The end of World War 2 created a baby boom, which in turn created a need for more homes – fast. The new homes built in record time in the Metro St. Louis suburbs were known as “ranch homes,” a uniquely American architectural style of rectangular, one-story houses with low-pitched roofs, attached garages and large windows for an indoor-outdoor connection.

These new homes perfectly matched the new informal lifestyle, with central air conditioning, a floorplan centered around the family room and kitchen, and were adaptable for growing families because basements could be converted into more living space as needed.

Many of these ranch homes are now over – or rapidly approaching – 50 years of age, which qualifies some individual homes or entire subdivisions for historic designation, and there is a grassroots movement underway to educate people on the merits of maintaining these homes that still serve families so well to this day.

Any home over 50-years of age is usually ready for some remodeling (and has probably seen a good deal of it over its lifetime), and the ranch house remains a highly adaptable structure for 21^st century living.

The 21st Century Ranch Home

Ranch homes marked the beginning of modern construction materials and methods, most of which are still recognized or used by today’s remodelers. This makes it relatively easy to update these homes to today’s levels of energy efficiency, and implement new floorplans that better match the way we live today. And re-using these homes just makes sense for our pocketbooks and our communities, because the greenest home is the one already standing.

Accessible Design The one-level floor plan of the typical ranch is perfect for accessible living. Going up and down the stairs can become problematic over time, so having all daily needs on one level becomes a necessity for living comfortably and productively in your home.

There is a growing trend of older adults seeking one-level living for their retirement years, and this often finds them returning to the ranch style homes in which they originally raised their families. Quite often, they are still in the very same home and simply need the place remodeled for increased functionality and comfort.

Loft-Style Living Originally, the informal floorplan of the ranch is what differentiated it from more traditional, pre-WW2 house styles, and Americans now crave even more open space. Luckily, the ranch is highly adaptable, allowing you to remove interior walls and reconfigure spaces for more flow and usable square footage. This type of open floorplan is commonly known as “loft style,” where function is defined by furniture grouping rather than walls, creating spaces that can be quickly rearranged to meet ever-changing needs.

To achieve loft living in your ranch, it is possible to leave plumbing and HVAC fixtures in their original space (which helps with the remodeling budget) and create a whole new floorplan that takes advantage of existing views while maximizing living space. And this ultra modern layout coordinates beautifully with the mid-century modern style of a ranch, creating a unique synergy of form and function.

See more photos of how a ranch home converts to loft-style living.

Energy Efficiency As Americans deal with rapidly-increasing energy costs, the budgetary benefits of a smaller home become apparent, and this is where existing ranch homes have the advantage. It is no longer about the quantity of square footage, but the quality of how it is used, and when energy costs are measured by cubic feet, having less square footage helps with the energy bills.

There are both state and federal tax credits available for energy efficiency improvements, and working with trained and certified energy efficiency professionals will help you pin-point the improvements that will deliver the most comfort and long-term savings for the dependable ranch home.

Additional Space The ranches in suburban Metro St. Louis built from 1950 – 1970 were typically 800 – 1,500 square feet and even back in the day, families were building room additions to gain more space. So if you need more square footage, a ranch has the flexibility to embrace more space.

Because of lot size and placement on it, most room additions happen on the rear of the home, or built vertically as a 2^nd story addition, and refinishing the basement is always a smart investment. The rectangular nature of the ranch home and its modern construction makes it extremely accommodating for room additions.

See more photos of a ranch home rear addition.

Home Makeover The accommodating nature of the ranch home makes it ripe for a total makeover, inside and out. Updating the exterior design with new siding and roofing, or a new front entry makes a middle-age home look brand new. Pair that with a complete makeover of floorplan, systems and fixtures inside and you can essentially create a new home over an existing shell.

Older ranch homes exist in thriving, established communities with all the amenities and infrastructure already in place, so it makes sense on so many levels to remodel a strong home in a good neighborhood.

See more photos of a ranch home’s total makeover.

Mosby Building Arts specializes in remodeling ranch homes with personalized architecture and skilled craftsmanship for a quality home that will easily last for another 50 years. From design to energy efficiency improvements, Mosby has been contributing to sustainability and lifestyle improvements by renewing these homes to meet the needs of both the original owners of the home as well as new generations who love all the benefits of remodeling the most American of architectural styles – the ranch home.

