SPRING 2014/NORTH IOWA
Home AND LANDscApiNg sHow Friday-Sunday, March 7-9 north iowa EvEntS cEntEr MaSon city
Globe
GAZETTE
Globe Gazette
Home SHow exHibitor’S map
C2 ✦ Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Company Name Booths Advanced Gutters & Insulation B4 & B5 Advanced Door Systems A111-A112, A25 Aerus - Electrolux - MC A69 American Waterworks A25 - A26 Amish Heirlooms B46, B47 Andersen Windows A77-A78 Architectural Seamless Surfaces A96 A Spice Above D9 Bart Pals Construction LLC A118 Bath Fitter A101 Big Dog Satellite (Dish Network) B7 & B8 Budget Blinds G12 - G13 Cabin Coffee Company A6 Casady Brothers Implement G20, G21 Cemstone Concrete Materials LLC B51 City Builders & Supply, Inc. A17 & A18 Classic Custom Wood A15 Clear Choice Windows G10 & G11 Community Builders Supply Co A1 & A2 Complete Basement Systems B10 Cornerstone Innovations Inc. A105, A106 Country Landscapes B20 The Country Store A5 Creative Curb A116 & A117 Crown Point Builders A44 Culligan A86 & A87 Curb Appeal by S & S B53 Custom Seamless Guttering A43 Cutting EdgeTree Service D7 Dynamic Designs B15 & B16 Eastvold Landscaping B29, B30, B31, B43, B44, B45 Enercept, Inc. B9 Exit Realty Mason City D3 First Citizens National Bank A48
all SeaSonS building mason City
olSon building mason City
A128 First Quality Builders A122 & A123 Flooring America Frederika Locker A41 Habitat for Humanity of N Central IA D4 Hanson’s Countertops & Flooring B22 Hawkeye Insulation A93 Healthy Home Cleaning A61 Heartland Asphalt, Inc. A30 Hilgendorf Builders Inc. A92 Home Lumber & Builders, Inc. A19 & A20 Home Solutions Midwest A108 - A110 Iowa Division of Labor Contractor Registration B34 Iowa Gardener B48 Iowa Green Home A13 - A14 Iowa Heartland Credit Union A31 Iowa State University Extension C2 Iowa Wall Sawing A79 & A80 Jackson Landscape A59 - A60, A74-A75 Johnson Heating & Air Conditioning A72 & A73 K & E Distributing, Inc. A23 & A24 Keith’s Auto & Truck Clinic G3 & G4 Kester Stair Lift, LLC A9 Kids Crooked House B52 King Construction & Overhead Door A29 Kitchen Craft International A22 Kramer Hardware G14-G15, G17-G19 Lake Fireplace & Spa A129-A131 Landscape by Design B21 Little Cedar Windows G29 & G30 LM Pump Service A126 Log Cabin Produce B38 Luxury Bath Systems by City Builders A16 M & B Spas B11-B12, B25-B26 Marquart Concrete Products A32 - A33, A50 - A51 Mason City Roofing A37, A38, A39, A40
Mayo’s Kustom Garage Floors ETC, LLC B24 Meyer Home Improvement B49 & B50 Midwest Construction A66-A68, A81-A83 Midwest Organics B23 Midwest Basement Systems B36 & B37 Miracle Wisk D10 Mort’s Plumbing & Heating/Geo Comfort A102-A103 MyPillow, Inc. B35 Mystic Wonders, Inc. G22 Nite Time Décor by All American Turf Beauty A98 Nordaas American Homes A88 Northern Energy Homes, Inc. A107 Northland Glass G7 North Central Mechanical Services G1, G2 North Iowa Kitchens A45 D5 North Iowa Sand & Gravel, Inc. G5 North Iowa Turf & Iirrigation North Iowa Water Company A55 Northland Buildings A53 Northland Flag & Pole A52 Northern Stone Landscape Co. B1 North Iowa Community Credit Union A34 Norwex A12 NSC Northern Siding Construction A104 Nu-Tek Builders A58 OmniTel Communications A10 - A11 Outdoor Design B13 - B14, B27-B28, C01 Overhead Door Company of Mason City A89 - A91 Pampered Chef A97 PR Connections A3, A4 Pure Air Technologies A113 Quality Solutions Health Systems A42 RetroFoam of Iowa G23 Revive Sales A127 River City Historic Preservation Society B2
Sales by Don A62 S & S Construction B39 Scentsy Independent Dealer B6 Shawver Well Company, Inc. A54 Silver Creek Hardwood Floors A71 Simply Nuts and More D6 Smart Buy Mattress & TV B40-42, B54-56 Spray Seal G6 St Ansgar Plumbing & Heating A35 & A36 Stillwater Greenhouse A56 & A57 Summerwinds Resorts B17 - B19 SunRackSolar A46 & A47 Superior Lumber Inc. A70 Swartzrock Implement Company G24, G25, G26 Terra Therm A94 & A95 Tomboy Tools C3 Top Hat Chimney Services B3 The Tub Guy A76 A120-A121 Twin City Rebath Valley C.A.T. Scooters A21 Versa-Lok A49 Watkins A124 Weaver Construction B32 & B33 Welter’s Custom Cabinets A84, A85 White Oaks Cabinetry G8 & G9 Windows by Pella, Inc. A63 - A65 Window Accents A7-A8 Window World A99-A100, A114, A115 Woodford Lumber & Home A27-A28 Young Construction G27 & G28
2014 Home & Landscaping show
Globe Gazette Tuesday, March 4, 2014 ✦ C3
Seminars explore building and remodeling projects, outdoor spaces and gardens JOY DRENNEN
For The Globe Gazette
The 23rd annual North Iowa Home and Landscaping Show, Friday, March 7, to Sunday, March 9, at the North Iowa Events Center in Mason City, features a diverse mix of North Iowa and southern Minnesota’s best home improvement and landscaping businesses. Nationally recognized home improvement expert Paul Ryan headlines an informative series of seminars at this year’s show. Ryan is the host of several television shows on DIY Network, and has appeared on the Food Network, TLC and HGTV. When not on television, Ryan works as a licensed contractor, certified home inspector and insurance adjustor in Minnesota. Ryan will present “Kitchen Remodeling — Planning for the Best Outcome.” Learn tips and techniques to help you get the most out of your project while saving time and money. In this informationpacked seminar, Ryan will unveil what’s really involved in key aspects of your next remodel. Topics include plumbing, drywall installation and repair, flooring, tiling and general tools of the trade. John Sjolinder, executive director of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach for Cerro Gordo
Home Show Times and Fees North Iowa Events Center, Mason City, Iowa • Friday, March 7: 3 to 9 p.m. • Saturday, March 8: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. • Sunday, March 9: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission • Adults: $5 • Children 12 and under: Free • Friday Matinee: 3 to 5 p.m. — $3 • Discount coupons available online at www. IowaShows.com County, will provide area gardening enthusiasts with some tips on hardy but beautiful plants in “The Weather Resistant Gardener.”
Built on your level site.
