1/16"=1'-" Addng rased garden beds creates a vsual lnk to the street and emphaszes the front door.

15 SPLIT-ENTRY LONG-FACED Ths home s one of the larger of the splt-entry types. Ths partcular home has four bedrooms, three bathrooms (two are also common), and a two-car, tuck-under garage. The front door, whch s unprotected and stuck on the front of the house lke an afterthought, leads drectly to the star landng, whch s n turn halfway between the upper and lower levels. There s no space to turn around, greet guests, or st to take off boots or shoes. Bedrooms are located on one sde and publc spaces (ktchen, lvng and dnng) are located on the other. FROM THE ROAD THE HOUSE LOOKS FRONT ELEVATION "BEFORE" SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") Martha from Rver Falls, WI flat AND PLAIN 14 The roof s often a straghtforward sngle hp wth no valleys or other complcatons. Gable roofs are also common on ths type of splt-entry. The horzontal sdng, often as wde as 13, emphaszes the house s horzontal lnes. The large wndow n the lvng room overlooks the front yard. Whle ths house has a bow wndow, pcture wndows flanked by casements or double-hungs are more common. The front entry s on a separate level from the lvng and basement levels, and s unprotected. The large two-car garage s tucked under the bedroom wng and the huge garage door domnates the front facade of the house. The front door s lke an afterthought. Before from the street The ste for ths house type was typcally graded to create an artfcal slope.

16 I CAN T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES THE DOOR HAS BEEN OPENED, ONLY TO SEND SOMEONE SAILING DOWN THE STAIRS! by anonymous SPLIT-ENTRY LONG-FACED The bedrooms are often too small to ft more than a twn bed, and they have very lttle closet space. FOUR THREE TWO KITCHEN DINING The ktchen, whle compact, s awkwardly lad out, wth the stove located far from the snk. LANDSCAPING Landscapng s the least expensve way to spruce up a splt, save energy, attract wldlfe, and add color throughout the year. The sde walls are largely blank and featureless, wth only a sngle wndow. MASTER M /2" 5 11" 7 7 1/4" 6 9" FOYER LIVING HEARTH The chldren s bath s huge but neffcently lad out, wth lots of wasted space. The foyer s just a star landng, too tght even for two people standng sde by sde. Plantng shade trees on the south and west sdes of the house not only beautfes the lot, t also greatly reduces late afternoon heat gan durng the summer, thus reducng ar condtonng costs. Plantng wndbreaks, or rows of conferous trees, to the north and west of your house can shelter t from harsh wnter wnds, thus reducng heatng costs. The entry from the garage nto the basement, the most frequently used entry, s tght and narrow, wth no place to set down a bag of groceres or a brefcase. The bathroom s sandwched between the garage and the stars, leavng lttle room to expand. MAIN LEVEL PLAN "BEFORE" SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") GARAGE D FURNACE LOWER LEVEL PLAN "BEFORE" SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") W STORAGE/ MECHANICAL/ LAUNDRY STORAGE 6 7" 5 9" MULTI-PURPOSE MECHANICAL DUCTWORK FAMILY SHELVES SHELVES The basement has a wonderful masonry freplace, but otherwse s awkwardly lad out, wth lttle thought gven to the entry from the garage. Specfc plants attract specfc anmals. Plantng such natve prare speces as goldenrod and black-eyed susans helps attract butterfles, for example, whle the brght red berres of the mountan ash tree wll attract cedar waxwngs durng the wnter. The Unversty of Mnnesota Extenson Servce web ste has extensve nformaton on shade trees, wndbreaks, and varous plant speces. Be bold! Talk to landscape archtects, desgners, and your local nursery. And be sure to thnk beyond a tdy lawn. Plantng a wde varety of plant speces wll make your house more beautful and colorful across the seasons. 15

17 SPLIT-ENTRY LONG-FACED IDEAS: EXPANDING & RETHINKING THE ENTRY Addng a new front entry makes the front door more promnent than the garage door. It also gves the house an archtectural focus. FRONT ELEVATION "AFTER" SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") /2" 13 1" DECK 16 TWO THREE PANTRY REFR RANGE KITCHEN UPPER CABINETS PORCH DINING Movng the coat closet from the foyer to the top of the stars frees up space on the landng, and nvtes guests up to the socal spaces. MASTER HALL WALK-IN LINEN 7 7 1/4" 6 9" TV LIVING M. HEARTH Expandng the entry foyer provdes enough space to greet guests. Projectng a glassed-n front entry from the house s otherwse flat facade makes t much more nvtng. At nght wth the lghts on, the front entry becomes a lantern or beacon for the house, vsble from the street and neghborhood. BUMP-OUT & MAIN LEVEL PLAN "AFTER" SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") FOYER 2 7" 1 1' BENCH Extendng the canopy over the front stoop creates a sheltered entry or porch.

