HOME, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE SHOW

Page 2

February 2015

Lowes has been helping pros and customers

LOVE WHERE THEY LIVE for more than 60 years
Lowes of Wauwatosa and Lowes of
Delavan will have Project Specialists
for both Interiors and Exteriors
Categories on site to schedule free inhome appointments as well as to discuss your upcoming project and inspiration needs. Lowes has experienced,
licensed and insured General
Contractors who in partnership with
our specialists will facilitate your project from design to enjoyment.
Interior
Categories:
Kitchen
Remodels, Bathroom Remodels and
Basement Finishing/Remodels

Exterior Categories: Decks, Fences,

Windows, Roofs, Gutters, Siding,
Insulation, HVAC, Generators and
Ramps.
Founded in 1946 and traded on the
New York Stock Exchange since 1961,
Lowes (LOW) has grown from a small
hardware store to a total home
improvement company providing customers inspiration and support whenever and wherever they shop. Whether
our customers shop in store, online, by
phone, or if were meeting them at their
home or place of business, Lowes is

ready to help.
Lowes supports the communities it
serves through programs that focus on
K-12 public education and community
improvement projects. From the companys signature education grant program, Lowes Toolbox for Education,
to Lowes Heroes projects supported by
employee volunteers in their local communities, and the Lowes Charitable
and Educational Foundation, Lowes
has donated hundreds of millions of
dollars and countless volunteer hours to
improve communities in the United

States.
Lowes stores stock 40,000 products
and have hundreds of thousands more
available by Special Order offering
everything customers need to build,
maintain, beautify and enjoy their
homes. Although times have changed
since Lowes first opened its doors in
1946, Lowes values have not the
company remains committed to offering high-quality home improvement
products at everyday low prices, while
delivering superior customer service.

The MCR Group LLC

Three Companies with proven experience and customer satisfaction, joined
together to better service the needs of
the landscape industry. The MCR
Group provides a wide variety of services for its clients. From lawn service
and bed maintenance to custom construction of patios, outdoor kitchens,
pergolas and outdoor living rooms. The
MCR Group is also a full service snow
and ice control company offering the
highest standards of winter safety for its
commercial and industrial customers.

Located at 7301 W. Calumet Rd in

Milwaukee, customers are able to visit
their detailed indoor showroom which
transitions into a beautiful outdoor
space. These spaces combined with
their state of the art 3-D design capabilities really allow the customer to
have a hands on, visual approach to
their landscaping projects. With combined experience of over 80 years,
they are capable of maintaining the
individualized home, to the expansive
acreage of larger commercial and

industrial sites.
"The coalition of the individual businesss really made for a powerhouse
company that todays industry was in
dire need of," says James Hoffmann,
Vice President of Operations at The
MCR Group.
Paul Conway offers a special "eye"
in natural landscape designs. His abilities to combine native outcropping
stones and boulders with plantings really brings the designs to life. Seamlessly
blending the hardscaping with the nat-

ural beauty of Wisconsins native

species.
Northouse Landscape brought the 3D design and architectural aspect to
the table. Ryan Risse, the lead designer
states, "The ability to take tours of the
project before installation allowed us to
exceed not only our clients expectations, but also our installers. The 3-D
"movies" created from our 2-D renderings gave a clear picture as to what the
end product should be. That gave our
Turn to page 4

Be sure to visit us at the

Home, Garden & Landscape Show

at The Waukesha Expo Center

February 27,28, & March 1, 2015!

414-540-6791

414-447-0810

414-228-1000
northouse.com

HOME, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE SHOW

February 2015

Page 3

KITCHEN MASTERS
9234 W. Oklahoma Ave., West Allis
414-321-7070 kitchenmastersinc.com
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9am-5pm Saturday 10am-2pm

REMODELING AMERICA
SIDEX CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN
16331 W. LINCOLN AV. NEW BERLIN, WI 53151
262-821-4400
www.WINDOWSorSIDING.com

BRING YOUR OLD CABINETS BACK TO LIFE

New Cabinets or Refacing Cabinet Door Replacements Drawer Fronts
Countertops: Granite, Quartz, Corian & Other Solid Surfaces
HELPFUL PLANNING

NEW CABINETRY

CABINET REFACING

Refacing Your Cabinets in Beautiful Hardwoods

or High Grade Laminate Can Save You Up To

Countertops
FREE Laminated
50% OFF

with installation of New Cabinets. Call for details.

the Cost of
Cabinet Replacements

REFLECT YOUR PERSONAL STYLE

Landscape
Design-Build
Construction
Hardscapes
PO Box 80252 Saukville WI 53080

414.236.9580 c.
262.421.5106 o.
262.421.5107 f.
tom@turftechelite.com
www.turftechelite.com

N88 W15192 Main St.