Sjolinder will show you how to be prepared for Mother Nature’s weather extremes this summer. Sjolinder holds two degrees from Iowa State University and received his ISU Master Gardener certification in 2006. He is a popular speaker on plants, soils and turf management. Shawn Davis joined Marquart Concrete Products last year. He is a popular speaker on designing attractive patios, walkways and driveways using pavers and stone. Davis is a certified nursery professional and has been involved in the landscape industry since 1980. Before joining Marquart he owned his own landscape company for 14 years. See Seminars, C4
Northland Buildings has the answer to your building needs, offering beautiful and affordable solutions for any building project!
Home Show Seminar Schedule Friday, March 7 • 4:30 p.m.: Paul Ryan: “Kitchen Remodeling — Planning for the Best Outcome” • 6 p.m.: Art Stenzel: “Building a New Home — Getting Started” • 7 p.m.: Paul Ryan: “Remodeling 101 — So That’s How It’s Done” Saturday, March 8 • 11:30 a.m.: Paul Ryan: “Kitchen Remodeling — Planning for the Best Outcome” • 1 p.m.: Art Stenzel: “Building a New Home — Getting Started” • 2 p.m.: Shawn Davis: “Turn Your Outdoor Space Into an Entertainment Showcase” • 3:30 p.m.: Paul Ryan: “Remodeling 101 — So That’s How It’s Done” • 5 p.m.: John Sjolinder: “The Weather Resistant Gardener — What To Do When Mother Nature Doesn’t Play Well” • 6 p.m.: Paul Ryan: “Kitchen Remodeling — Planning for the Best Outcome”
Paul Ryan
Sunday, March 9 • Noon: Shawn Davis: “Turn Your Outdoor Space Into an Entertainment Showcase” • 1:30 p.m.: John Sjolinder: “The Weather Resistant Gardener — What To Do When Mother Nature Doesn’t Play Well” • 2:30 p.m.: Art Stenzel: “Building a New Home — Getting Started”
1-800-HEY-MORT (439-6678) • Well Systems • Trenching/ Horizontal Boring • Water Conditioning • Drain Line • Backhoe Auger & Jetting • Sewer Systems • Plumbing www.mortsonline.com • Geothermal • Heating
• Air Conditioning • Air Quality Control
• Plumbing • Duct Cleaning
www.geocomfort.com
1-800-579-6678
C4 ✦ Tuesday, March 4, 2014
2014 Home & Landscaping show
Geothermal heating and cooling systems can make sense for old and new homes Mort’s Plumbing & Heating/GeoComfort can answer questions at booth JOY DRENNEN
For The Globe Gazette
Mort’s Plumbing & Heating/GeoComfort was started 18 years ago by Kent Morton as a family business, continuing from a family water treatment business established 126 years ago. Mort’s has been with GeoComfort almost 16 years and is North Central Iowa’s largest GeoComfort geothermal dealer. The rising cost of fossil fuels — especially this winter when LP is more than $4 a gallon — means geothermal systems make more sense than ever before, said general manager Brad Lewis. The payback on an investment in a geothermal system can be approximately five to eight years. Geothermal systems use the constant temperature of the ground to heat
Globe Gazette
Seminars: Variety of topics From C3 Let him show you how to take your designs to the next level in “Turn Your Outdoor Space Into an Entertainment Showcase.” Planning to build a new home but don’t know where to start? Come listen to Art Stenzel from Nordaas American Homes present “Building a New Home — Getting Started.” This seminar is a
Builders 101. Stenzel starts with the first step of getting financing and ends with the final construction project. Each participant will walk away with a variety of information, including a free binder full of insider tips and practical guidance. Stenzel has been with Nordaas for more than 20 years, and has a vast amount of building experience.
ST. ANSGAR PLBG., HTG. 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE
Photo submitted
A crew from Mort’s Plumbing & Heating/GeoComfort installs heating lines to run under the floor in a new home. and cool a home or business, and can also preheat hot water. But Steve Severs, who
bills himself as the salesperson, says a system is not a “one-size fits all.” In designing a system he
looks at what will be most efficient for the customer.
See GeotHermaL, C5
DAN WARRINGTON SHOP 641-736-4730 CELL 641-420-0949 Booth A35-A36
Outdoor Wood Furnace
Increase the safety & value of your home with an egress window • Start-to-Finish Egress Windows • Concrete Cutting • Core Drilling (round holes in concrete) • PolyLift/ Concrete Lifting • Curb Cutting • Basement Sump, Tile Installation & Basement Waterproofing • Block Wall Straightening • Interior Electric Sawing
Offering the industry’s most extensive selection of shapes, styles, sizes and options in windows and doors. Dustless & Fumeless Concrete Cutting, Coring & Grinding
Invest In your home wIth a new fIreplace or Insert
Home Lumber & Builders, Inc. 716 S. Jefferson Mason City
641-424-4001
2014 Home & Landscaping show
Globe Gazette Tuesday, March 4, 2014 ✦ C5
Geothermal: Projects are customized for each installation location From C4 Utilities are not standard any more. The most efficient plan for a customer is based on utility company rates and which energy rebates are being offered. With different backdrops, there is “just no way to give general information,” said Severs, as so much information is needed for customizing. Projects need to be customized for the installation to be as efficient as can be. In some cases it makes sense to have a backup fossil fuel system for supplementary heat in the winter. Geothermal systems are not just for new homes. They can be installed in existing homes and remodels, in rural areas or in town. One of the first questions with a customer is what utility company is involved, with a look at building plans for the home if the installation is for a new home. For an existing home, the first order of business is to look at it for installation options. The customers’ likes and dislikes are taken into consideration, and what they want, Severs said. It’s a matter of sitting down with the customers and designing a system for them. A lot of personal service is involved, where the need and what is available comes together. According to Lewis, one 3,000-square-foot home in North Iowa with a geothermal system installed by Mort’s is averaging around $70 or less a month to heat the home. Lewis and Severs said a geothermal system can lower heating and cooling
and an installation can be scheduled, and “then get it done,” said Severs. Now is the best time to be scheduling, as Mort’s can get to projects more quickly. With improvements in installation equipment and techniques, the yard will look well-tended when the system is put in place. Ask about tax incentives and what a utility company has for rebates, as that can make installing a geothermal system even more attractive, said Lewis. Mort’s will have a Photo submitted picture display of some Horizontal boring for a geothermal heating and cooling system in an existing home only disturbs an area in the lawn of the company’s installaabout 15 feet by 15 feet. With proper care the grass can come tions along with product literature at booths A102 back within a season. and A103. The company is located questions about a geothercosts by as much as 70 at 505 Industrial Road in mal system, and suggests percent from using fossil Iowa Falls. Phone number that customers who are fuel. Estimating the cost is 641-648-2595. Email is considering geothermal of the furnace and water system call him and check blewis@mortsph.com or heater is part of studying ssevers@mortph.com. on the rebate program in the use of a geotherplace with a particular mal system. utility company. Severs reiterated that systems need to be cusThis is a good time of tomized for the highest year for customers to efficiency. schedule installations. As He urges a “stop and people call in, a meeting talk” approach with
North Iowa’s Premier Home Improvement Discount Store The Habitat ReStore sells OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!
new & gently-used
Tuesdays—Fridays:
home improvement items
8:30am — 5:30pm
to the public
Saturdays: 9:00am — 4:00pm
at deep discounts!