18 WE WOULD LIKE AN ENTRYWAY A WELCOMING DESIGN THAT IS NOT CRAMPED AND DARK. Burnsvlle Resdent SPLIT-ENTRY LONG-FACED Addng the new front entry and other landscapng elements, lke the pergola and stone wall, makes the composton lvely and nvtng. FACADE TREATMENTS Before 17 The flat, two-story facade, tny front door, and massve garage door make the house look both bland and overbearng. Wde horzontal sdng s on the upper level, and the base s stucco. Addng a new front entry and a bump-out over the garage breaks up the flat facade and roof lne. Re-sdng wth narrower 6 sdng and addng trm bands gves the house more texture and character. Replacng the wndows and addng trm dramatcally changes the front of the house. Removng the shutters and makng the wndows more playful gves the house a more contemporary flar.

19 6 6 1/2" 5 11" SPLIT-ENTRY LONG-FACED IDEAS: OPENING UP THE PLAN TWO KITCHEN Addng a four-season porch off the dnng room extends the house nto the backyard. THREE DINING FOUR /2" 13 1" MASTER "BEFORE" M /4" 6 9" FOYER LIVING HEARTH DECK PORCH Addng a deck off the four-season porch creates an outdoor space overlookng the backyard. Combnng two small bedrooms nto one large bedroom allows room for a queen-sze bed and a sttng area. Ths would also make a great home offce/guest room combnaton. Addng wndows to the sdes of the house wll make the bedrooms feel larger by addng more natural lght. TWO MASTER THREE HALL WALK-IN LINEN 7 7 1/4" 6 9" PANTRY REFR RANGE KITCHEN UPPER CABINETS TV LIVING DINING HEARTH Remodelng the ktchen and addng a pennsula makes the work space more effcent, and also makes the ktchen more socal by creatng space for people to gather. M. 18 Reconfgurng the bath and closet arrangement creates a walk-n closet n the master bedroom and a lnen closet n the hallway. BUMP-OUT & FOYER BENCH Addng a double wndow n the dnng room allows more lght nto the ktchen. Addng a master bedroom sttng bay centered above the garage door creates a specal focus for the bedroom, and helps releve the flatness of the facade. MAIN LEVEL PLAN "AFTER" I WOULD LIKE TO COMBINE THE FORMAL DINING AND KITCHEN SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") 2 7" 1 1' TO MAKE THE AREA A COMFORTABLE PLACE FOR EVERYONE TO GATHER. New Hope Resdent

20 I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A LARGER KITCHEN WITH A CENTER ISLAND OR BREAKFAST BAR. Amy from Burnsvlle SPLIT-ENTRY LONG-FACED ADDING A PORCH OFF THE BACK Addng a porch off the back of your splt s one of the easest ways to make a house feel more spacous. Removng part of the exstng wall between the ktchen and the dnng room and addng a pennsula wth glass doors on the upper cabnets makes the two rooms feel larger, lghter, and more connected, whle provdng ample storage space. The dnng room now flows onto the new four-season porch, connectng the house to the backyard. Porches come n three types: screen, three-season, and four-season. A screen porch has walls made of thn alumnum or fberglass screens and s essentally a deck wth a roof and screens. A three-season porch has wndows, but no nsulaton or heat. A four-season porch has wndows, nsulaton, and an optonal heat source. Although screen porches can only be used for a few months each year, durng those months they re perfect: the roof keeps off the ran, and the screens keep out mosqutoes and other nsects. Breezes pass unnterrupted through the screens, keepng the porch cool. Three-season porches, because they re glassed n, can be used earler n the sprng and later n the fall than a screen porch. But the wndows don t open as wde as a wall of screen, and thus trap n more heat, makng three-season porches less comfortable durng the hottest days of summer. A smart move s to nsulate the porch celng, whch helps mnmze heat gan through the roof. Four-season porches are really fnshed rooms wth separate heatng systems, allowng them to be shut off n wnter. Most often the heat source s a supply grlle from the forced ar system that can be turned off wth a damper. It s vtal that the porch be separable. Otherwse, accordng to the Mnnesota Energy Code, the porch and all ts wndows must be counted n any energy calculatons for the house. 19