Here’s an example of a son remodeling his parent’s ranch to match his lifestyle, and if you’d like to explore options for your ranch home, call Mosby at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

The volunteer team that "built a bridge."

There comes a time in everyone’s life when they need help from others to build a bridge to overcome a hurdle. It is an honor to help someone achieve a goal, and this is a story of bringing a family back together by making it possible to be safe, comfortable and secure in their home.

The Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition was formed in1985 to create permanency in foster children’s lives by recruiting and retaining high-quality foster and adoptive families.

The State of Missouri has approximately 1,400 children waiting for an adoption or placement; 500 of these children are in the St. Louis Metro area. The average time they stay in foster care before being placed in a permanent home or “aging out” is 26 months. Many foster children arrive in school with impairments due to prenatal drug and alcohol exposure. Furthermore, foster children are estimated to lose six months of emotional development with each new placement, and these children average one or two placement changes a year. So a 14-year-old with four lifetime placements is closer in age, emotionally, to a 12-year-old, which is a challenge for learning and relating.

The Coalition’s Extreme Recruitment® program works exclusively with the hardest-to-place foster children – those age 10 and over, sibling groups, and youth with special emotional, behavioral, or educational concerns.  By rearranging the way child welfare professionals work together, the program is able to place 70% of children in permanent homes (compared to a 40% national average) and reconnect 90% with a network of safe, appropriate family members who will become lifelong supporters.

The home before construction of the accessible ramp

Ian Forber-Pratt is on of the Coalition’s Extreme Recruiters, and is involved with an adoptive foster family facing an extreme challenge: 2 of their 4 adoptive/foster children have a degenerative disease which makes it physically difficult to get in and out of the house. The daughter had just been removed from the home because of this accessibility problem, and the son was facing the same fate. The family needed a ramp to keep the son at home and bring the daughter back where she belonged.

At the beginning of June, David Singer, owner of Warehouse of Fixtures and Junior Board Member of the Care Coalition, sent an e-mail to Judy Mosby, co-owner of Mosby Building Arts, seeking a solution that would bring the family’s daughter back home.

David explained they had architectural drawings provided by Nathan Bavolek of Nathan & James Company; would Judy know of a skilled carpenter who would lead a group of volunteers in building this much-needed ramp?

Judy Mosby Tells The Story

“David told me about the trials the foster mother has been through just to make this ramp happen. She was born blind, but with the loving support of her family, she obtained her teaching degree and taught blind children in the special school district, a career she left a year and a half ago to care for her 4 adopted foster children full-time.

“So, Mom took her application and money, and walked up to the City Hall with her cane and told them, ‘I need a ramp for my baby to come home. Will you help me?’

“With a building permit in hand, she bought all the materials for building the ramp with money from a savings account she set up just for this project. She made several attempts to line up labor to install the ramp, and they all fell through. For instance, a non-profit group offered to help, but the fee was too high and it was a 2-year waiting list. A church group offered to build the ramp until learning the project was too complicated for them. Another group was rained out on start day, and rescheduling had become impossible.

“All of these delays caused one daughter to be removed from the home, and the son’s worsening conditioning was moving him toward the same fate. Even though neighbors were helping her to bring him in and out of the house, it was becoming too much and time was running out, and the emotional toll was unbearable.

“After hearing the story, I wanted to make the ramp happen that day! I immediately went to our Energy Auditor (and former draftsman) for help with drawings and he immediately said ‘yes!’ I then asked one of our Project Managers, Rick Henson, who not only said ‘yes,’ but ‘Let’s do it next Wednesday.’

“Rick stopped by the family’s home to talk about the ramp, take a look at what materials were already on hand and what else would be needed, and immediately put together his crew. The Mosby angels who banded with Rick to build the ramp were Doug McCauley, Ryan Lane, Brian Brocco and Eric Fick.”