Fix up your home & help a great cause at the same time! 517 1st Street NW, Mason City 641.423.1688 / www.habitatnci.org SHOP * DONATE * VOLUNTEER
2014 Home & Landscaping show
C6 ✦ Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Globe Gazette
Show’s exhibitors are ready to help on your next project ADVANCED DOOR SYSTEMS Advanced Door Systems specializes in the installation and service of residential, commercial and industrial overhead doors. The company is an authorized distributor for Raynor, C.H.I. Linear and Liftmaster. To better serve northwest Iowa, Advances Door Systems has offices in Forest City, Fort Dodge and Spencer. Whether you need a new door or service for your current door, the company has a professional staff eager to assist you. It also carries Val6 Heater and Dakota Grills. Advanced Door Systems offers “The right door the right way.” Visit the Forest City location at 605 East J St., Suite 100, call 641-585-1900 or toll-free 866590-1592. For more information visit www.ads-doors.com. BERGLAND & CRAM Bergland & Cram’s commitment to custom home design stems from the company’s long-standing dedication to generate creative yet practical solutions that best suit the needs of you and your family. The team is made up of devoted professionals including licensed architects, interior designers and LEED accredited professionals. B&C has built its practice on the importance of client relationships and takes pride in the way in which it celebrates every step of the design process. Working both locally and regionally, B&C has custom homes under construction across Iowa and in several surrounding states. Stop by and visit the company at the Home Show to see the most recent projects. Craftsman, contemporary, Cape Cod and Prairie Style homes are currently underway or recently completed.
THE COUNTRY STORE Rick Titus of Clarion started his business, The Country Store, in 1975, and even though he has now moved into town, he has no intention of retiring any time soon. Titus sells and installs Fuego Flame fireplace inserts, which he believes are the most efficient inserts on the market for the money. The company makes four different-sized inserts, but when Titus found a fireplace with an unusual shape he decided to make the inserts from scratch. The Fuego Flame fireplace inserts can make any fireplace burn up to 70 percent efficient and need no electricity, while keeping 99 percent of the heat in the home. Once the insert is installed, the average fireplace can heat
1,000 to 1,500 square feet of a well-insulated home. For those who can’t or don’t wish to burn wood, Titus offers superefficient gas logs as an option. He started selling these in 1991. They offer the same nice flame effect, but without the work and cleanup from real wood. Titus has built and installed units in fireplaces from Minneapolis to Kansas City and all over Iowa and does all the work himself. He doesn’t charge for estimates and feels an in-home visit is the only way to know exactly what the customer needs. Titus has even thought of people who like to cook over a wood fire and has developed a barbecue grill that will fit. Contact Rick at The Country Store for more information.
Calls can be made to either 515- buildings. Call Keith at 641-357532-3881 or 515-293-2455. The 5959 for a free estimate. website is www.fireplacesatTHE DUCT DOCTOR thecountrystore.com. The Duct Doctor wants Home CUSTOM SEAMLESS Show attendees to know that GUTTERING he does make house calls. Custom Seamless Guttering Operator Dan Versteeg said is the longest-running gutter his company does residential company in North Iowa. Since and light commercial heating 1982 the company has provided and cooling air duct cleaning as well as dryer vent cleaning. service and quality second to The method used by the none. Duct Doctor is known as the Owner Keith Main and his source removal method, crew strive to use the latest which is considered the most and best products available, thorough. Every inch of your such as Leaf Proof brand ductwork is washed and swept gutter covers. Leaf Proof is with high pressure air. Just as guaranteed to make gutters you would sweep your kitchen maintenance-free. floor, source removal physically The company runs two residential and one commercial sweeps your air ducts from one gutter trucks. Their specialties end to the other, depositing dirt, dust and debris in the are metal and commercial
triple-filtered (including HEPA) vacuum. Versteeg has added carpet cleaning to his company for an effective cleaning combination for a healthier and cleaner home. Versteeg will have literature as well as a video demonstration in his booth at the Home Show. Stop by and learn what a difference the two services can make in the air quality of your home or office. Attendees who schedule their air duct or carpet cleaning at the Duct Doctor booth will receive a Home Show special discount. FIRST CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK First Citizens National Bank understands the importance See exhibitors, C8
Save yourself some money
MANUFACTURERS SPONSORED INCENTIVES!
FEBRUARY 1 – MARCH 31, 2014
$25 REBATE UNIT* PER
on Duette Architella Honeycomb Shades ®
®
$50 REBATE UNIT* PER
on Silhouette® Window Shadings and Vignette® Modern Roman Shades
Duette® Architella® Honeycomb Shades
Warm and stylish. Duette® Architella® Honeycomb Shades create pockets of insulating air at the window for superb energy savings in both cold and warm climates.Wise decision. Ask for details.
Window Accents
1916 Call Park Dr Algona IA M-F: Appointments Anytime 515-295-7541 windowaccentsonline.hdspd.com * Manufacturer’s mail-in rebate offer valid for purchases made 2/1/14 – 3/31/14 from participating dealers in the U.S. only. Offer excludes Nantucket™ Window Shadings, a collection of Silhouette® Window Shadings. Rebate will be issued in the form of a prepaid reward card and mailed within 6 weeks of rebate claim receipt. Funds do not expire. Subject to applicable law, a $2.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance 7 months after card issuance and each month thereafter. Additional limitations apply. Ask participating dealer for details and rebate form. 40835 © 2014 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas.
WINDOWS - SIDING SUNROOMS Stop by our booth at the HOME SHOW for details.
Showroom Open Business Hours Mon - Fri and the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month from 9-2
1601 South Taft Avenue Mason City, IA 50401 641-424-4717 • 1-800-925-6664 www.mwcinc.com
Globe Gazette Tuesday, March 4, 2014 ✦ C7
We Deliver Anywhere! The Globe Gazette eEdition
is a virtual copy of the printed newspaper.* Accessible anytime, anywhere, everyday way beyond the print edition…. • On any computer, laptop and most tablets • Adjust the size and style of the type for easy reading • Look up recent editions
JUST 4 EASY STEPS! 1. Go to www.globegazette.com 2. Complete the form 3. Create your username 4. Create your password 5. Read your daily newspaper
Only $5.95 Monthly Or $69.96 Annually *eEditions do not include advertising preprints.
Current Print Subscribers Add the eEdition for ONLY $19.95 per year!
C8 ✦ Tuesday, March 4, 2014
2014 Home & Landscaping show
Globe Gazette
FEATURED EXHIBITORS From C6 of finding the best financing option to make your dream home a reality. Choosing a home is one of the biggest investment decisions your family may make during your lifetime. First Citizens has a variety of real estate loan solutions to fit your needs, from first-time home buyers, fixed-rate and variablerate loans to VA or USDA loans. The bank’s real estate loan experts will be glad to work one-on-one to help determine which financing program suits your needs. New this year is the ability to apply online for home loans. Borrowers can also check rates and terms and apply at their own convenience. The application can be found at First Citizens’ website, www. firstcitizensnb.com. Click on “Home Loan Center” in the Quick Links section, and click on ”Apply Now” to begin the process. Now may be an excellent time to consider refinancing. Apply online or stop in to see one of the home loan experts for more information. First Citizens National Bank has locations in Mason City, Charles City, New Hampton, Alta Vista, Osage, Clarion, Kanawha and Latimer. Hours and locations can be found online at www.firstcitizensnb. com. First Citizens National Bank is an Equal Housing Lender, and is Member FDIC insured.