21 6 7" 5 9" SPLIT-ENTRY LONG-FACED IDEAS: STORAGE, BASEMENT, LANDSCAPING D W STORAGE/ MULTI-PURPOSE MECHANICAL/ LAUNDRY GARAGE "BEFORE" FURNACE STORAGE MECHANICAL DUCTWORK FAMILY SHELVES SHELVES DECK ABOVE EGRESS YARD STORAGE Buldng the base of the four-season porch out of concrete block and addng a secure door allows t to be used as a storage area for outdoor equpment lawnmowers, bcycles, tools, etc. takng pressure off the garage. D W Addng a mudroom, however small, provdes space for coat hooks, cubbes, and a bench to st on whle removng a par of wnter boots, or a place to set down a bag of groceres. GARAGE CUBBIES FURNACE MUD STORAGE/ LAUNDRY/ MECH BENCH STORAGE SHELVES CABINET FOUR FAMILY SHELVES Creatng a bedroom off the famly room provdes one more room for guests, teenagers, or a home offce. Addng wndows on a second sde of the room ncreases the natural lght n an otherwse dark room. 6 7" 5 9" TV SHELVES 2 Remodelng the bathroom provdes more towelng-off space. Removng the exstng coat closet n the entry foyer gans more space for a larger shower. THE ENTRYWAY FROM THE GARAGE IS VERY SMALL. IN THE WINTER LOWER LEVEL PLAN "AFTER" SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") CRAWL SPACE WHEN YOU HAVE WET FOOTWEAR, IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND THE SPACE TO TAKE OFF AND STORE YOUR SHOES AND COATS. Pror Lake Resdent

22 4 7" 3 1' /2" 13 1" THE ONE THING I WOULD LOVE TO CHANGE ABOUT OUR HOME WOULD BE TO ADD A FOUR-SEASON PORCH TO THE BACK. Gerr from Burnsvlle SPLIT-ENTRY LONG-FACED Borderng the yard wth trees, ornamental grasses, and plantngs contrasts wth and accentuates the mancured lawn. Addng a four-season porch, deck, and starway connects the house to the backyard, and creates a seres of dfferent outdoor spaces where frends and famly can gather. Plantng rows of shrubs and perennals along the sde yard defnes the property lne and connects the front yard and backyard. PLANTINGS GRASS LAWN DECK PORCH FLOWER GARDEN VERTICAL GARDENS REFR RANGE 7 7 1/4" 6 9" FLOWER GARDEN 2 7" 1 1' FLOWER GARDEN PATIO PERGOLA STONE SITTING WALL Addng trellses or vnes to the back of the garage wall camouflages an otherwse blank wall and adds a specal place for growng vnes. Addng a retanng wall and a row of plantngs along the drveway creates a vsual lnk between the street and the front entry. DRIVE STONE RETAINING WALL 21 Buldng a secure storage space beneath the porch creates a perfect spot for storng garden tools. Addng a front yard pato, defned by a pergola on one sde and a stone wall just hgh enough for sttng on the other, creates a shady front porch, a perfect place from whch to watch neghborhood lfe. SITE PLAN SCALE: 1/16"=1'-"

23 SPLIT-LEVEL TRADITIONAL Ths splt-level home, datng back to the 195s, s the oldest and most tradtonal of the house types featured n ths book. The entry s on the same level as the socal rooms, whch makes t unque among the three types. Ths allows the stars to be located n the mddle of the house rather than near the front entry. Ths partcular home has three bedrooms, one-and-a-half baths, and just a one-car, tuck-under garage. It also has a fourth level a completely below-grade basement located drectly beneath the man entry level. FRONT ELEVATION "BEFORE" SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") IT DOESN T LEND ITSELF WELL TO CREATING THAT WARM AND WELCOMING FIRST IMPRESSION THAT I WOULD LIKE FOR MY HOME. Kathy from Brooklyn Park The two low-ptched gable roofs are orented perpendcularly to one another on ths house. Many houses of ths type have hp roofs and a more Prare stylng. The large wndow n the lvng room that faces the street s a trple-wde double-hung n ths partcular house, but most often s a huge pcture wndow. 22 The bedroom level sts above the sngle-stall garage and cantlevers over the lower level toward the street. The entry s on the same level as the lvng, dnng, and ktchen spaces. There s no protecton from ran or sun at the front door. The house has no sdewalk. People have to walk up the drveway to reach the front door. Before from the street The house can only be bult on a sloped ste.

24 SPLIT-LEVEL TRADITIONAL The two-door bath, whle dysfunctonal (someone always leaves a door locked), was a common attempt to make the master bedroom feel lke t had a dedcated bath. MASTER 6 9" RANGE KITCHEN REFR DINETTE DINING The ktchen and the cook are solated from the rest of the man level. REPLACING OLD S The orgnal all-wood wndows bult nto most splts have probably taken qute a beatng through the years and probably need to be replaced. Each type of wndow commonly bult nto splts has ts own problems: The stars are located n the center of the house, lnkng all three levels together for better or worse. THREE TWO MAIN LEVEL PLAN "BEFORE" SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") LIVING The nondescrpt entry s unprotected and uncelebrated. Casements, wndows that are hnged on the sde and open out lke a door, can warp f left open n the ran. Once warped, they won t seal well, thus lettng n wnter drafts. Slders, wndows that slde sdeways (lke double-hungs on ther sdes) get tracks full of drt and dust, and then won t slde well. The recreatonal room s small and, because t has so many doors and stars, hard to furnsh. W.C. LAUNDRY The only access to the backyard s through the laundry room. Double-hungs, wndows that slde up and down, almost always had alumnum combnaton wndows added that ddn t dran (or weep ) well, thus rottng out the slls. Plus, most splts were bult wth sngle-glazed wndows that barely keep out the cold. The long, narrow, snglestall garage was fne when most famles only had one car, but t s a huge stumblng block for today s buyers. GARAGE REC 6 9" 6 9" BASEMENT Newer wndows take advantage of technologcal mprovements, such as fllng the cavty between two panes of glass wth argon gas to greatly ncrease the wndow s R-value (a measure of nsulatng value). A sngle-glazed wndow wll have an R-value of.8. A typcal replacement wndow wll have an R-value of LOWER LEVEL PLAN "BEFORE" SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") The basement level s fully below grade. Also, most orgnal wndows were wood, and thus need to be panted frequently. Most replacement wndows on the market today are wood on the nteror, but alumnum or vnyl on the exteror, and thus requre less mantenance. 23

