Check it out @ the Hales Corners Library

Planning a home renovation project? Maybe the kitchen needs to be updated or your growing family needs another bathroom. If you own one of the vintage homes in Hales Corners, you’ll want to check out the following books available at the Hales Corners Library.

Updating Classic America, design ideas for renovating, remodeling, and building new an excellent series of books published by The Tauton Press, the same people who bring you “Fine Homebuilding”, “Fine Woodworking”, “Fine Gardening” and “Fine Cooking” to name a few of their magazine publications. Each of the Updating Classic America books is written specific for vintage homes and includes ways to update your classic home, plan for remodeling projects large and small, build an addition that blends the new with your home’s classic style or build a new home designed from a classic old pattern. Here are the four titles in print and available at the Hales Corners Library:
• Bungalows by M. Caren Connolly and Louis Wasserman (Call number 728.373 C752).
• Capes by Jane Gitlin (Call number 728.370973 G536).
• Colonials by Matthew Schoenherr (Call number 728.37 S365).
• Ranches by M. Caren Connolly and Louis Wasserman (Call number 728.6 C752).

Architectural plans for adding on or remodeling by Jerold Axelrod (Call number 643.7 A969). This is a consumer-friendly guide for do-it-yourself add-ons and other home improvement jobs complete with architect-created plans. This book is wonderful if you are looking for ideas. One note of caution, although the book states you can buy the plans for the designs found throughout the book, none of the plans are currently available.

Planning your addition by Jerry Germer (Call number 643.7 G373) This is the book to use when you start your planning process. Detailed architectural plans show how a house is assembled and what is involved in adding on to it. More than 100 photos explore design ideas that you can use as a starting point in planning an addition with an architect or builder. Although this book is only 186 pages, it is well written with many great sketches and photos.

Renovation, a complete guide by Michael W. Litchfield (Call number 643.7L776) This is a good book to start with if you’re renovating a home or thinking about it. It is an outstanding guide that covers all aspects of home renovation, including how to assess a house’s structure, tools, materials, wiring, plumbing, painting, flooring, etc. Instructions are to the point and easy to understand.

Bob Vila’s complete guide to remodeling your home, everything to know about home renovation from #1 home improvement expert by Bob Vila and Hugh Howard (Call number 643.7 V695C) TV host and author Bob Vila sets the record straight for homeowners that most renovations are best performed by professionals. With this in mind, he explains how informed consumers should approach their project so that it is done properly. He provides a wealth of information on architectural styles (and how to integrate newly remodeled sections with the existing style), evaluating the house, dealing with building professionals, planning, financing, and more.

This suggested reading list was written by Patricia Laughlin, Library Director, and is provided by the Hales Corners Library, 5885 S. 116th Street. The library is open 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; closed on Sundays during the summer. Patrons can look up books from home at http://countycat.mcfls.org/.