Menomonee Falls, WI 53051

262-255-3626 www.poolpark.com

POOLS SPAS SERVICE

Page 4

HOME, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE SHOW

February 2015

The MCR Group LLC

From page 2

(414) 467-8255

MEGA DISCOUNT
NURSERY

50-85% Off

and So Much More at Dirt Cheap Prices

SALE DURING SHOW HOURS ONLY!

Over 20 Acres of Garden Center
Common perennial and annual plants Planting& Delivery Available
We carry rare and hard-to-find plants Top Soil
Clay Soil (Excellent for keeping Water Away from the Foundation)
Firewood - Huge, Generous Bundles at a Price That Cant be Matched
(Also sold by the cord, 1/2 cord and face cord)
Decorative or Natural Wood Chips Stone Hay
Shade Trees Arborvitae (Perfect for Privacy)
Flowering Trees, Evergreens & Bushes (Dwarf & Standard)

We Have Over 35 Years of Experience

MIKES OLD FASHIONED MEAT MARKET

We are now offering Organic Superior Meats and Fresh Eggs
We breed and raise all our animals from day one
We spare NO expense in our top quality feed and care of our animals.
We take great pride in our meats and I personally GUARANTEE our
meats are far superior than any supermarket and at a very fair price!!!
Mike Beaumont, owner and operator
Offering shipping throughout the United States (Great Gift Idea!)
1901 E. Rawson Avenue Oak Creek, WI 53154
Tel: 414-571-6565 Cell: 414-881-2787 Fax: (414) 571-6543

installers the ability to really fine tune the details and

specialties needed to
offer the customer a landscape installation catered
to their individual personalities and needs."
MCR
Property
Maintenance brought 18
years of experience in
horticultural bed maintenance and turf management which allows The
MCR Group to properly manage the
clients needs even after the initial
installations, assuring the new found
beauty is there to stay. That maintenance knowledge combined with the
business knowledge that owner Matt
Ryan possessed, allowed the acquisitions to flourish.
The MCR Group has grown to a 70
truck fleet plus over 50 pieces of equipment to fully service the areas snow
removal needs. The MCR Group
prides itself on the service they are
capable of providing to a wide range
of high-end customers, such as
Bayshore Town Center. A zero tolerance attitude is maintained the entire
winter season, allowing the malls

clients to enjoy the lifestyle and shopping experience in the safest ways possible. Such a property also requires the
snow to be hauled off site after every
event. The MCR group has a trucking
division that consists of quad axle and
tri axle dump trucks. Providing hauling
services of salt, soils, snow, aggregates, debris etc. for their home owning clients projects as well as highway
projects such as the zoo interchange.
The MCR Group, distinguished pasts
with a unified future is clearly the best
option for all of your contracting
needs. Business hours are 7 a.m. to 6
p.m. Monday through Friday. Stop in
or call (414) 447-0810 to see how
they can service you!

February 2015

HOME, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE SHOW

Page 5

Convert Your Existing Bathtub into a Step-In Shower

In just hours my existing tub
was transformed into a step-in
shower without having to buy a
new tub or install a new shower.

Call
262-443-3950
FREE No Obligation Consultation
WalkInTubsOfWisconsin.com
Be sure to call before you fall.
Walk-In Bath Tubs Barrier-Free Showers
Comfort Height Toilets Grab Bars

FREE $50 GAS OR

GROCERY GIFT CARD

With Purchase and Installation of a Walk-Thru Insert. Present at

time of estimate. Expires March 31, 2015. Not valid with other
offers or coupons.