HANSON’S COUNTERTOPS AND FLOORING Hanson’s Countertops and Flooring owner Kurt Hanson has been in the countertop business for seven years. After building laminate countertops for three years, people started asking him about concrete resurfacing of existing countertops. Hanson became a certified Granicrete installer four years ago and started his own business. In the tri-state area he has provided many kitchen and bathroom countertops along with resurfacing home and garage floors. The weight of Granicrete countertops is comparable to laminate, which is much lighter than real marble and granite. Customers achieve an elegant look at an affordable cost for interior and exterior remodeling or updating. Flooring, driveways, sidewalks, pool decks, patios and garage floors can look like tile, wood, slate, travertine or flagstone. Showers and baths look like tile, travertine or stone. All countertops are custom made and the decorative color and texture are one of a kind. There are more than 60 colors and multiple edge designs to choose from for your home or business project, and colors can be mixed to meet special project needs. They can also be made to glow in the dark for safety. Countertops are resurfaced with a 1/8-inch concrete
Bothwell, is recently retired and Scott is still doing the accounting for the business. Home Lumber & Builders is a retail lumber yard, selling lumber, windows, doors, siding, cabinets, gas fireplaces and a variety of miscellaneous building materials. Some of the major brands include Marvin Windows and Doors, Andersen Windows, Hayfield Window and Door, Taylor Doors, Certainteed Siding, James Hardie Siding, Starmark Cabinetry, Heat-NGlo Fireplaces, Boulder Creek HOME LUMBER & Stone and Owens Corning BUILDERS Insulation. Home Lumber & Builders What the firm offers today is Inc., a family owned business high quality building materials started by Ken Bothwell in 1965, at a competitive price and a is still going strong today. Ken very high level of customer passed ownership onto his two service. The services offered sons, Scott and Steve Bothwell, include plan drawing, material who ran the business for 20 estimating and prompt delivery. years. Cousins Carl Bothwell Home Lumber & Builders Inc. and Matt Anderson are now is located at 716 S. Jefferson third-generation owners and Ave. in Mason City. Call have had ownership since 2007. 641-424-4001 for any of your Running the business is now building needs. second nature for the cousins. IOWA WALL SAWING Carl started full time in 1999 Iowa Wall Sawing offers a and Matt followed in 2001. “We started at a young age and had service that many people probably know little about until the some great mentors over the service is needed. years,” said Carl. The company’s primary “We take a lot of pride in continuing the family business” service is sawing and cutting concrete. From egress windows said Matt. Their uncle, Steve overlay and epoxy. They are bacteria resistant, take indirect heat up to 500 degrees F, are seamless, do not need to be sealed and are stain-resistant. The color will never fade and they are Radon-free. Call for a free estimate or visit Hanson at the Home Show. Visit the website for pictures and testimonials at www.hansoncountertops.com. Phone is 641-424-5354 or 641-903-9366. Email is info@ hansoncountertops.com.
Visit Our Booth Featuring Snapper Country Clipper and Weber!
in basements to doorways for home additions, Iowa Wall Sawing is the company to contact. Owner Denny Sprague said his company also does commercial work with hydraulic and electric equipment. On new lots when a home is built, Iowa Wall Sawing can cut curbs and do bevels. A homeowner favorite is the start-to-finish egress installations in basement foundations (basement escape windows). These windows not only give access out of your basement if there is a fire, they also let in a lot of light, making the basement a much more livable, enjoyable area. Adding a window to the basement for a bedroom can add significantly to the resale value of your home. Sprague
said, “We look at it as adding safety and value to your home in a day.” A new feature Iowa Wall Sawing has to offer homeowners is Poly Lift, Polyurethane Concrete Lifting, raising sunken driveways, porches, patios and foundations. Iowa Wall Sawing has been in business for more than 30 years, with more than 100 years combined work experience. The phone number is 800-717-4577. Visit the website www.iowawallsawing.com for more valuable detailed information. JOHNSON HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING Johnson Heating & Air Conditioning LLC invites you to the North Iowa Home Show to see what it can do about high See exhibitors, C9
THE PELLA SHOWROOM
®
• ENERGY EFFICIENT • WARM • EASY TO CLEAN
424-6451 MASON CITY
www.kramerhardware.com
www.pella.com
2014 Home & Landscaping show
Globe Gazette Tuesday, March 4, 2014 ✦ C9
FEATURED EXHIBITORS From C8 L.P. and utilities costs. The company handles products including 97 percent gas furnaces, air-to-air heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps. Johnson also installs boilers,standard tank style water heaters, tankless water heaters and infloor heating for new homes or remodeling. Maybe your home has some indoor air quality needs like a simple upgraded air filtration, UV light or a humidifier to keep your home feeling warmer and comfortable. Don’t forget that warm weather is just around the corner. If you have any questions on air conditioning go see them at Booth A72 & A73.
third-generation family owned since 1933. Ernie Edmond, Minon Hank, Derrick Marina, MARQUART CONCRETE Sandy Dese and Wendy Noah PRODUCTS say they are proud of their Marquart Concrete Products, workmanship and quality mate1714 Fourth Ave. S. (on old rials used in roofing, siding, Highway 106), Clear Lake, windows and gutters. manufactures both solid and The company is a GAF blended colors of Rock Face Master-Elite contractor for Block units for commercial shingles in which the Timberline and residential use. Marquart HD Series and up are lifetime Concrete also manufactures shingles. There are several solid and blended colors of styles to choose from including landscaping products for shakes-like, tile, diamond point retaining walls, court yards, and slate look. The company patios and edging. uses top-of-the-line accessories Lighting is an exciting addiand makes sure maximum tion to your outdoor projects, ventilation is achieved. accenting the features of your In the commercial and home, trees, bushes, landscap- industrial roofing Mason City KRAMER ACE HARDWARE ing and water features with Roofing is an applicator of amazing effects. Established in 1989 in Clear Duro-Last Roofing, a custom Homeowners are invited to Lake, Kramer Ace Hardware is prefabricated single-ply. There visit the booth and build ideas a family-owned and operated are many colors and designs business. Kramer Ace Hardware for outdoor living space and also obtain ideas for the facing will be featuring Snapper and Country Clipper mowers. Weber of your new home or addition with brick, natural stone or grills and accessories will also manufactured stone for both be on display. interior and exterior use. Hot new styles of outdoor Visit Marquart Concrete living furniture will also be Products outdoor displays any featured. For the ultimate in relaxation, come and check out time and check the website for idea starters at www.marquartthe all-new Banana Swing! concreteproducts.com. Kramer Ace Hardware is a full-service hardware store with MASON CITY ROOFING locations in Clear Lake at 580 Mason City Roofing is Highway 18 E, in Garner at 150 COMMERCIAL
Highway 18 W and in Mason City at 440 S. Illinois Ave.
