ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, March 30, 1997                 TAG: 9703290007
SECTION: TODAY'S HOMES            PAGE: 12   EDITION: METRO 

HERE'S WHAT IT TAKES TO BUILD A NEW HOME

Many people who consider themselves handy with tools think that building their own houses would be a cool thing. It is. Just ask the members of the 185,000-member National Association of Home Builders. But is it something the average person wants to do?

Not including all the preparatory work of acquiring land, putting in sewer and water hook-ups and pouring a foundation, on average, you will need the following supplies to build a 2,085-square-foot home:

13,127 board-feet of lumber;

6,212 square feet of sheathing;

13.97 tons of concrete;

2,325 square feet of exterior siding material;

2,427 square feet of roofing material;

3,061 square feet of insulation;

6,144 square feet of interior wall material;

120 linear feet of dusting;

15 windows;

13 kitchen cabinets; 2 other cabinets;

1 kitchen sink;

12 interior doors;

5 closet doors;

5 exterior doors (4 hinged, 1 sliding);

2 garage doors;

1 fireplace;

3 toilets;

2 bathtubs;

1 shower stall;

3 bathroom sinks;

2,085 square feet of flooring material such as carpeting, resilient sheet, resilient tile, ceramic tile or wood plank;

1 range;

1 refrigerator;

1 dishwasher;

1 garbage disposal;

1 range hood

1 washer;

1 dryer.

If just trying to choose the tile for the bathroom boggles your mind, leave the home building to the professionals. Call Roanoke Regional Home Builders Association Inc. at 389-7135 for a list of members, visit some neighborhoods, talk to your friends, then choose a professional builder.

LENGTH: Medium:   55 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  You may be handy, but building your own house is a task 
          few should undertake.