SIGHT & SOUND

SOLUTIONS
3485 N. 124th St.
Brookfield, WI 53005

262-754-1500
$100 VISA card
w/ NEW activation
Stop by our
booth to
learn more!

Factory Authorized & Trained Sales - Service - Parts - Warranty

Family Owned for 45 years Support your local business

HOME, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE SHOW

Page 6

February 2015

262-679-5200
5611 S. Calhoun Road
New Berlin WI 53151
COMPLETE
Landscape Designs
Brick Paving
Retaining Walls
Natural Stone
Patio & Walkways
Landscape Lighting
Irrigation Systems
Check Out Our New Interactive Website!

SPECIAL HOME

SHOW BOOKING!

TREESONTHEMOVE.COM

BUY ONE ROOM AND GET ONE ROOM FREE!

Your Home Partners

Must be of same or lesser value. Valid only for Home Show customers
who visit our booth and book directly with our sales crew.

Keeping you in your home

Aging in Place
Elderly Living Aids
ADA Compliance
Satisfaction Guaranteed Each Location Independently Owned And Operated

Needs Assessment Service Contracts

ADA Compliance
Choice of Green Products
Maintenance Agreements
Needs Assessments CAPS Professionals
Safe Environment Features
NARI Professionals Aging in Place
Elderly Living Aids
Handicap Conveniences
Accident Victims In-Law Suites
Family Combining Additions
Elevators & Lifts Ramps

39533 Valley Road

Oconomowoc, WI 53066-4121
www.stayathomespecialists.com

414-795-4804 | windowdepotmilwaukee.com

15% Off
FREE
INSTALLATION
ROOFING AND SIDING

ON OUR WINDOWS, DOORS,

GUTTERS, AND GUTTER
PROTECTION SYSTEM

Update your bath in one day!

Call today for your free estimate

262-395-4719

HOME, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE SHOW

February 2015

Page 7

Plan for a Bountiful Harvest this Season

By Melinda Myers
Its hard to believe, but soon plants
will be moving into the garden center
and dreams of a beautiful and productive
garden will be filling your head. Many
gardeners however find that when it
comes to putting plans down on paper,
they freeze. Perhaps just a little help is
needed.
To begin, take a look at your favorite
recipes and make a list of the ingredients
you would like to grow. Include vegetables and herbs you use often, those that
are cheaper to grow than to buy, and
those that taste best fresh from the garden. Tomatoes, peppers, cilantro are just
a few that come to mind.
Be sure to involve your family in this
process. After all, if they help plan the
garden, they may be more inclined to
help weed, water and harvest it. But even
if they dont end up lending a hand, they
will be much more likely to clean their
plates when you make their favorite dishes with those homegrown fresh-from-thegarden vegetables.
Once you have your list of vegetables
and herbs, its time to design your garden. Dont let this step intimidate you.
There are some terrific online tools, like
bonnieplants.com, that provide planting
plans to make this much easier for both

new and experienced gardeners. For

example, in just one small space (4 feet
by 4 feet), Bonnie Plants Homemade
Salsa garden plan allows gardeners to
grow two tomato or tomatillo plants in
cages in one row, one jalapeno pepper
and one red bell pepper in cages in the
next row, and cilantro and onions in the
third row. If you need more produce for
your favorite recipes, just add another 4
x 4 section.
Or visit gardeners.com to plan your
own garden. Their kitchen and garden
planner (located under learn and share)
allows you to design your own garden.
And once planned you will have your
own planting guide and know how many
plants or seeds are needed to grow the
garden you desire.
Boost your gardens productivity even
further with proper care and some spacesaving techniques:
Water plants thoroughly whenever
the top few inches of soil is crumbly and
just starting to dry. Also, be sure to mulch
by covering the soil surface with a layer
of shredded leaves, evergreen needles,
or weed-free straw. Mulching helps conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and
improve the soil over time.
Maximize every square foot by
growing tomatoes and peppers in cages.
In addition, train cucumbers and other