Mosby volunteers (l-r) Doug McCauley, Rick Henson & Ryan Lane

“Come the following Wednesday, after 8 hours of working on their own jobs, the Mosby crew converged on the family’s front yard to begin building a deck. They were joined by the Coalition’s Junior Board members Jenny and Kevin Reid, Ryan Blackburn, Kristen Weber, and of course, David Singer, who made this possible.”

“With building knowledge, skills, tools and enough hands, they completed the ramp structure and decking from 4 – 9:30 PM. The railings were all cut and left for the volunteers to attach over the coming weekend.”

Rick Henson & Brian Brocco building the ramp.

The decking is almost done

As the sun sets, the support posts go up

At sundown, everything is done but the railing

“As we stood in the dark looking at what had been accomplished in 4.5 hours, the eldest daughter came out onto the front porch and in an angelic voice sang ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ for all of us, and thanked us for helping her family to stay together.  I still tear up when I think about what a powerful and gracious moment that was.”

And here is the completed accessible ramp

“I just received this photo from Ian, showing us that they did put up the railings over the weekend, and the accessible ramp is now complete! Mom can now get her son in and out of the home with much less effort than before. The Mom’s spirit of ‘getting things done,’ is infectious, and we are so honored to be a part of building a bridge that keeps this family together and growing strong.”

For more information or to donate time or resources to The Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition see http://www.foster-adopt.org/

Would you like to see how energy efficiency looks and feels? This Saturday, June 19, 2010 from Noon – 4 p.m. you have the opportunity to tour 12 homes in the Metro St. Louis area and experience the beauty of green living.

The 4^th annual St. Louis Tour of Green Homes is your chance to take a free, self-guided tour of new and remodeled homes certified by a combination of LEEDs, Energy Star and Green Building initiatives. Click here to learn about each home and access maps.

Each home will be staffed with builders, owners and trained energy professionals to educate you on sustainable, efficient features (like reducing energy and water costs by 30-50%!) and answer all your questions.

Mosby Building Arts’ certified energy professional, Eric Fick, will be at EarthWays Center (one of the hosts of the event) at 3617 Grandel Square in Mid-Town St. Louis. He will demonstrate some of the tests performed during an energy audit that help him determine the solutions that deliver the best results for your health, comfort and pocketbook.

Read the story of a Mosby Energy Audit at this link, and then bring your questions about how this can improve your home to Eric on Saturday, between 12 – 4 pm at Earthways Center.

This free event is hosted by the St. Louis Homebuilders Association, Missouri Botanical Garden’s EarthWays Center, and the St. Louis Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Painting is the one home improvement project we’ve all done at least once, and how smoothly it went is usually the dividing line between “never again!” and “oh, wow!”

Changing colors or refreshing old paint is the cheapest and quickest way to enliven the interior and exterior of your home. A new coat of paint is like a new start, and it is a low-risk project because if the color doesn’t quite work the way it was intended, you simply paint over it.

Whether you hire professional painters or do the job yourself, there are certain rules, tips and knowledge about house painting that insure highest quality for spectacular results.

Let’s Paint It!

Anything can be painted but should it be painted? Certain surfaces simply won’t hold a proper finish no matter how carefully it is prepped. Vinyl siding and laminates will not hold a flawless coat of paint for very long. Concrete porches and floors can be covered with paint specifically for such porous surfaces, but high traffic areas will need regular touch up. Aside from these exceptions, most everything else can be successfully transformed with a new coat of paint.

Colors & Finishes

Personal taste and what makes you feel good is the guiding principal for choosing paint colors, but there are some general guidelines that may help you narrow down the endless choices.

Light colors create the illusion of largeness, while dark colors appear to reduce. Cool colors work best with northern light while warm colors thrive in southern light. Along with the accepted neutral shades of white, beige and tan, add grey and green (which is Mother Nature’s neutral!) to the list; these shades are going to coordinate nicely with any other color by it.

The sheen of paint after its dry is known as the finish, and there are several choices. A flat finish is most forgiving of surface imperfections, but does not hold up well to scrubbing. If it’s a busy area that will inevitably need to be cleaned, opt for an eggshell finish, which is also good for disguising surface imperfections. The drama of semi-gloss or hi-gloss finish can be delightful, but it will show every imperfection, so use it for smaller areas that will benefit from this visual boost.