25 SPLIT-LEVEL TRADITIONAL IDEAS: EXPANDING & RETHINKING THE ENTRY Addng a hp roof over the front entry and a pergola over a front pato creates a porch, a place to hang out wth frends and famly and watch the neghborhood roll by. FRONT ELEVATION "AFTER" SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") DECK BUMP-OUT 6 1' DOOR 4 7" 3 1' 24 The pergola and pato recreate the pleasures of a tradtonal front porch. The pergola shades the pato whle stll allowng natural lght nto the lvng room. MASTER WALK-IN THREE LINEN M. TWO SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") MAIN LEVEL PLAN "AFTER" 6 9" BENCH 3 7" RANGE 2 1' KITCHEN FOYER FRONT PORCH DW REFR OPEN LIVING PATIO DINING HEARTH FIREPLACE Addng a gas freplace provdes a focal pont for an otherwse bland room. Addng an arlock, however small, separates the front entry from the lvng room. Addng a small front porch wth columns creates an nvtng covered entry that reaches toward the street.

26 I WOULD LOVE TO PUT A PORCH ON THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE OR DO ANYTHING SO THAT MY SPLIT DOESN T LOOK EXACTLY LIKE ALL THE OTHERS. Shar from Lno Lakes SPLIT-LEVEL TRADITIONAL FACADE TREATMENTS The remodeled house turns a warmer, more nvtng face toward the street. Before 25 The exstng facade has 6 sdng from top to bottom wth mnmal trm or other archtectural ornamentaton. It s a dull facade wth lttle to spark the magnaton. Addng a new front entry, a pergola, and famly room wndows makes the facade more nterestng. Addng stucco to the base of the house creates some materal nterest. Addng a muntn pattern to the replacement wndows adds another level of detal. Replacng the wder sdng wth a narrow 4 lap adds texture and detal.

27 6 9" SPLIT-LEVEL TRADITIONAL IDEAS: OPENING UP THE PLAN Addng a new deck and a sldng glass door connects the house to the backyard. MASTER RANGE KITCHEN REFR DINING DINETTE 26 THREE "BEFORE" TWO LIVING Addng a large bay wndow n the master bedroom s a smple way to gve the room a focal pont and make t feel more spacous. Rearrangng the plumbng provdes two full bathrooms n the same space prevously occuped by one. The master bedroom s closet s also larger now. Makng the closet as wde as the hallway allows for a small walk-n closet and a larger lnen closet. MASTER WALK-IN BUMP-OUT THREE LINEN M. TWO SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") MAIN LEVEL PLAN "AFTER" 6 9" BENCH 3 7" RANGE 2 1' 6 1' KITCHEN FOYER FRONT PORCH DW REFR OPEN DECK LIVING PATIO DOOR DINING HEARTH 4 7" 3 1' FIREPLACE Removng the wall between the ktchen and dnng room and addng an nteror openng between the ktchen and lvng room connects and transforms the spaces, whle leavng the cabnetry and applances ntact. Addng a small sland n the ktchen provdes more storage and a place for frends and famly to gather. Addng a gas freplace transforms an otherwse bland lvng room wth no focus nto a great gatherng space. Addng a pato extends the lvng space of the house nto the front yard. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A MASTER AND. Car from Maple Grove