RESIDENTIAL
INDUSTRIAL
MASON CITY ROOFING 4 2 3-60 2 3 ROOFING · SIDING · WINDOWS · GUTTERS “SINCE 1933”
1-800-373-3393
to choose from, and the entire system includes metal detail and has a 15-year total system warranty. The company is also an applicator of Neogard Coating and urethane foam for metal, concrete, BUR and single-ply roof systems. There is a 10-year renewable total system warranty, and in most cases it is considered maintenance, not re-roofing. Mason City Roofing is a master contractor with mastic siding, with various profiles and accessories to choose. Other products include Quality Edge Soffit and Fascia products; Tamko Envisions bonded composite decking and railing; Westbury aluminum railing; TRX and Polyrail products; and Quality Edge inside/outside for underneath exposed porches.
The company also installs commercial gutters with openface downspouts, seamless gutters with larger downspouts and hinged flip-up extensions where needed. There will be a display this year of the company’s gutter protection cover. MIDWEST CONSTRUCTION Midwest Construction, 1601
S. Taft Ave., Mason City, is a family-owned and operated company specializing in exterior home improvements. Founded in Mason City by Alex P. Despenas in 1958, the home improvement company now has showrooms and warehouses in Mason City and
See exhibitors, C10
Siding, Roofing, Windows. Call today for a free quote. 641-210-0556
BOOTH A104 LocaLLy owned! northern Siding conStruction
North Iowa LawN servIce
professional lawn care Booth B23
641-355-3837 northiowalawn@gmail.com Residential & Commercial: Premium Fertilization, Weed Control, Aeration, Seeding, Mowing & Trimming. Free Aeration service for all new customers! Up to $300.00 value!!
C10 ✦ Tuesday, March 4, 2014
2014 Home & Landscaping show
Globe Gazette
FEATURED EXHIBITORS From C9 Grimes. Training for working in the business includes learning how to make an accurate estimate in the first visit. The company offers Uni-Frame Custom Built replacement windows that are energy-efficient and maintenance-free. Also offered are American Classic insulated vinyl siding, Oasis all-season and three-season sunrooms, seamless gutter system and eaves and overhang products and installation. An addition to the siding product line, Apex has the absolute lowest cost of ownership for any exterior siding product. Apex delivers performance that beats wood, steel, fiber cement and polymeric cladding. Paul Despenas, vice president of marketing, explains that quality products and quality installation are what the company focuses on and that will be the focus for generations to come. Over the years, Midwest Construction has been able to build relationships with national manufacturers that concentrate on building products with thermal performance and longevity to ensure homeowners a product that will last the life of the home. If you have home
Imagine no more itch from your undergarments. Imagine a better water table. The average laundry room puts 100 pounds of chemicals a year in the water MYSTIC WONDERS table. Since 1997 Mystic Wonders The Laundry Ball has years of Inc. from Holstein has been use and really saves you introducing Wonder Laundry money. It saves on the wear and Balls to consumers all across tear of your washing machine, the nation. Consumers who MIDWEST ORGANICS too. Your washer and dryer will purchase one, even though they last years longer. Midwest Organics is a local manufacturer of worm castings, might be a bit hesitant, say they This company has many a high quality fertilizer made by love them and all the benefits of products that are good for worms that is able to be applied using them. the home and your body. The Farmers and acreage owners Goat Milk soap with Pascalite to almost anything with a root. According to company owner like the idea of not adding any clay is one of the products that more detergents that clog up Jay Burgardt, worm casting consumers rave about. fertilizer is known to rejuvenate the septic tank field, and the Stop by the booth and see fact that using the Wonder Ball the products and perhaps pick worn-out soil and increases takes away all organic odors both plant growth and yield. up a trial size of the Goat Milk from their clothing. Imagine The world’s “finest natural soap — 200 will be given away. soft, fluffy absorbent bath fertilizer,” or “black gold,” as Laundry Balls are specially towels naturally soft with no some experts on soil will priced for this Home Show. chemicals. tell you, out-performs most The company will have many other fertilizers because it is made by earthworms. Worm castings are a living fertilizer The appeal of the Decade containing many beneficial ShowCase garage door is timeless. microorganisms. Nutrients include nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous and many beneficial enzymes and bacteria. Along with the worm castings, Midwest Organics will be showcasing Potting Soil Plus, a high-end potting soil consisting improvement plans in the future, the Home Show is a great place to get started. Stop by and visit the booth and “See the Midwest Construction difference for yourselves.” If you can’t make the Home Show, visit the showroom or online at www.mwcinc.com.
of organic peat moss enhanced with earthworm castings. To learn more visit the website at www.midwestorganics.net.
Healthy Home Cleaning Systems Professional Air Duct Cleaning
SAVE
Take Advantage of The Home Show Pricing
SAVE
641-357-7648 www.healthyhomecleaningsystems.com
• Sales, installation & service by the pros • free sales estimates & in-home consultations • “For As Long As You Own Your Home” warranties • Many color & style options
Authorized dealer for:
Built to be worry free.TM
products this year along with wooden frogs and pigs. More information is available on the website, mysticwondersinc.com. Phone is 712-368-2760. Order line is 888-452-4968. NORTH CENTRAL MECHANICAL SERVICES North Central Mechanical
Services was founded in 2010 by Nathan Bartels, a graduate of Mason City High School. Bartels graduated from the North Iowa Area Community College in 1998 from the climate control technology program. He has 18 years experience in the field. See exhibitors, C10
Services we offer:
• Installation • Sanding • Finishing • Refinishing
Shawn Leppert, Owner
Customer satisfaction guaranteed. Dust containment system for neat & tidy refinishing. VOC compliant finish to ensure indoor air quality.
605 East J St., Forest City, IA
Silver Creek Hardwood Floors 210 South Main Street, Spillville, Iowa 52168
www.ads-doors.com
www.silvercreekhardwoodfloors.com
641-585-1900
563-380-1593
Globe Gazette Tuesday, March 4, 2014 âœŚ C11
SAVE THE DATES April 25-27, 2014
NORTH IOWA BUILDERS TOUR April 25, 26 & 27
CITYWIDE GARAGE SALES April 25 & 26
Look for all the details in the Spring Home & Garden Section in the Thurs., April 24 Globe Gazette Builders- Get your homes on the tour! Contact Greg Wilderman 641-421-0545 or email greg.wilderman@globegazette.com
Mark your calendar. Make your plans. To place an ad call 641-423-2274
C12 ✦ Tuesday, March 4, 2014
2014 Home & Landscaping show
Globe Gazette
FEATURED EXHIBITORS From C10 North Central Mechanical Services works with both commercial and residential customers. In addition to commercial refrigeration, heating, cooling and ventilation, the company also does duct cleaning, backflow installation and inspection, preventive maintenance, plumbing and custom sheet metal work. The company has purchased a new building in Mason City at 2601 15th St. S.W. and is currently moving in. The shop has already moved and the office will move next month. In the meantime, the office is still located at 1411 S. Taft Ave. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but the experienced 10-member staff is available anytime. Telephone is 641-424-4828; email is ncms.mech@gmail. com; fax is 641-201-1502.
number is 641-210-0556. Email is jamasoncity@aol.com.
go that extra mile to make sure buildings are designed and built with superior workmanship at a price within budget. Whether it’s a simple machine shed or workshop to a large ag building, horse barn, garage, or other storage building, Northland’s experienced sales consultants work with you to design and build exactly what you need within your budget. For more information or a free estimate call 800-7364510 or visit the new website at www.northlandbuildings.com.