vining plants up a trellis. Going

vertical leaves more room to plant
your other favorite herbs and vegetables.
Save even more space by
growing fast-maturing vegetables
like lettuce in between vegetables
like tomatoes that take much
longer to begin producing. This
strategy, known as interplanting,
allows you to grow two types of
vegetables in one space. By the
time the tomato plants become
large and start to shade out the
greens, the lettuce will be done
producing. Not only does this
save space, but it also reduces the
number of weeds.
Now its time to start mapping
out your plans for the growing
season ahead.
And be sure to bring you gardening questions and stop by and visit
me Sunday, March 1 between 10 a.m.
and 1 p.m. at the 2015 Home, Garden
and Landscape Show at the Waukesha
Expo Center for Ask the Expert.
Gardening expert, TV/radio host,
author & columnist Melinda Myers has
more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Cant Miss Small
Space Gardening, The Midwest

Gardeners Handbook and The Garden

Book for Wisconsin. She hosts The Great
Courses How to Grow Anything DVD
series and the nationally syndicated
Melindas Garden Moment TV and
radio segments. Myers is also a columnist
and contributing editor for Birds &
Blooms magazine. Myers web site,
www.melindamyers.com, offers gardening videos, podcasts and monthly tips

Nu Kitchen, Nu Bath, NuStone!

Windows, Sunrooms, Basements and more!

www.greatdayimprovements.com

Free
kitchen sink

Free
bath vanity

Composite or
16 gauge SS sink

with a stone shower or

tub surround up-grade

40 sq. ft. of stone installation required

65 sq. ft. of stone installation required

(up to 10 sq. ft.)

2013 NuStone Transformations. *Some restrictions may apply. Please see store for complete details.
May not be combined with other offers or discounts. Must present coupon at time of agreement.
Good only on day of appointment. Expires 5-15-15.

262-798-0500

Visit our
Showroom
for a

FREE

kitchen trivet
while supplies last

See Us at
Booth 52 & 53

Division of Vesta II LLC

Visit our website and download our

10 questions YOU need to ask before a Kitchen or Bath remodel.

This will enhance and simplify your experience at any remodel show

Call today for a FREE in-home design consultation:

262-677-0400 www.nustonetransformations.com
N173 W21130 Northwest Passage Jackson, WI 53037

HOME, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE SHOW

Page 8

February 2015

WAUKESHA
EXPO CENTER
Exhibitor

. . . . . . . .Booth #

Kerzner Remodeling
& Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Tundraland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Home Sealed Exteriors . . . . . . . 5-6
Universal Windows and
Roofing Direct . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
Brighter Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Usborne Books & More . . . . . . . 11
Sight and Sound Solutions. . . . . 12
Excel Custom Contractors . . . . . 13
Mega Discount Nursery. . . . . 14-15
Pool Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Aquatica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
House of Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
AHT Wisconsin Windows . . . 19-20
The Sprinkler Guys. . . . . . . . . . . 21
Weather Pro Exteriors . . . . . . . . 22
101 Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Walk-In Tubs of Wisconsin . . . . . 24
Exteriors Unlimited. . . . . . . . . . . 25
Shen Yun Performing Arts . . . . . 26
Sidex Corp. of Wisconsin. . . . . . 27
AHT Energy Solutions . . . . . . . . 28
Master Shield Gutter Protection . 29
The Home Improvement
Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Turf Tech Elite . . . . . . . . . . . . 31-32
BCI Exteriors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Kitchen Masters . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
LBRI Pure & Natural Skin Care . 35
Robidoux Brothers . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Zen Windows Milwaukee LLC . . 37
LeafFilter North of
Wisconsin Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Trees on the Move . . . . . . . . . . . 39
CertaPro Painters. . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Bath Fitter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42-43
Gound Affects Landscaping . 44-45
Miracle Wood Floors . . . . . . . . . 46
Great Day Improvements . . . . . 47
Miracle Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Exhibitor