28 SPLIT-LEVEL TRADITIONAL ADDING A FIREPLACE Addng a freplace s one of the few remodelng projects that pays for tself mmedately. That s, the value of the house ncreases mmedately, offsettng the cost of addng the freplace. And addng a freplace s surprsngly panless. Unts can ether be added wthn the lvng room walls or bult onto a platform cantlevered beyond the exstng walls. Gas unts, complete wth remote controls and surprsngly realstc logs and flames, domnate the market today. They are most often drect vented, meanng the gas fumes are vented horzontally through the wall, not even requrng a vertcal chmney. Wood-burnng freplaces, of course, do requre a chmney. Whle wood-burnng freplaces are more romantc, they also create a great deal more polluton than gas freplaces and are less envronmentally frendly. Addng a gas freplace provdes a focus to the lvng room that was mssng before. Openng up the walls between the ktchen and dnng room allows the freplace to be vsble from throughout the man level. On the nsde, make the freplace surround both fun and beautful. Use ntrcate mouldngs and woodwork n the mantle. Explore the nfnte world of ceramc tle n the surround. Add unque and detaled accent tles. Add color and lfe. Make the freplace surround a unque and wonderful desgn statement. THE SPACE REALLY WORKS WELL. IT S NICE TO HAVE AREAS THAT ARE SEPARATE YET FLOW TOGETHER AND ARE NOT THAT FAR AWAY. Frank from Ontaro, Canada 27

29 6 9" SPLIT-LEVEL TRADITIONAL IDEAS: STORAGE, BASEMENT, LANDSCAPING W.C. LAUNDRY GARAGE "BEFORE" REC 6 9" BASEMENT EGRESS CANOPY ABOVE DOOR DECK ABOVE Buldng the new garage n the backyard means ths wll become the most commonly used entrance to the house. Addng a roof canopy and some mudroom storage makes t more nvtng and functonal. Buldng a new two-stall garage on the rear of the ste (see p. 29) allows you to convert the exstng garage nto an extra bedroom and an expanded famly room. Addng a bult-n desk and shelves creates a small lbrary or computer space. SHELVES SHELVES DESK SEAT FOUR ENTERTAINMENT CENTER FAMILY LAUNDRY W D 6 9" 6 9" CLOSET BASEMENT/ MECHANICAL/ STORAGE Modfyng the laundry room allows t to double as a mudroom. Algnng the doors creates a vsual connecton to the backyard. 28 Addng a large trple-wde wndow provdes more lght and echoes the lvng room wndow pattern. LOWER LEVEL PLAN "AFTER" SCALE: 1/4"=1'-" (24"x36") OR 1/8"=1'-" (11"x17") PATIO ABOVE Addng a shower converts the exstng half-bath nto a three-quarter bath, makng the bedroom perfect for ether teenagers or guests. I LIKE THAT THE LOWER LEVEL DOESN T FEEL LIKE THE BASEMENT. Kathy from Brooklyn Park

30 6 9" 6 1' WE WOULD LIKE TO USE PART OF THE CURRENT GARAGE SPACE TO CREATE A GREAT. Cottage Grove Resdent Buldng a new detached two-stall garage provdes plenty of extra storage space. SPLIT-LEVEL TRADITIONAL Addng a small pergola, pato, and bench n the backyard creates a great away space. FENCE GARAGE VERTICAL GARDEN FLOWER GARDEN PERGOLA Addng a drveway turn-around allows the drveway to double as a pato and play space. DRIVE DECK FLOWER GARDEN 4 7" 3 1' DW REFR RANGE Dvdng the new famly room space nto two dfferent areas creates a conversaton crcle wth a TV and a study area focused on a computer. Lowerng the celng over the study area makes t feel cozer. Addng a new front walk connects the house wth the street, and provdes a more nvtng path for guests. DRIVE 3 7" 2 1' FRONT WALK 3 7" 2 1' PERGOLA PATIO 29 SITE PLAN SCALE: 1/16"=1'-"

