Newspaper Page Text
Your 1968
HOME IMPROVEMENT
and
NEW HOME EDITION
HOME IMPROVEMENT EDITION
GENERAL NEWS %
B Is Found This Week g
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Newton Homeowners Spend
$1,116,0000n Home Upkeep
Newton County’s homeowners
on the upkeep of their proper!
ment study.
Their outlay per year, for gen
eral maintenance and for altera
tions, additions and repairs, is
approximately $1,116,000.
That is an estimate based upon
a government survey of home
expenditures in communities ac
ross the country. The figures
include data from the Department
of Commerce and from other
sources.
They show that the average
amount spent for such purposes
in Newton County’s regional area
is about $197 per housing unit.
This compares with $253 nation
ally.
That is the average. Some
homeowners spend considerably
more than that at times when ma
jor repairs are called for, but
get along with smaller outlays
in other years.
Overall figures that show the
total amount being spent for res
identail upkeep and improvement
111 Permits Issued By City
For New Homes, Business
Improvements In 1967
Building of new homes and
making improvements to present
business facilities continued at
a rapid rate during the year
1967 in the City of Covington.
According to officials at City
Hall a total of 111 permits were
issued during the past year for
new homes and business im
provements. There were 73
new homes permits issued, and
38 business improvements.
This overal 111 figure com
pares with the 1966 total of
61 permits issued in the city.
The amount of money involv
ed in the construction is not
an "accurate figure” of the final
construction cost, the local of
ficials stated. The aggregate
total of money to be spent (as
The List of New Homes and Business Improvements for 1967
MONTH NEW HOMES AMOUNT BUS. IMPS. AMT.
January 3 $ 43,000.00 1 $ 250.00
February 6 97,500.00 3 61,000.00
March 8 100,000.00
April 9 119,050.00
May 9 105,750.00 9 7,360.00
June 9 90,000.00
July 6 84,000.00 6 3,600.00
August 3 35,500.00 6 7,625.00
September 6 75,550.00 5 36,725,00
October 5 60,000.00
November 6 72,500.00 7 7,200.00
December 3 34,500.00 1 350.00
73 $917,350.00 38 $124,110.00
> spend a pretty penny each year
•ty, according to a recent govern-
are contained in the Commerce
Department report. The out
lay in this direction, throughout
the nation, comes to $11.44 bil
lion per year.
How is Newton County’s share
of this, $1,116,000, being dis
tr ibu red?
A breakdown, based on the na
tional figures, indicates that 56
percent of it goes for additions,
alterations and replacements.
; The other 44 percent is for gen
eral upkeep, maintenance and
, repairs. In this category, paint
ing is the biggest item of ex
pense. It accounts for 42 per-
1 cent of all upkeep costs.
Plumbing is next, with 11 per
cent, followed by roofing, 7 per
cent, and heating and air con
ditioning, 4 percent. Furnace
repairs, electrical work, floor
? ing and the like make up the
remainder.
Home maintenance and repair
turned at City Hall to obtain
the permit) on the 38 homes was
$917,350. The 38 business im
provement figure is listed at
$124,110.
April, May and June of last
year were the busiest for home
builders. Nine permits were
issued in each of those three
months. The total of the nine
homes in April of last year was
listed at City Hall as $119,050.
The other two months went well
over the SIOO,OOO mark.
In the month of February there
were three business improve
ment permits issued and the sum
turned in at City Hall was s6l,
000. This was perhaps the bus
iest for business expansion in
the city in one month.
was more expensive last year,at
least five percent more, than in
the prect'ding year, according to
Labor Department figures.
In addition to increases in the
cost of lumber, hardward, pipe
fittings and other items, there
was a marked increase in labor
Covington Keeps Abreast
Os Demand For Utilities
The growth in the number of
utility customers in the City oi
Covington has reached an almost
509 increase since the year 1960,
according to records at the City
Hall.
In the city service of water,
electricity, sewer and gas a st
eady increase has been noted
yearly. The totals in the depart
ments in 1967 were as follows;
water, 3118, electricity, 3589,
sewer, 2473, and gas 2806. This
compares to respective customer
totals of 2,072; 3,244; 1,503; and
1,919 during the month of Decem
ber 1960.
Numerous sub-divisions and
home development areas within
the city limits has placed a de
mand on the city departments for
services in the fringe areas.
Many gas, sewer and electric
Home Investment —
Hedge Against Inflation
A home is one of the few things
you can buy that doesn’t nec
cessarily wear out, become ob
solete or otherwise depreciate.
Well-situated, well built homes
increase in value with the pass
age of time. In the process, own
ers build equity and gain a wel
come hedge against inflation.
There are other strong induce
ments for home investment. De
signs to suit every taste and bud
get are available. Techniquesand
materials have improved. With
good modern styling, you enjoy
maximum comfort and conven
ience, new opportunity for rec
reation. Maintenance can be
carefree, too.
Choice building sites are still
plentiful. This may not be the
case five or ten years from now
when population expansion con
stricts land availability.
Here are some suggestions from
the Southern Pine Association on
how to realize generous dividends
from the home investment:
First, take the time to thor
oughly scout prospective sites.
Keep a watchful eye on future
possibilities for property values
in the locations you are scanning.