. . . . . . . .Booth #

Lowes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50-51
NuStone Transformations . . . 52-53
Ever Dry Waterproofing . . . . . . . 54
Clover Fence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Kettle Moraine Heating
& Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . 56
Stortz Custom Homes . . . . . . . . 57
Extreme Exteriors . . . . . . . . . 58-60
Createscape Landscaping
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Midwest Exteriors . . . . . . . . 62-63
Wonagrow Landscape Design . . 64
Maximized Living Health Center . 65
Lowes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66-67
Rhino Shield . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68-69
Lauer Family Chiropractic . . . . . 70
Healthy Life Saunas . . . . . . . 72-73
Bath Planet of Milwaukee . . . 74-75
McKay Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . 76-77
Wiczeks Top Notch
Construction . . . . . . . . . . . 78-79
MH Landscaping . . . . . . . . . 80-82
L&R Lawn Equipment
& Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83-84
Architectural Xpressions. . . . . . . 85
Supersealers Asphalt . . . . . . . . . 86
The MCR Group . . . . . . . . . . 87-89
Mamayek Heating . . . . . . . . . 90-91
Kitchen Craft . . . . . . . . . . . . 92-93
TruStone Financial . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Exterior Custom Solutions . . . . . 95
Shady Acres Perennial Nursery . 96
Kellys Greenscapes. . . . . . . . . . 97
Stay at Home Specialists Inc.. . . 98
Waddell & Reed . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Champion Windows . . . . . 100-101
Mr. Sandless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Uptown Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Gutter GloveSunsetter Awnings . . . . . . . . 104
Kellys Greenscapes . . . . . . . . . 105

262-567-2500 www.kerznerinc.com

Admission
Express News

This map is subject to change

Help Area Families with Food Donations

FREE ADMISSION SUNDAY, in exchange for two non-perishable
food items that will benefit the Food Pantry of Waukesha County
The Food Pantry of Waukesha
County was established in 1978 in the
basement of a volunteer's home, the
Food Pantry of Waukesha County currently serves approximately 5,752 people each month from all parts of the
county. Approximately half of those
served are children. Their most recent
challenge is to generate increased
resources to meet the growing and ongoing need within the community. It is difficult for many people in the Waukesha
community, one of the wealthiest in the
state, to understand the necessity for the
Food Pantry's services. The numbers
speak for themselves.
Clients visit the Food Pantry when
they have an urgent situation, and we

work together to find a solution. In addition to distributing food, the Food Pantry
helps individuals and families determine
their needs and become more self-sufficient. The Food Pantry facilitates clients
links with local agencies for budgeting
assistance, food preparation, medical
issues and employment assistance. The
Food Pantry taps into existing community
resources that supplement limited budgets by providing school supplies and
medicines (both over-the-counter and
prescription).
For further information on the Food
Pantry, visit www.waukeshafoodpantry.org
or call 262.542.5300 to find out how to
give and receive support.

February 2015

HOME, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE SHOW

Page 9

414.759.9358 cloverfence.com cloverfence@gmail.com

archxpressions.com call 262-646-4454 to schedule a free consultation

MILWAUKEE

414-810-8833
guttergloveguards.com

HOME, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE SHOW

Page 10

February 2015

Q & A WITH THE EXPERTS:

P.O. Box 335
Germantown, WI 53022
(262) 238-NEWS (6397) Fax: (262) 242-9450

Ken Ubert President

ubertk@discoverhometown.com

Gus Gnorski Ask Gus

10:30am-1:30pm, Saturday
Gus Gnorski is well known for his past show, "Ask Gus," where he answered questions from
viewers on home improvement topics. Gus speaks about home improvement topics at several
area events.

Kathy Hans Office Manager

khans@discoverhometown.com
Thomas J. McKillen Managing Editor
Ext. 5045
thomasj@discoverhometown.com
Circulation
circulation@discoverhometown.com
No parts or portions contained in this newspaper may be reproduced in any way without
written permission from the publisher.
Hometown Publications is not responsible for
claims made by advertisers.

Gus Gnorski

Tom Feiza Mr. Fix It

2-4pm, Saturday
Tom hosts a live radio call-in show on AM620 WTMJ on Saturdays from 8-9 a.m. This fix-it
program is Milwaukees top-rated Saturday radio show, with more than 45,000 listeners each
hour. Tom gives practical advice while responding to callers questions on home repair and related projects.
In addition to radio and print, Tom has hosted several weekly television shows focusing on
home improvements and repairs. Tom routinely appears on television talk and news shows with his
Mr. Fix-It tips. He was also featured in a nationally distributed how-to videotape series.
Tom has held various engineering and management positions in facilities management, equipment repair, customer service, and construction. He consults in the area of home remodeling and
construction, and he performs home inspections.