31 3 HEATING AND COOLING The most common complants regstered on were problems wth heatng and coolng. Specfcally, the open stars that run between three or even four dfferent levels make t almost mpossble to keep the temperature even on any gven level. Ths s caused by smple physcs: warm ar rses and cool ar falls. In the wnter, warm ar rses from the basement to the bedroom level, makng the bedrooms hot and the basement cold; n the summer, cool ar snks to the basement, leavng the bedrooms hot and the basement cool. There are three possble solutons to ths problem. The smplest soluton s to run the furnace fan contnuously at a low settng. Ths keeps ar movng throughout the house, and evens out the temperature dfferentals between levels. Whle t s low-tech, runnng the fan consumes electrcty and adds nose. A second soluton s to modfy the forced ar heatng system to create separate heatng and coolng zones, each wth ts own thermostat. In the wnter, for example, the basement and bedroom level thermostats can be set at dfferent temperatures, evenng out the temperature dfferental between levels. Ths s a farly expensve soluton. The thrd and most nconvenent soluton s to add doors at the starways, thus physcally preventng ar from flowng between levels. Doors between levels wll also help lmt the flow of unwelcome sound between levels. However, doors also make movng around the house more dffcult. OTHER SPLIT ISSUES HEATING AND COOLING ARE A PROBLEM WITH AN OPEN FLOOR PLAN THAT LETS HEAT RISE AND COOL AIR FALL. Burnsvlle Resdent SMOKE ALARMS Smoke alarms, untl recently called smoke detectors, are the most valuable safety equpment n your home. Updatng smoke alarms s requred n even the most mnor remodelng. Specfcally, a smoke alarm must be nstalled wthn each bedroom, and another nstalled n the halls outsde the bedrooms. Houses wth bedrooms on dfferent levels requre smoke alarms n the halls on each level. In addton, one smoke alarm must be nstalled on each level, regardless of whether there are bedrooms on that level. Also, common sense dctates that one smoke alarm should be located near the mechancal room, where many fres orgnate. Smoke alarms must be hard-wred to the buldng s power source, but also have a battery back-up so they ll stll work even f the power goes out. The smoke alarms also have to be wred n such a way that f one alarm goes off, they all do. CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS Carbon monoxde, a colorless, odorless gas, s a byproduct of combuston. It s produced by such applances as gas furnaces, gas water heaters, freplaces, gas stoves, and gas space heaters. Carbon monoxde dsplaces oxygen n the bloodstream, reducng the amount of oxygen reachng the bran and other vtal organs. At low levels of exposure, carbon monoxde can cause such flu-lke symptoms as fatgue, nausea, and headaches. At hgher levels of exposure, carbon monoxde can cause loss of conscousness, bran damage, and death. Not surprsngly, one of the most common sources of carbon monoxde wthn the home s from automobles runnng n attached garages. The fumes can easly seep nto the house and spll nto the lvng space. Carbon monoxde detectors, lke smoke alarms, should be placed near the bedrooms n a house, as well as on every level. The best detectors have dgtal readouts that show just how much carbon monoxde s n the ar. If a carbon monoxde detector sounds an alarm, move outdoors mmedately and dal 911. Emergency responders can check the ar qualty wth gas meters and determne f there s a problem. Check wth your muncpal buldng or fre offcals for further nformaton. *Informaton on carbon monoxde detectors s compled from the Cty of Rosevlle fre department web ste

32 WE GOT MORE HOUSE FOR THE MONEY AND THE LIVING FEELS LARGER BECAUSE OF THE OPEN STAIRS. STAIRS Splts are defned by ther many dfferent levels. Stars are necessary to connect the levels together. Whle constantly runnng up and down these stars can be frustratng, changng the stars s both dffcult and expensve. Part of lvng n a splt s comng to terms wth the stars. On the postve sde, anyone who lves n a splt has a bult-n exercse machne! That sad, the most mportant change to make s not to the stars themselves, but to the transton spaces at the landngs. Nothng s worse than that feelng of steppng nto a splt, and mmedately lurchng down the steps. In all three house types we ve shown ways to add on mudrooms and expand the front entres, creatng places to greet guests and st down to take off wnter boots. Ths creates breathng room for the stars. Sally and Paul from Rosevlle OTHER SPLIT ISSUES ACCESSIBILITY Splts, because they are dvded nto so many dfferent levels, and because stars are so expensve and dffcult to modfy, are among the hardest house types to make accessble to people who are elderly, use walkers or wheelchars, or have other moblty concerns. For a house to work well for people wth moblty problems, t must allow easy access to a car, a bathroom wth a tolet and shower, a place to sleep, and a ktchen n whch to prepare food. In the two splt-entry houses featured n ths book, the garage s on a dfferent level from the ktchen. In the spltlevel desgn, not only s the ktchen separated from the garage by a flght of stars, but there s an addtonal flght of stars to get to a bathroom or bedroom. The stars are nherent to the splt s desgn, and really cannot be removed or altered wthout spendng huge sums of money. One opton s to add half-level char elevators, the knd that attach to a starway, between the levels. An mage from the deck overlookng the lly pond and the garden shed beyond. 31