A Prize-Winning
Newspaper
1966
Bette vspaper
3
wished JB65—The Covington Star, Established 1874—The Enterprise, Established 1902, and The Citizen Observer, Established 1953
COVINGTON, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1968
1968 Outlook For Housing:
Innovation And Change Seen
All indications are that change
will be the hallmark of housing
in 1968.
Revolutionary styling, new
comfort and convenience, new
opportunity for recreation are in
the offering for home buyers
as we enter the New Year.
Growing builder zeal for in
novation and improvement is
sparked by a unique combination
of opportunities and problems.
With the record number of
people born after World War
II beginning to reach family
forming age, unprecedented de
mand for housing seems to be
accumulating. But there are
restraining influences. High cost
costs for mechanics anil handy
men.
Frequently, these workmen
were unobtainable at all. They
had more jobs than they could
handle. Asa result, many home
owners were forced to pick up
the wrench or the paint brush and
do their own repair work.
lines have been extend<*d to areas
of the city which d»d not have
utilities six years ago.
One the requirements of indus
try is that utilities be available
for present needs and also a keen
outlook for future expansion.
Covington has kept abreast of the
times by expansion of the city
electric, sewer and gas depart
ments.
The number of customers ser
ved by the city utilities during the
month of Decemlier follows:
Water Elec. Sewer Gas
1960 — 2072 3224 1503 1919
1961 — 2157 3301 1598 2087
1962— 2273 3376 1698 2283
1963 — 2388 3579 1874 2462
1964 — 2484 3698 1871 2594
1965 — 2903 3788 2288 2781
1966 -- 2953 3988 2359 2909
1967 — 3118 3589 2473 2806
Int costs are still relatively low
in manv of the newer residential
areas with bargains still to be had
Contract for the services of an
architect or builder reputed for
quality craftsmanship. The con
scientious professional is alert to
your desires and needs—-and
heedful of limits imposed by your
budget. With his know-how, he
will help you gain maximum re
turn from your building dollars.
Proper positioning with re
spect to lot and sun can save thou
sands of dollars in construction
costs and in lighting, heating, and
air conditioning bills during the
years of occupancy. If your home
is correctly oriented, land
scaped, has enough windows in the
right places and an adequate roof
overhang, you will make the best
possible us of Nature’s blessings
—daylight, the warmth of the sun
and the coolness of prevailing
breezes.
Good homes are distinctive be
cause they blend well with attrac
tive surroundings. This objective
is furthered by attractive archi
tectural devices such as open
wood decks which let you enjoy the
landscape freely and comfort-
Qlljf (Unmngtun
OF NEWS, PICTURES, AND FEATURES OF ANY WEEKLY IN GEORGIA
of land and credit financing, the
uncertainties of Viet Nam, draft
calls and the like have cooled
the ardor of many a young fam
ily for home ownership or else
have turned their interest-and
dollars-into other channels such
as sport cars and color TV.
While the population increase
is expected to trigger a con
struction boom sooner or later,
builders in general do not seem
to be of a mood to sit back on
their heels and wait for it to
happen. Instead, they feel they
must help things along and that
one of the best things they can
do is turn out a more enticing
product.
We can look forward to a strong
effort by builders in 1968 to make
home ownership more appealing
to the skyrocketing ranks of
younger families. This calls for
closer identity of homes with
fun and action. In the process,
some uniquely daring designs
should emerge.
Symbolic of the new freedom
of form is the fact that fram
ing lumber, concealed in con
ventional housing, is beginning
to come out in the open. With
increasing frequency-and in dis
tinct departure from tradition
various elements of the structur
al framework such as posts,
columns, rafters, ceiling beams
and roof decking are left ex
posed in the finished dwelling.
According to the Southern Pine
Association, the visual impact is
refreshingly natural. Exposed
framing in its bold modern forms
gives the home some of the un
fettered feeling of the forests.
It is also an ideal medium for
jointly utilizing the high strength
and attractive appearance of pre
shruak Southern Pine lumber.
Os its very nature, a "fun”
home offers the maximum in
comfort, convenience and care
free living. Therefore, we can
expect greater emphasis on open
decks, family rooms, swimming
pools, push-button appliances and
other features which reduce the
workload and increase recrea
tional opportunity.
Atrium design should be in
creasingly popular since it as
sures privacy in outdoor living
even in congested urban areas.
This type of home is built around
a central yard which, of course,
is an ideal locale for a pool,
play area or garden.
In an effort to come up with
as attractive a package as pos
sible, builders can be expected
to intensify their assault on cost
problems. Thoughtful profes
sionals know it is extravagant to
cut corners on quality and place
their faith in greater job-site
efficiency as a source of econ
omy.
Quality itself is regarded as
the key to substantial savings.
For example, the precision char
acter and dependable perform
ance of pre-shrunk framing lum
ber has greatly increased the
flexibility and efficiency of de
sign and has made possible a bold
streamlining of the structural
form.
ably.
Structural considerations are
vitally important-notably the
quality of the framework which
holds your home together. With
adequate strength and snugness
here, your home is secure against
the impact of violent storms and
the ravages of time.
What the specifications call
for in framing lumber deserve
your closest attention. This
should be attended to in the ear
liest planning stages.
The selected species should
have high natural strength and
nail holding power. The grade
should be adequate for the use.
The lumber should be properly
seasoned and pre-shrunk before
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NUMBER 14