By LEAH WEATHERSBY

If only every neighborhood had its own home improvement advisor. Then, maybe the guy next door wouldn't have added those ugly dormers last year, and maybe you wouldn't be stuck with that leaky "sun room" on the side of your house.

Sigh. We can't all be as lucky as Phinney Ridge. They have Roger Faris, the Well Home program coordinator at the Phinney Neighborhood Association who gives advice and contractor referrals, teaches regular classes and generally does everything he can to keep people from accidentally "remuddling" their homes in the drive to improve.

Another one of Faris' jobs is to organize the annual Home Design and Remodel Fair at the Phinney Neighborhood Center. The year's event will take place on Feb. 3 and will feature exhibits from over 40 contractors and non-profit groups.

Although officially billed as the fifth annual occasion of its kind, Faris said the fair has actually existed for many years under a variety of different names - often making reference to the environment.

"We've picked exhibitors with an orientation toward sustainable building," Faris said. So what's hot in environmental remodels for 2002? Faris said that bamboo floors are big these days and that the material is surprisingly durable.

"It's hard like oak - maybe even harder," Faris said, adding "it's a crop, not some forest." Of course, for those who are truly committed to sustainable remodeling there are two words: solar power. The Ballard-based company, Puget Sound Solar, will be on hand to talk about some of their latest products.

"Solar power is becoming more affordable," said Faris, explaining that most of the users now are still located in rural areas. However, he said, that could soon change. "It's just about there where it's cost effective."

So how did Faris get to be such an expert on the home? Not only is he a former contractor himself, but he also completed a long series of remodeling projects on his own Phinney Ridge home which he purchased in the early '80s. As Faris recalls, he finished the bulk of the work just in time to participate in the first ever Phinney Ridge Home Tour over 13 years ago. Now Faris is happy to tip of the search committee for that event whenever he hears about a promising new project.

Head to the PNA, homeowner, you could be next.

The PNA Home Design and Remodel Fair takes place on Sunday, Feb. 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m at the Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave N. Tickets are $3 for PNA members and $5 for non-members. For more information, call 783-2244. b