Tom Feiza

Melinda Myers The Plant Doctor

10am-1pm, Sunday
Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years
of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Cant Miss Small
Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses How to Grow Anything DVD series and the
nationally syndicated Melindas Garden Moment segments. Myers is also a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers web site, www.melindamyers.com, offers gardening videos and tips.

Melinda Myers

189.90

Peace of Mind Package

(1) Gas Forced Air Furnace
Tune up in Winter
(1) Air Conditioner Tune up
in Spring
10% off service calls for 1 year
5% off installations for 1 year
No overtime rate for
Exp. 5/31/15
emergency service

20.00 OFF

a Service Call

Good for any home

heating or cooling repair.
Exp. 5/31/15

262-392-9400
Stop into our New Showroom!
125 N. Main St. North Prairie
Reliability. Honesty. Dedication. Hard Work.
This is what we stand for and what you can
expect when we arrive at your door.

1112 Pearl St., Waukesha, WI 53186 262-786-8736

www.robidouxbrothers.com

SIDING ROOFING REMODELING

GUTTERS & MORE
Family Owned & Operated Member of NARI & BBB
Free Estimates & Assessments 98% Referral Rate
In-house Craftsmanship Top-of-the-line Products
Top-of-the-line Service

HOME, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE SHOW

February 2015

Page 11

1-800-TUNDRALAND
(1-800-606-3900)

Contact HomeSealed for details.

YOUR RESOURCE FOR

FINDING REMODELING
CONTRACTORS
The Home Improvement Network has now been
around for 15 years. We were founded in 1998
with the goal to bring homeowners and local
home improvement contractors together. The
Home Improvement Network's staff is and has been committed to service the home improvement needs for both our
inquiring homeowners and membership contractors.
Homeowners and home improvement contractors have now
been using our service for years with high levels of success,
enjoyment and excellent service.

Replacement Windows
HOME SHOW SPECIAL

1-800-553-1810 FindaRemodeler.com Serving Southeast Wisconsin since 2002

Ask about
our Long &
Short Term
Rental
Program

SALES SERVICE
INSTALLATION

Big Bend, WI

262-662-9936
www.extremeexteriors.com

With more than 70,000+ satisfied customers,

EverDry is the most trusted name in the basement
waterproofing with guaranteed results.

1-800-398-4090
everydrywisconsin.com

Maintain Your
Independence.

Custom Stair Lifts

Modular Ramps
Residential Elevators
Various Lift Options
Including VPLs, auto lifts,
patient lifts, residential
elevators and more

Your #1 resource for mobility

and accessibility solutions

262-524-0900
1900 Airport Rd., Unit B, Waukesha, WI 53188

Milwaukee.101Mobility.com

Page 12

HOME, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE SHOW

February 2015

5 essential questions to ask

before hiring a contractor

262-395-4602

Girl Scouts of
Southeastern Wisconsin
Troop #2130

414-426-0560

rhinoshieldwis.com

Its the contractor you pick that

makes or breaks your remodeling
project. Finding the right contractor for
your job will determine the quality and
timeliness of the work, and the amount
of emotional and financial stress youll
have to deal with.
To make sure youre getting the best
work from a contractor, here are five
questions to ask the candidates.
Tip: Listen for how prospective contractors answer your questions.
Difficulty communicating now means
difficulty communicating on the job
later.
1. Would you please itemize your bid?
Many contractors prefer to give you
a single, bottom-line price for your project, but this puts you in the dark about
what theyre charging for each aspect
of the job. __For example, if the original plan calls for wainscot in your bathroom, but you decide not to install it,
how much should you be credited for
eliminating that work? With a single
bottom-line price, you have no way to
know.
If you get an itemized bid, itll show
the costs for all of the various elements
of the job, including:
Demolition and hauling trash
Framing and finish carpentry
Plumbing
Electrical work
HVAC
Tiling or other floor covering installations
Lighting fixtures
Drywall and painting
That makes it easier to compare different contractors prices. If you need
to cut the project costs, you can easily
figure your options. Plus, an itemized
bid becomes valuable documentation
about the scope of your project, which
may eliminate disputes later.
Contractors shouldnt give you a hard
time about itemizing their bids. If they
resist, its a red flag for sure.
2. Is your bid an estimate or a fixed
price?
Some contractors treat their bids as
estimates, meaning bills could wind up
being higher in the end. Be sure to
request a fixed price bid instead.
If a contractor says he cant offer a
fixed price because there are too many
unknowns about the job, then try to
eliminate the unknowns. For example,
have him open up a wall or examine a
crawl space.
If you cant resolve the unknowns,
have the project specs describe only
what he expects to do. If additional
work is needed, you can do a change
order a written mini-bid for new
work.

