Seminars give inside scoop on home enhancement, issues

HBA Home Show seminars are all about educating consumers in topics that go with homeownership, building and remodeling.

Whether visitors need to know about types of fireplaces, windows, custom home building or an alternative method of home construction, HBA Home Show seminars have it covered.

Here's a look at some of the seminars featured at the 2003 Home Show.

Fireplaces

Because a fireplace isn't a simple matter, Maschino's is presenting "Fireplaces 101." Greg Nutting, general manager with Maschino's, said the seminar is to inform customers on "what's available on the market. It's an opportunity to get people aware of what options are out there before they search for possibilities."

Nutting said typically it takes 30 to 45 minutes to explain to customers what options are available.

"People get overwhelmed," Nutting said.

Fireplace options are broad. They can be wood, gas or electric, and they can be masonry, zero clearance, decorative and heater rated.

Remote starters are available to turn on a fireplace or vary the flame height.

Nutting said Maschino's sells more than 300 remotes a year.

"Most people in our market are after gas fireplaces because of convenience and ease. We still sell wood stoves and inserts, but that's not the lion's share of the market," Nutting said.

Nutting advises people to consider: what they want the fireplace to do (heat or decorative); how big an area do they want it to take up; how they want to control it; if the hearth should be raised or flat on the floor; and how furniture should be arranged around the fireplace.

Nutting said customers should investigate their fireplace options when they're putting together a budget because "when the customer gets to the fireplace, they have already been extravagant in their budget and have to cut back," Nutting said.

Windows

White River Hardwoods' seminar is "How to Select Windows for Your Custom Home." Topics to be addressed include construction and insulation factor of windows.

Ron Spellman of White River Hardwoods said the topic is important because "windows for a home can be a high-dollar investment. What we want to do is show people the types of windows available and make sure they're getting the most they can get for their money."

Vinyl, wood, wood-clad and composite are the four most popular types of windows, Spellman said.

Composite windows are probably the newest on the market, Spellman said. He described these windows as having an exterior finish that is a blend of a resinated fiberglass.

"That gives you a real tough exterior finish similar to aluminum clad. The advantage over aluminum clad is the composite gives paintable surfaces."

The insulation factor for windows comes from various types of glass, Spellman said. Some help to keep out ultraviolet rays, lowering air conditioning costs; some help prevent heat loss in winter. Some windows are filled with argon gas between two glass panels to improve insulation, Spellman said.

Insulated concrete forms

"Advantages of Building with Insulated Concrete Forms" is a seminar addressing a form of construction relatively new to the region.

Insulated concrete form construction is "Styrofoam blocks stacked together with reinforcing steel in them. The blocks are poured full of concrete. The Styrofoam stays in place and you're ready for wall finishing," said Scott Kisling of Up-Tyte Construction Inc.

A regional manager from Reward Wall Systems, of which Kisling is a dealer, will present the seminar.

Kisling said using ICFs make a building energy efficient, safer in storms and more secure. An ICF house would be safer in storms because "the whole house is steel reinforced concrete. Most injuries and deaths from tornadoes come from flying debris," Kisling said.

Up-Tyte Construction Inc. has completed one Highland Springs home using the ICF method, and has used ICFs exclusively for basements in several other houses. Kisling, currently building his own home with ICFs, hopes to have it ready for the June 2003 Parade of Homes.

Custom home building

The whole home building process is the topic of "Building Your Custom House." Sam Watts, owner of Homes by Sam Watts Inc., said the seminar will "lay out the procedure from choosing a builder, getting financing, selling an existing home, to choosing a lot. A Realtor will explain the sale process of an existing home. A banker will be there to explain financing costs. I'm explaining about choosing a lot and house plan, and things like choosing a builder."

Watts would like people to know their budget before beginning the home building process.

"I'd like for them to know what they can spend on a house, so that when we go to have plans drawn and look at lots we can make their choices fit into their budget," Watts said.