Paint Quality

Always use paint on the surface it is made for: exterior paint for the outside, interior paint for the inside, if it’s metal or wrought iron, use paint specifically formulated for those surfaces. Ignoring this rule will usually bring an unsatisfactory result.

Cheap paint will deliver a cheap result. Choose the highest quality paints for easier application, better coverage and longer-lasting results. A few more dollars spent at the start of the project will buy you several more years before its time to paint again.

Oil vs. Latex

The advantages of oil-based paint are less shrinkage, longer durability and easy cleaning. Disadvantages are the 24-hour drying period, color fading or turning yellowish with time, and it is considered a hazardous material. The advantages of latex paint are that it’s easy to apply and clean up, dries in 1-2 hours and holds its true color. Disadvantages include temperature sensitivity which causes shrinkage, does not block stains and requires more frequent reapplication.

The quality of non-toxic paints have come along way in the last several years, and are now a great choice for those with health and allergy concerns. Learn more about non-toxic paints at this link.

Preparation

Painting is 90% preparation and 10% application, and the prep is what makes all the difference. The surface should be cleaned with warm water and a mild detergent and rinsed. Plug all holes or chips with joint compound. If there’s large cracks on the surface, find and fix the cause before patching the crack, or it will simply happen again, marring your new paint job. Clear the area of anything that would get in the way, and cover adjoining surfaces to protect against spills and splatters.

Temperature is an important consideration. Climate controlled interiors can be painted all year long. Outside, the rule is above 40 degrees with low humidity and no threat of rain for 12-14 hours, and try to paint an area while it’s in the shade.

Primers

You need to use a basecoat primer if the existing finish is a dark color, faux-finished or has been repaired, which enables better coverage for the new layer. If you are applying a dark color, a tinted primer will reduce the number of coats needed. Oil-based primers are excellent for blocking stains, and latex paint can be applied over it, but latex paint must have a layer of primer between it and an oil surface.

It’s easy to test a previously painted surface to see if it’s oil-based. Clean a small patch of wall with dish soap and warm water, rinse and towel dry. Then rub a cotton ball or soft rag soaked in rubbing alcohol over the clean area. If the paint comes off, it’s latex. If the paint is undisturbed, it’s oil-based.

Order of Painting

When it comes to interior rooms, there is a correct order to follow. But first, be sure to use the best quality rollers and brushes you can afford because they make application so much easier and accurate. These tools differ for each type of paint and application (rolling, edging, etc.), so choose the appropriate tool for the job.

A room is painted from the top down, so begin on the ceiling, edging a 3″ wide strip where the ceiling meets the wall and use a roller to fill in the rest, painting with a criss-cross pattern for sufficient coverage. Next, paint a 3″ edge below the ceiling line, out from the corners of the room, around windows and doors, and along the top of baseboards. Then fill in the remainder using a roller brush. Always apply two coats for uniform coverage. Deeply saturated colors (like red, dark brown or purple) usually require 4-5 coats.

Lead Safe Practices

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently enacted a lead safety rule to protect against the health dangers of lead-based paints. This applies mainly to professional contractors working on homes built before 1978. By law, remodeling contractors must discuss this program with you before starting work on your home, so if they don’t, let it serve as warning of their ethics and professionalism. Be safe and choose an EPA-certified firm.

If there’s to be any sanding or scraping of any painted surface area, door or window replacement, there are health concerns to consider for Do-It-Yourselfers, and procedures to be followed for contractors. Learn more about the requirements of the Lead Safe Program here, or call Mosby Building Arts at 314.909.1800, as they are trained and experienced in lead safe work practices.

A professional, long-lasting paint job is part of the process of most every Mosby Building Arts remodeling project, and Mosby has their own team of painters on staff, which assures consistent quality and beauty. If you’d rather turn a paint job over to the pros, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

First impressions are immediate and powerful, and every time someone passes your home they form a quick opinion about it based, in part, on your exterior siding.

Siding is the exterior envelope of your house, serving as protection from the elements while coping with moisture passing through from the interior. The location and weather patterns around your home – as well as its architectural style – will guide what type of siding to use, and the qualifications and experience of the firm who will install the new siding is just as important. After that, ongoing maintenance needs and price will help narrow down your choices.