33 STARTING A REMODELING PROJECT 32 HAVE A CLEAR GOAL The key to any successful renovaton project s knowng what you want to acheve, and focusng all your efforts toward achevng that goal. Whether you need to solve a storage problem, rebuld a deck, or add a bathroom, stay focused and on-task. Ths may sound lke smplstc advce, but remodelng projects often go awry when homeowners lose track of ther orgnal goal and try to do too much. It sounds reasonable to ncrease the scope of the project durng constructon. As long as the bulder s here, shouldn t we replace all the wndows? But ths knd of scope creep (as t s called n the buldng professons) nflates the project budget, expands the constructon schedule, and contrbutes to the project spralng out of control. In contrast, by lmtng the scope of the work just remodelng the ktchen, for example you can confne the chaos of constructon to one secton of the house. Never forget that remodelng projects dsrupt a famly s normal rhythms and routnes. The more the remodelng work spreads throughout the house, the more dsruptve t wll be. Losng your ktchen s one thng; losng your ktchen and your bathroom s qute another. Stayng focused on a sngle goal s the best way to preserve famly and martal harmony, and mnmze stress and conflct durng constructon. KNOW YOUR BUDGET & SCHEDULE It seems obvous, but know how much money you have avalable for your project. Lne up loans before constructon starts. Know how much cash you have n savngs. Convert stocks or other assets to cash before you begn constructon, so you re not vulnerable to swngs n the market. Lay out a prelmnary budget, and be sure to nclude all potental expenses, even f they aren t drectly related to constructon. Famles tend to eat out a lot durng ktchen remodelngs. There are tmes when your house mght be so full of fumes for example, when refnshng floors that t s wse to spend the nght n a motel. And allow for lttle upgrades along the way, for example selectng a ktchen faucet that s more expensve than the allowance. And always always! budget extra dollars for potental cost overruns. Some projects go smoothly from the moment constructon starts, but even the best-lad plans can go awry durng the fog of constructon. Backordered materals can delay constructon. Bulders can wrench ther backs. Inspecton schedules can fall behnd. Prces can come n hgher than antcpated. Havng a fnancal cushon wll greatly reduce the stress durng constructon. Schedulng s every bulder s nghtmare. Bulders and sub-contractors juggle multple projects. The bulder has dozens of sub-contractors to coordnate, and all the work s nterrelated. For example, the new ktchen countertops can t be nstalled untl the cabnets are square and true; the cabnets can t go n untl the sheetrockng s complete; the sheetrockng can t begn untl the nspector sgns off on the electrcal and mechancal work. If one task s delayed, the consequences reverberate throughout everyone s schedules. All of whch means you need to reman flexble. Expect delays. Never, ever, lock yourself nto completon by a partcular date by schedulng a specal event at your newly remodeled house, assumng the project wll be completed on tme. GET A HANDLE ON THE REAL COSTS Estmatng remodelng costs s a chcken-and-egg dlemma: You can t know the real cost of your project untl you ve prepared fnal workng drawngs (also known as blueprnts or constructon documents) and obtaned a detaled estmate from a bulder, yet t doesn t make sense to complete the workng drawngs f the project wll cost too much. So where to begn? The most accurate way to predct remodelng costs s to look at precedents: How much dd projects of smlar scope really cost? Talk to bulders and archtects who have recently bult projects smlar to yours. Talk wth frends, relatves, and neghbors who have remodeled ther ktchens or rebult ther decks. Take the leap and ask them how much t all cost. But beware of understatement. Homeowners are often reluctant to admt how much they actually spent on a remodelng project, and thus frequently under-report project costs. Ths under-reportng perpetuates msunderstandngs about real costs. Also be aware that constructon s more expensve n Mnnesota than n other parts of the country. Our harsh wnters requre deep frost footngs, thcker nsulaton, and careful attenton to detal that drves costs up. And remember that Mnnesota s a hghwage state. In other words, prces for projects bult elsewhere n the country probably won t be applcable here n Mnnesota. IN TODAY S STANDARD OF HOUSING, WE NEED IT TO BE BIGGER, ESPECIALLY THE KITCHEN AND MASTER. Elle from New York