NORTHLAND BUILDINGS Northland Buildings is a post-frame construction company specializing in garages, agricultural storage and commercial buildings. Whether it’s for the home, farm or business, Northland has the answer to your building needs, offering beautiful and affordable solutions for any building. Established in 1994 in Eau Claire, Wis., Northland Buildings is celebrating its PELLA CORPORATION 20th anniversary this year. Pella Corporation is a leader Northland’s 20 years of quality in designing, testing, manumaterials and construction facturing and installing quality experience have resulted in windows and doors for new many satisfied customers all construction, remodeling and over the Midwest. The busireplacement applications. ness has expanded to cover As a family-owned and proall of Wisconsin, Minnesota, fessionally managed privately Iowa, Northern Illinois, Upper Michigan and North and South held company, Pella is known for its 87-year history of making Dakota. The corporate office NORTH IOWA LAWN innovative products, providing and distribution center is SERVICE quality service and delivering North Iowa Lawn Service is a located in Eau Claire, Wis. Northland’s goal is to provide on customer satisfaction. small locally-owned company Headquartered in Pella, the that offers a more personalized the best quality building at company is committed to a fair price to customers. approach to your lawn care. Experienced sales staff, building incorporating new technoloQuality of work is the company’s top priority. It is the goal crews, engineering, purchasing, gies, increasing productivity of North Iowa Lawn Service that office support and transporta- and practicing environmental tion department are all commit- stewardship to create satisfied your lawn looks great and that ted to the building project from customers. you are a satisfied customer. Pella manufactures start to finish. Staff and crews NORTHERN SIDING CONSTRUCTION NSC has many products and Make Your Lawn & Garden Look services for siding, windows, roofing and doors. Beautiful Again! Use A Fantastic “At NSC we value and respect Natural Fertilizer Made By WORMS. our clients and their properties,” said owner Jason Adams. The Great for lawns, gardens, locally-owned business prides transplants, etc. Won’t burn roots. itself on working clean and fast without compromising quality, Also check out our quality and on helping homeowners Booth B22 Potting Soil Plus reach their home improvement goals. WORM CASTINGS by NSC offers vinyl siding, hardy board, window and door wrap, window and door installation and decks. All size jobs are welJay Burgardt • Britt, Iowa 50423 come for new or old construction at very competitive rates, 641-843-4001 said Adams, who has 15 years www.midwestorganics.net experience in the trade. Phone
Midwest Organics
quality windows, patio doors and entry door systems sold through a direct sales network operating Pella Window & Door Showrooms across the United States. For more information call 888-847-3552 or visit pella. com. Follow Pella on Twitter. com @ Pella News, on Facebook at facebook.com/ pellawindowsanddoors and on You Tube at youtube.com/ pellawindowsanddoors. RESTORE AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Habitat’s ReStore is North Iowa’s premier home improvement discount outlet. The ReStore is open to the public and provides area homeowners and businesses with new and gently used products at affordable prices. All inventory sold at the
ReStore is donated by contractors, businesses and the public to support the work of Habitat for Humanity of North Central Iowa. Merchandise includes furniture, sinks, cabinets, toilets, countertops, carpet, tile, vanities, light fixtures, home décor, appliances, hardware, paint, windows, doors and more. There is also a consignment section of new crown molding of various woods and quantities. The ReStore also helps the environment by diverting reusable building materials from area landfills. Donors may benefit by avoiding landfill fees and by receiving a tax deduction on contributions. The ReStore is located at 517 First St. N.W. in Mason City. Store hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through
Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Habitat for Humanity is a not-for-profit ecumenical Christian housing ministry that works with local families in need to provide them with simple, decent and affordable housing. Habitat raises the money needed to build the homes, and then sells them to families through zero percent interest loans. Mortgage payments are then used to help other families. To find out how to become a donor or volunteer with Habitat, or to apply for a current home opportunity in Mason City, Clear Lake or Hampton, visit www.habitatnci.org or call 641-424-8978. Questions for the ReStore can be directed to 641-423-1688. Items from the ReStore will be displayed at the Home Show. See exhibitors, C14
First Citizens... We’re There With You! Whether you’re in the Bank, opening an account or applying for a home loan online, using our mobile app, or out in the community, First Citizens National Bank is there with you! Stop by our booth in the All Seasons Building and see us. Plus, register to win a Garmin Nuvi 52 GPS with Lifetime Maps! We’re there with you at the North Iowa Home Improvement and Landscaping Show! First Citizens National Bank www.firstcitizensnb.com Mason City • Charles City • New Hampton • Alta Vista Osage • Clarion • Kanawha • Latimer
Member FDIC
Globe Gazette Tuesday, March 4, 2014 ✦ C13
Quaint Starter home with plenty of rustic charm, complete privacy and the opportunity to fix it just the way you want it...
Stop Wasting Time on the wrong Homes. Check out the hundreds of listings complete with details and PICTURES at Formerly niowarealty.com • New Name • New Look • Same Great Site
C14 ✦ Tuesday, March 4, 2014
2014 Home & Landscaping show
Globe Gazette
FEATURED EXHIBITORS From C12 RIVER CITY SOCIETY FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION For the past few years the River City Society For Historic Preservation’s booth has promoted the production of locally produced stone, cement and quarried stone. This year the focus will be on the creative architects who used these materials to construct memorable residential and commercial buildings. One of Mason City’s more famous early creative architects was E.R. Bogardus. He designed many of Mason City’s early residential and commercial structures as well as buildings for nearby communities. His work will be the primary focus of the society’s booth this year. Many of the homes located on Mason City’s East State Street are Bogardus creations, as are many of the homes that border the downtown area. Historic photos on his work will be on display, as well as elevations of the homes and commercial buildings he designed. Some of his blueprints will also be available. Like most architects, he designed structures that were never built. Maps of early Mason City will also be featured. Much of this material is
being provided by the Mason City Archive Department of the Mason City Public Library. The River City Society for Historic Preservation is dedicated to the study and preservation of all aspects of Mason City’s historic architecture. The greatest achievement to date is the restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Stockman House and its operation as a tourist attraction and the building of the Mason City Architectural Interpretive Center, a gateway to the varied architectural wonders of Mason City. Memberships in the society will be available at the Home Show. Make a visit to the RCSHP booth this year. ST. ANSGAR PLUMBING & HEATING St. Ansgar Plumbing & Heating Inc. offers the Central Boiler outdoor wood furnace. Eliminate your LP bill by installing a Central Boiler. The Central Boiler comes in several sizes depending on the size of the unit you need. One unit can heat more than one building. The Central Boiler can also heat your domestic water and hot tub. Central Boiler is made in Minnesota. Dan and Wanda Warrington want you to stop by the Home
moved back to his home area to venture out on his own in a landscape business. Jeremi studied landscape SILVER CREEK design and installation at HARDWOOD FLOORS Kirkwood Community College Silver Creek Hardwood Floors in Cedar Rapids and worked for in Spillville, Iowa, provides a landscape company in Cedar custom work on wood floors Rapids for two seasons before in several states, including moving back. The business Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois office is located outside of Lake and Minnesota. Mills and the operations based The family-owned business just outside Thompson. was started 10 years ago by The company services a wide Shawn Leppert, who said he range of North Iowa and southhas a background from “being ern Minnesota and has three a farm boy” and working with employees. Jeremi Throne hardwood. The company has works out of Thompson as the a show room in Spillville with operations manager, while Brad a wide variety of hardwood Midlang, installation specialist, species to choose from. and Kathy Christianson, sales Silver Creek Hardwood and design manager, work Floors offers both pre-finished out of Lake Mills. Christianson and site-finished floors. The majored in horticulture at Iowa company does the sales, instal- State University, Ames. lation, sanding and finishing of Throne Landscape specialnew hardwood floors and also izes in hardscape installation refinishes old hardwood floors. which includes retaining walls, Phone numbers for the foundations, patios, fire pits, company are 563-562-1058 walkways, water features, and 563-380-1593. accent lighting and plantings. Commercial and residential THRONE LANDSCAPE & snow removal is available in YARDCARE SERVICES the Thompson, Lake Mills Throne Landscape & and Forest City areas. Email is Yardcare Services Inc. was thronelandscape@wctatel.net founded in 2010 by Brian and Deb Throne and their son, THE TUB GUY Jeremi Throne, after Jeremi The Tub Guy offers a higher Show to take a look at the Central Boiler outdoor wood furnace at Booth A35-A36.