EXTERIOR SIDING CHOICES

Stone & Cultured Stone Siding

Rock is beautiful and lends permanence to the home. Natural stone is nearly impervious to weather, and when it is properly protected it can last seemingly forever. These qualities also make it very expensive, which is why pre-cast stone veneers that look and feel like real stone are a popular option.

Whether you choose natural or cultured stone, ensure that it is protected with a special 10-year sealant to prevent spalling, and do not let vines grow on the walls as they weaken the mortar and hold moisture against the wall.

Brick & Brick Veneer Siding

Fired clay brick comes in a wide variety of earthy colors, and it is pricey because it can last for centuries. Brick veneers can look authentic for a more affordable price.

Brick requires maintenance to the mortar between the bricks, which will need to be re-tuckpointed based on the erosion caused by weather conditions around your home. Properly sealing brick and mortar adds substantially to its lifespan and greatly reduces the frequency (and expense) of tuckpointing. Certain sealers that bond internally need only be re-applied about every 10 years.

Cedar Siding

Cedar is a natural wood, and certain varieties are naturally resistant to insects and rot. Cedar shake can be left in its natural state so that weathering over time will give it a special patina. Paint or staining is also an option, and will need to be reapplied every 3-5 years.

Untreated cedar can crack or “cup” on the sides of the house that receive the most sun, while the shingles on the shady sides of the house can have mold, moss and fungus issues. Sealers specially formulated for cedar will reduce some of these concerns, and need only be applied one time.

Wood Clapboard Siding

Solid wood siding remains the first choice for traditional style and quality. With periodic maintenance, wood siding will outlast vinyl, as evidenced from so many wood clapboard houses built over a century ago still looking beautiful to this day. Unlike other siding materials, it can be repaired and partially replaced.

Improper installation can inhibit wood siding’s need to “breathe,” which results in paint and deterioration problems, and it will need to be repainted roughly every 10 years, depending on the amount of weathering the paint can withstand.

Engineered Wood Siding

Also known as oriented strand board (OSB), this is a composite material made with wood products and other materials. The panels are often molded to mimic traditional wood clapboard.

Engineered siding is installed with “hidden fasteners” rather than “face nailed.” This prevents water penetrating the core of the veneer material, and failure to follow manufacturing instructions results in damaged siding. Partial replacement of damaged pieces is very difficult. How often it will need to be repainted depends on whether it’s a factory pre-finish or painted after installation.

Fiber Cement Siding

An extremely durable material that is fireproof, termite-proof and can have the appearance of wood, stucco or masonry. It cuts and installs like wood siding, and can be painted in the color of your choice. It’s higher priced than natural or engineered wood, but exceptional manufacturers’ warranties make it a durable, low maintenance investment.

Cement fiber siding is typically not a do-it-yourself project, and should be installed only by certified professionals with fiber cement siding training and experience so that warranties fully apply. This material holds paint longer than wood siding, needing to be repainted roughly every 15-20 years.

Vinyl Siding

Made from PVC, it won’t rot or flake, is affordable to buy and relatively easy to install, which is what makes it the most popular siding material. An endless variety of colors and textures are available to fit any home design, and a spray washing once or twice a year is the extent of surface maintenance.

It can crack, fade or grow dingy over time, and keep the BBQ pit away from it as it will melt. Because vinyl is cheaper and easier to install, unqualified installers overlooking important moisture and flashing details are an all-too-common problem, which can result in serious water damage to the exterior and interior of your home.

Siding is the public face and protector of your home, and it is a sizable investment, so make sure that whatever siding material you choose is properly installed and protected.

The exterior design team at Mosby Building Arts is trained and experienced in all aspects of exterior siding. They begin by removing the old siding and applying the proper moisture barriers and flashing that keeps water out of your house. Their deep bench of siding professionals are certified in the proper installation of fiber cement board and vinyl siding, and the Mosby ProTreat sealing system adds another layer of protection and value to your exterior remodeling project.