3. How long have you been doing

business in this town?
A contractor whos been plying his
trade locally for five or 10 years has an
established network of subcontractors
and suppliers in the area and a local
reputation to uphold. That makes them
a safer bet than a contractor whos
either new to the business or planning
to commute to your job from 50 miles
away.
Ask for:
A business card with a nearby
address not a P.O. box.
References from one or two of his
earliest clients. Thisll help you verify he
hasnt just recently hung his shingle.
4. Who are your main suppliers?
Contractors are networked with their
suppliers. You can tap into information
on your contractors reliability and
level of quality by talking to proprietors
of:
Tile shops
Kitchen and bath showrooms
Lumber yards
The pro desk at your favorite home
improvement center
Ask about a contractors professional reputation, whether he has left a trail
of unhappy customers in his wake, if
hes reliable about paying his bills
and whether hes someone youll want
to hire.
Your contractor should have no
qualms about telling you where he gets
his materials if hes an upstanding customer.
5. Id like to meet the job foreman
can you take me to a project hes running?
Many contractors dont actually
swing hammers. They spend their days
bidding new work and managing their
various jobs and workers. That makes
the job foreman the one whos working on your project every day the
most important member of your team.
Meet the foreman in person and see
if his current job is running smoothly.
Asking to meet the foreman on the job
gives your general contractor an incentive to assign you one of his better
crews, since youre more likely to hire
him if you see his A Team.
If your contractor says hell be running the job himself, ask whether hell
be there every day. Hell want to give
you a positive response something
you can hold him to later on.
Read more:
http://www.houselogic.com/homeadvice/contracting/five-essential-questions-ask-before-hiringcontractor/#ixzz3Sg86SPSY
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HOME, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE SHOW

February 2015

MIRACLE WOOD FLOORS LLC

Stone and Tile

Page 13

P.O. Box 320398 Franklin, WI 53132

414-333-1888 Office 888-217-2599 Toll Free

www.excelcontractor.com

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Don

414-303-3836
www.miracle-woodfloors.com

Redeemable for up to 5% of project total. Not valid with any other discounts.

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Waukesha, WI 53188

262-439-9506

HOME, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE SHOW

Page 14

February 2015

SOLATUBE-BRIGHTER
CONCEPTS, LTD.
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1706 E. Capitol Dr.
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TOLL FREE: 866-667-3544
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Each Miracle Method franchise independently owned and operated.

At BCI, we are committed

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www.myusbooks.com
(262) 255-2184
Home Shows - Books Fairs - Reading Incentive Programs
Income Opportunities - Schools and Libraries

February 2015

HOME, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE SHOW

Page 15

HOME, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE SHOW

Page 16

February 2015

Exterior Solutions
Installation Services
A Lowes In-Home Project Specialist will come to your home
to discuss how we can coordinate installation projects from
start to finish.
We handle every detail, including design, selection,
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Estimates include an all-inclusive price for materials
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Every Installation is guaranteed by a
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Fencing

Blow-in Insulation

Siding

EXTERIORS

Ron Weisflog - Project Specialist

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Cell 414-308-3986 | Bus. 414-257-4159
ron.r.weisflog@store.lowes.com

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2015 East Geneva Street | Delevan, WI 53115
Phone 262-740-2728 | Cell 262-325-6397
john.s.kramer@store.lowes.com

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Phone 262-740-2728 | Cell 262-581-7516
courtney.m.laursen@store.lowes.com

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Seamless Gutters