34 I LIKE THE SPLIT-LEVEL STYLE BECAUSE IT IS PRACTICAL, PROVIDES FIND THE MONEY Home equty loans have radcally changed the way money s lent for remodelng projects. In the past, constructon loans were the most common tool for borrowng money for a remodelng project. In return for the loan, however, the bank would mpose strct requrements about constructon cost, payment schedules, etc. In the past decade home equty loans have largely replaced constructon loans. Home values have escalated at an unprecedented pace, and many homeowners have thousands or tens of thousands of dollars of equty n ther homes. A home equty loan s a fnancal tool for convertng that equty nto cash. You borrow aganst the equty you have bult up n your house, securng the loan wth the house tself. The bank smply sgns over the money, usually wth few restrctons. Never forget, however, that you re securng the home equty loan wth your stake n your house. Spendng the money wthout mprovng the value of the house can easly lead to losng your house f catastrophe strkes. You also begn payng back the home equty loan mmedately, not after the project s complete. Be sure to check wth your muncpalty to see f t has any specal loan programs avalable. RESEARCH ZONING RESTRICTIONS Before begnnng any desgn work, take the tme to research zonng restrctons on your lot. Call your muncpalty to fnd out the setbacks for the front, rear, and sde yards. Ask how far roof overhangs can protrude nto a setback. If you re plannng a garage addton, ask for the dfferent setback requrements for an attached versus a detached garage. Ask f your muncpalty has maxmum lot coverage restrctons. Ask about maxmum heght, and how t s calculated. Descrbe your planned project and always, always ask what else you need to know. If your project strays nto a setback or volates any other restrctons, you have two optons: one, rethnk or redesgn to stay wthn the legal lmts, or two, apply for a varance. A varance s a legal term for a waver to a zonng rule. Muncpaltes typcally have a hand-out descrbng the varance process, but essentally you wll need to wrte up a descrpton of your project, nclude drawngs or a survey f necessary to clearly communcate your proposed project, and fll out a form descrbng the hardshp due to the unque nature of your lot that requres you to seek a varance. Each communty has a slghtly dfferent process. Do not assume you wll be granted a varance! STARTING A REMODELING PROJECT USEFUL SPACE, ISN T AN ENERGY HOG, AND IS AN ECONOMIC BARGAIN. Crcle Pnes Resdent HIRE AN ARCHITECT OR DESIGNER Your next step s to hre an archtect or desgner. Ths ndvdual wll desgn your remodelng project and complete the workng drawngs necessary to get bds, pull a buldng permt, and start constructon. Archtects brng a specal set of sklls to desgn. They are traned to thnk through the whole process and ask: How wll the whole house look after the project s complete? How do all the parts work together? An archtect also works for you, not the bulder, and brngs the knowledge and experence of havng gone through the process many tmes before. A thorough lst of archtects specalzng n resdental remodelng and desgn s avalable through the Amercan Insttute of Archtects (AIA) Mnnesota offce or the drectory publshed annually n Archtecture Mnnesota magazne. Desgn/Buld s another opton. Desgn/Buld s a process n whch the bulder ether desgns the project drectly or has a desgner on staff do so. Desgn/Buld sells tself as one-stop shoppng, wth the bulder and desgner workng together as a team. But be aware that the drawngs typcally reman the property of the bulder, and you can t solct compettve bds from ther drawngs. For ktchen remodelngs or other projects that are cabnetry-ntensve, desgn servces are often avalable through the cabnetry shop or cabnetmaker. HIRE A BUILDER Begn researchng bulders early n the desgn process. Attend local remodelng shows. Get recommendatons from neghbors who have remodeled. Look for job ste sgns n your neghborhood to see whch bulders are workng on projects smlar to yours. Ask archtects and desgners for recommendatons. Ask sub-contractors whch bulders run the tghtest, most effcent job stes. Check out the web ste of the Mnnesota Chapter of the Natonal Assocaton of Remodelng Industry (NARI) or the web ste of the Bulder s Assocaton of the Twn Ctes (BATC) 33

35 STARTING A REMODELING PROJECT Educate yourself about the remodelng process. The Mnnesota Department of Commerce offers a free, downloadable.pdf booklet called What You Need to Know: Hrng a Resdental Contractor. Mnnesota s Offce of the Attorney General offers an on-lne Ctzen s Gude to Home Buldng and Remodelng wth extensve lnks. Take your tme and be careful who you choose. Check references. Ask questons. Confrm the bulder s lcensed and there are no outstandng complants aganst the busness. Your bulder, hs or her crew, and all the varous sub-contractors wll be n your lfe for months. Do you want to wake up every mornng and see ths person s face before your frst cup of coffee? It may sound slly, but personal chemstry s almost as mportant as prce. Nevertheless, prce remans key. Every artcle you wll read about remodelng recommends compettve bddng by a narrow pool (a mnmum of two to three) of bulders who have prequalfed through personal ntervews. But be aware that when constructon s boomng, when too many projects are chasng too few bulders, t s almost mpossble to get compettve bds. Bulders can choose among projects and negotate contracts one-on-one. When the economy cools down, bulders are typcally more wllng to bd agan. Revew the bds carefully to compare apples to apples. Are allowances for carpet or lghtng fxtures suffcent? What mark-up are the bulders chargng? Are all materals clearly called out? Are responsbltes clearly defned? Is the payment schedule clear? Is there a clear process for change orders? Once you ve accepted a bd and sgned a contract, t s tme to apply for your buldng permt. KEEP YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR Remodelng s nherently stressful. It s nosy, messy, and dsruptve. You ll wake up to poundng and hammerng. Sheetrock dust wll nfltrate your dresser drawers. Pck-up trucks wll be parked n your drveway for months on end. You ll be washng dshes n your bathtub whle the ktchen s torn up. One way to mnmze the length of tme you have to undergo constructon stress s to make all your consumer selectons ahead of tme. Pant colors, plumbng fxtures, doorknobs, and lght fxtures are all best chosen before remodelng begns. The worst tme to pck a pant color, for example, s when the whole pantng crew s standng there, anxous to begn work. So keep your sense of humor, and remember that ths, too, shall pass. And n the end, your home wll be fresh and new, ready for decades more of lvng. 34 PULL A BUILDING PERMIT Typcally the bulder apples to the muncpalty for the buldng permt. A buldng permt s requred for most constructon. If there s any queston, check wth your muncpalty. Always allow at least two weeks for a permt to be ssued. Note that do-t-yourselfers are requred to follow the same steps as a professonal remodeler. Do-t-yourselfers stll need to fle a buldng permt, submt energy calculatons (f requred), and submt to all requred nspectons. WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL BACKYARD AND HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT ADDING ON IN THAT DIRECTION. A FOUR-SEASON PORCH WOULD BE NICE. Burnsvlle Resdent