Exterior siding is a precise art, and here is an example of Mosby’s award-winning siding work. To work with a team that will increase the value and beauty of your home, call Mosby at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Take a drive through most any St. Louis County subdivision to see how important garages are. Overhead doors are raised displaying spaces packed with cars, lawn equipment, tools and overflowing storage. It is the favored hang-out for men. Its transitory position between indoors and out makes it a high traffic area.

The garage is a large and vital room in your home that deserves special attention to maximize organizational, recreational and functional potential. And make no mistake – it is a room in your home, one that gets used every day. Yet it’s commonly the room with the dreariest look and most wasted space. Luckily, there are plenty of solutions for enhancing your garage.

EXPANDING
Garages are getting bigger all the time. The standard 21′x 21′, 2-car garage does not adequately accommodate the larger size of our vehicles along with typical garage items like the lawnmower, gardening tools and a workbench.

Garages need to be a minimum of 22′ x 22′ to work with modern lifestyles, and the 3-car garage is the new standard. Even if there’s only 2 cars in your family, that extra bay can easily be converted into household storage or hobby workspace.

When it comes to more square footage, also think vertical. By adding a top layer to your existing garage, you get loft space that can become a playspace for kids, a home office or exercise studio.  Or by installing an auto elevator or car lift, you get the ability to stack vehicles atop one another, effectively doubling storage capacity.

ORGANIZING
Your garage can be just as precisely organized as the most breathtaking walk-in closet on HGTV. There’s an organization system to meet every need, featuring bins, pull-out drawers, shelving and custom cabinetry and closets. Walls can be turned into peg boards for hoisting yard tools, bikes and sporting equipment up off the floor so that it’s easier to navigate.  The same process used to design the ultimate kitchen (function, traffic flow, etc.) can also apply to the garage, with the same level of life enhancing results for the whole family.

UPGRADING
Unpainted drywall and unsealed concrete floors are the norm of garage interiors, which is a curious way to treat one of the most important spaces in a home. This is a room that all your neighbors see every time the overhead door goes up, and your frequent visitors most likely walk through the garage as well, so improving the look of this high traffic area with upgraded wall and floor finishes is a smart investment.

Plus, opting for finished walls and ceilings also provides an opportunity to add insulation to a large space that is too often overlooked when it comes to energy efficiency. Controlling the temperature in a garage makes it more useful all year long.

DETACHING
One issue with ever-expanding garages is that, from the street view, it can look as if the garage is overtaking the house! The re-emergence of the detached garage (like the ones in St. Louis City) is the solution for getting the size you need while maintaining the look and balance of your home, proper.  And building a new detached garage gives you a chance to add a second floor apartment that can serve as a home office or guest house.

The garage is no longer a utilitarian space to keep your car; it has become an important, frequently used part of daily life. When contemplating ways to improve the function and look of your garage, you should treat it as you would any remodeling project in your home. Begin with the designers and planners at Mosby Building Arts who will work with you to create a garage that meets all your wants and needs, and the Mosby carpenters will bring the project to life.

With over 60 years of experience, you can trust Mosby Building Arts to deliver a garage that lasts a lifetime and adds value to your entire home. Here’s an example of a Mosby garage project that inspired a total exterior makeover. Make the most of your garage by calling Mosby at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

This Sunday, June 6, 2010, Scott Mosby will be at the Home Modification Fair, sponsored by the Bond County Senior Center. This event takes place from 12 – 5 p.m. at the Bond County Health Department, 1520 S. 4^th Street in Greenville, IL 62246.

Scott Mosby, who is a Certified Aging In-Place Specialist, will share his knowledge of how to modify our homes to eliminate potential obstacles and focus on functionality, comfort and style. His presentation begins at 1 p.m.

On stage with Scott will be Greenville community pillar Robert Gaffner, who recently remodeled his home for accessibility with Mosby Building Arts. Robert will share the experience of undertaking an accessible design project and how these changes have improved his quality of life and productivity.

Also on hand at the Home Modification Fair will be members of Scott’s deep bench of professionals ready to answer your questions. Look for the Mosby Building Arts display, and talk with Consultants about 50-Plus living features (like grab bars and improved lighting) that will make yours a home for a lifetime.

Click to learn more about the Beauty of 50-Plus Living.

This event is open to the public. For more information and directions, please call 618.664.1465.