Fixer-Upper Project Just Keeps Going And Going

Paul Andrews would love to work on his old cars.

He’s got a ‘58 Chevy in the garage and a ‘63 Impala out back, among others.

Problem is his house. Andrews just can’t leave it alone.

He and wife. Kathy, bought a modest, 1,350-square-foot rancher on South Freya in 1987. Dark paneling created a gloomy interior, he said, and a nearly flat roof did a poor job of shedding rain and snow.

There were other limitations.

“One bathroom just doesn’t hack it,” he said.

Andrews said the attraction was the acre of property. He knew, too, that he would retire shortly from a career with US West and AT&T.

In 1992 he was able to begin a remodeling and expansion project that has almost tripled the couple’s living and storage space.

And Andrews has done all the work himself, with a little assistance from family members. The improvements have been financed strictly out-of-pocket.

“This is the greatest expansion of a fixer-upper you could find,” he said.

Last week Andrews was gradually stepping in some of the rafters that will hold in place a 46-foot beam spanning the length of the original home and tying into an addition with 2,200 square feet on two floors.

When he gets those covered, he’ll be able to remove the old roof and lift the interior ceilings to create a cathedral effect inside.

The addition also has a peaked ceiling. That long beam, Andrews said, went into place with the help of 2-by-4s nailed to an automotive jack.

It was the biggest single task of the project, he said.

Improvisation has been a key to his success.

His oil-fired boiler, for example, came from the state fish hatchery at Ford, Wash.

The equipment was so wellmaintained, he said, “All I had to do was hook it up.”

He bought most of the air ducts as used goods at Brown Building Materials. To make one corner, he turned one section on edge, an innovation sanctioned by inspectors.

Andrews said the inspections have been helpful. The only significant change shortened a beam supporting the addition’s second floor.

And he just about beams when he recalls the approval given his electrical breaker box, which has the no-nonsense look of a circuit board.

Andrews said he works on the home every day. Much of the satisfaction, he said, comes with the freedom to make a change whenever he wants to.

And he likes the return on his investment in materials - and his own time.

“For every $1 I put in, I make $4,” he said, adding that the cost of the addition and other improvements amount to less than the initial purchase price.

Andrews figures he will have the addition finished this winter.

Remodeling the old house will take another year, at least.

Then, finally, he’ll get back to that ‘58 Chevy, a vehicle he’s owned since 1964.

“It used to be my hunting car,” said Andrews, adding that he has a replacement engine all ready to to.

“I just haven’t had the time to drop it in.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

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