Pictures from the Community Builders Assocation of New Jersey, NARI's Evening of Excellence event and the NAHB Remodelors Council Chairman's Dinner at the 2004 International Builders' Show.

Need to cool off an old house? Consider a mini-duct system.

Consulting company Re-modelers Advantage is launching a comprehensive business education program that doesn’t require participating remodelers to leave home, the truck or the office.

In some markets, in-house CAD capabilities are essential

Benchmarks provide direction and suggest a course of action.

Maybe you live or work in a neighborhood like mine. Fifty-year-old homes of no more than 2,000 square feet get sold for $400,000 and torn down. They’re replaced with million-dollar houses occupying every inch of the lot and extending upward at least th...

Bob Bell, owner of Bell's Remodeling in Duluth, Minn., has two employees, both of whom have been with him nine years. The company does about 50 jobs a year for an approximate volume of $440,000. It uses subcontractors for electrical and plumbing, and sometimes excavation and cement work. Jake Schloegel, owner of Schloegel Design Remodel in Kansas City, Mo.

Sometimes older houses need more than just remodeling. They need a new vision for dark interiors, awkward spaces and outdated features. This home, owned by broadcaster Edward R. Murrow from 1946 to 1964, had become the "ugly dog of the neighborhood," homeowner Skip Sroka says. While association with Murrow gave the house importance, the structure lacked architectural significance.

"A deck is the transition between the inside world of the home and the outside environment," says remodel carpenter Erich von Tagen. "A deck should accentuate the details of the home." In this case, while the view of a large valley and three major Cascade Range peaks from the deck couldn't be beat, the deck was an eyesore.

Nothing transforms more than the power of light. The interior of this late 1960s-style split-level was dark and dated with 8-foot ceilings and a cramped kitchen. It presented both a challenge and an opportunity. Here's how this remodeling firm handled the challenge.