booth and let us know what your heating and cooling needs are. Visit our
• Residential & Commercial • Heating • Air Conditioning • Ventilation • Refrigeration • Backflow Testing • Geothermal • FREE ESTIMATES
24 hoUR
eMeRgencY SeRVice
quality, lower cost alternative to tearing out your old tub and walls, according to owner Bob Walker. The Tub Guy can transform your bath in as little as one day with a new bath liner, shower conversion, walkthrough conversions, walk-in tub and/or wall surrounds.
It’s less expensive, faster and less mess than a stud-up remodeling. The standard packages include extras like soap dishes and corner shelves or caddies. Single piece custom-fit panels eliminate seams and protect
See exhibitors, C15
RIVER CITY SOCIETY FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION VICTORIAN ERA ARCHITECTS AND ARCHITECTURE Memberships Available
Hanson’s
Countertops and Flooring Granicrete
Kurt Hanson Mason City, Iowa
Certified Installer
Countertops that look like Granite or Marble High-end look at an affordable cost with no seams Flooring, Driveways, Sidewalks, and Patios to look like Tile, Wood, Slate, Travertine, or Flagstone
Cell: 641-903-9366 Free Estimates Home: 641-424-5354 www.hansoncountertops.com
Need a New Roof?
Preferred Contractor
Young ConstruCtion 641.430.0655
www.youngconstructionnorthiowa.com Stop by and meet the Pink Panther!
Need SidiNg?
2014 Home & Landscaping show
Globe Gazette Tuesday, March 4, 2014 ✦ C15
Home Show booths
FEATURED EXHIBITORS From C14 against future leaks. Bathtub liners are available in five colors, with six skirt options, and are custom molded to perfectly fit your tub. The liners fit most cast iron or steel tubs, and will not crack, chip or peel. They are easy to clean and include a new pop-up drain and overflow cover. Choose an updated look, with easy-to-clean sleek walls and fixtures. Or change to the convenience of a walk-in shower or even a walk-in tub and shower combination. Non-porous acrylic choices cover a range of colors and textures, including convincing faux stone and tile options. Add options like grab bars. The company can also install matching wainscoting in the entire bathroom. The Tub Guy uses the heaviest, highest quality acrylic liners and wall panels in the industry, with a modern range of color and pattern offerings. Acrylic won’t rust like old enamelcoated steel and is easier to clean and more durable than fiberglass. A Tub Guy bathroom update is a wise and enjoyable investment. Financing is available. The Tub Guy is locally owned and all products used are made in the USA. Stop by booth A-24
Style Shutters and Palm Beach Shutters. Steve and Kathy are qualified to help you in any designing and WINDOW ACCENTS decorating needs. They have Window Accents is located in been in business for 35 years Algona and the owners, Steve and get a lot of referrals from and Kathy Nelson, have been in past customers. You can find business since 1978. them on the Internet at Hunter They sell window fashions, Douglas dealer locator or their soft treatments, drapes and own website www.windowacshutters. They not only can sell centsonline.com. you the blinds for your windows Steve and Kathy really enjoy but they can clean them right coming to Mason City, meeting on the window. new people and seeing their Steve said they are certified past customers stop by the with on-site fabric cleaning to booth. They are located at clean all your window treatBooth A007-A008. ments. They sell throughout YOUNG CONSTRUCTION the Midwest and enjoy traveling Young Construction specialtogether to new and old izes in roofing, siding, painting locations. Steve and Kathy and insulation and this year is sell Hunter Douglas products announcing “great things for exclusively as they believe the future.” the warranty is the best in the “We continue to grow in business. All Hunter Douglas all areas,” said owner Dan products are fabricated in the United States and the company Young. “I consider us to be a leader in residential roofing in is continually creating new North Iowa. I enjoy meeting window fashions products. homeowners and helping them Some products that their choose the roof that best fits customers are interested in their home.” include Pirouette, Silhouette, Getting a new roof can be Luminette, Duette, Vignette and stressful for any homeowner, designer screen shades and so Young focuses on doing shutters. Solera is brand new the job using quality products, this year. Steve is a certified while completing the job professional installer. Hunter Douglas has three lines of shut- professionally and in a timely ters: Heritance Hardwood, New manner. Young Construction and take a look. Phone is 641423-3983 and website at www. bobthetubguy.com.
Heating & Air Conditioning LLC
Residential Light Commercial Licensed - Insured & Bonded
Beat the High L.P. & Utility Cost with a new aIR to aIR Heat Pump or a new Geothermal Heat Pump. Mason City • 641-424-4808 Clear Lake • 641-357-4808
is an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, and Young stays educated and up-to-date on the latest in the roofing industry. Young Construction also does farm and agricultural metal roofs. The company showroom in Nora Springs at 14 South Iowa Ave. opens Saturdays starting March 15 and by appointment. The showroom allows customers an opportunity to view shingle colors and other features, along with siding choices. On siding projects, material choices range from vinyl to cement board, in addition to metal. Young Construction receives many calls and does a lot of exterior painting jobs on Victorian homes. The company welcomes the opportunity to work on unique and challenging homes. “Our goal at Young Construction is to provide quality and trustworthy, professional work at a price that fits our customers’ budgets,” Young said. His relationship with customers doesn’t end when the job ends, as he is part of the North Iowa community. For a free consultation and estimate, contact Young at 641-430-0655 or online at youngconstructionnorthiowa.com.
Metro Images
More than 100 booths will be available at the North Iowa Home and Landscaping Show to be held Friday through Sunday at the North Iowa Events Center. Exhibitors will offer products and services to help you with your home, lawn and garden.
Laundry Balls
For Washing Machine & Dryer
NO CHEMICALS!
Frogs, Turtles, Lotion Bars, Goat Milk Soap & New Items
GREAT SHOW PRICES!
mysticwondersinc.com 888-452-4968 Booth G22
THE HIGH QUALITY & LOWER COST ALTERNATIVE to tearing out your old tub & walls! Compare & SAVE!!
THE TUB GUY
We can install new acrylic bathtub liners and wall surrounds over your existing bathtub and tile IN AS LITTLE AS ONE DAY!
NEW WALk-IN bAThTub OpTIONS!!
Locally Owned • Financing Available • For more information contact: Bob Walker (641)423-3983 www.bobthetubguy.com Home Show Special
10% or $50 OFF ANY TUB ORDER
BY 3/31/14 BOOTH A24
C16 âœŚ Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Globe Gazette
Rick Titus in his 39th year of selling and installing more efficient fireplace inserts. Rick Titus of Clarion started his business, called "The Country Store", in 1975 and even though he has moved into town now, he has no intention of retiring any time soon. "I enjoy and love doing this." said Titus. "I've covered every corner of the state because I'm an expert, and that is not meant as a boast. I don't think anyone else in the state does exactly what I do." What he does, is sell and install the Fuego Flame (brand name) fireplace insert, which he believes are the most efficient inserts on the market, for the money. However, it took him awhile to find out about that brand. "I was living in Littleton, Colorado. and came across a brochure for the Heatilator fireplaces, which were made at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa," said Titus.
- photo by Les Houser, Wright County Monitor
"When we moved back here 3 years later, I decided I was going to call them and become a dealer:' Titus was soon displaying the units at county fairs and got some business. But then in checking back with his customers, to his amazement, he found out they were sending most of the heat up the chimney. "I then tried selling other brands of fireplaces like Preway, and Majestic and found they were no better. These were touted to be energy efficient, having fans and adjustable dampers, but they still were not burning like a wood stove, so I just kept looking. I was selling wood stoves, but not everyone wants a wood stove in their home. Then I found out about the Fuego Flame Fireplaces, which were as close to wood stove efficiency as you will find. This company made Zero Clearance fireplaces and also made four different sized inserts, so now I could offer my customers a super efficient fireplace, or install one of the inserts inside of their existing wood burning fireplace, no matter how large or small," Titus said. But then it wasn't long before he found a fireplace that has an unusual shape, like a two sided, or see-thru. or arched opening, and these inserts would not fit. So he decided to just make the inserts from scratch to fit these unusual fireplaces. He even built an insert to fit a four sided fireplace for Bill Knapp in Des Moines. The Fuego Flame fireplace inserts can make any fireplace burn up to 70% efficient, and needs no electricity while keeping 99% of the heat in the home. It burns slow like a wood stove while keeping the beauty of the fireplaces overall appearance and fun of watching the fire. Once the insert is installed, the average fireplace can heat 1,000 to 1,500 square feet of a well insulated home, while using 213 less wood, and protects the home from runaway fires. It can burn most of the night on just 3 or 4 hardwood logs, leaving you a nice bed of hot burning coals to ignite new logs come morning. "Some of my customers use the fireplace 2417 all winter long, and rarely hear their furnace kick on. Thus they save a tremendous amount of fuel each month. These inserts literally pay for themselves by saving the customers fuel,"Titus says. The inserts are made using 12-guage steel, which Titus said transmits the heat qUicker because it's lighter. Cool air from the house enters underneath the insert, and is then circulated up the back of - the fireplace with the heated air exiting out the top, all without the use of a fan. The temperature of the air coming off this insert varies from 200 to 1000 degrees. Titus says, "You bake in your oven at 350, and you can feel that kind of heat coming out of the top of the fireplaces heat opening. Most heat circulating fireplaces do not come close to putting out that kind of heat, for they send all their heat up the chimney.� The Fuego Flame inserts are installed using an insulated ceiling, which prevents the stove heat from going up the fireplaces chimney. The insert damper control is on the inserts face plate, so you can close the doors and then close the damper. The inserts also burn with their damper 95% closed, thus making the wood burn nice and slow. The twin glass doors are made using ceramic glass, which will take 1400 degrees temperature, so you never have to worry about breaking the glass with heat, and you get to enjoy watching the slow burning logs inside. These twin doors are easy to clean with very little effort. "Remember when you were a kid sitting around the campfire, or at a family reunion, how much fun it is to sit around the campfire! Well, you can have that same fun in your home with a real wood burning fire in your fireplace all winter long, and enjoy the romance of the flames; and everyone could use more romance, right! It is actually mesmerizing to watch the flames, and you don't even have to say a word as you watch the fire. Now you can have the romantic comfort of a campfire and enjoy all that warmth in your home safely and efficiently," said Titus. For those that can't or don't wish to burn wood, Titus offers super efficient gas logs as an option. He started selling those in 1991, and they offer the same nice flame effect, but without the work and cleanup from real wood. " I've got people who bought a fireplace from me in the 70's and 80's that are now having me put gas logs in those same fireplaces," said Titus. These gas logs are capable of heating up to 1,000 square feet of the average well insulated home, so if you have a power outage, these gas logs will keep you toasty warm, and keep the pipes from freezing in your home. Titus has covered a large area of the Midwest in his sales and installation travels, "I have built and installed units in fireplaces from Minneapolis to Kansas City and allover Iowa." said Titus, "I've learned that if I go to a county fair, I get business from that area." He also feels that word of mouth has been his best advertising, and that the personal attention he can offer gets the sales. "I do all the work myself," said Titus. "I don't even charge for estimates when I come into your home. I feel an in home visit is the only way I can know exactly what the customer needs." Titus is also not afraid to tackle, or at least look at, any chimney problems including a cracked chimney. "I've fixed one of those many times for someone," said Titus. "I installed a stainless steel liner inside the chimney and made it safe and efficient." Titus explained that these inserts are not like others that you can buy, and that it takes some time to install them. "This is not a quick fix job," said Titus. "I don't just shove it into your existing fireplace, collect a check and leave. Most of the other inserts on the market make your fireplace look like it has a wood stove shoved into it, and they change the whole look of the fireplace by putting a big metal shroud around the insert. It takes me from six to eight hours to do this, but it will be done right and you'll never need to do anything more with it." Titus has even thought of people who like to cook food over a wood fire. "I've developed a barbeque grill that will fit inside there," said Titus. "You can grill steaks or bake potatoes. It will work great for putting a dutch-oven in the fireplace too." Feel free to contact Rick at The Country Store for more information. You can call either 5 I 5-532-3881 or 5 I 5-293-2455, or visit his website at: www.fireplacesatthecountrystore. com, or email himatyahtitus@gmail.com. "We don't know what the future holds for our electrical system in this country," said Titus. "If someone wants to control us, they could cut off the electricity, food supply, or disrupt our fuel. Everyone should have a way to heat their home without electricity:'
515-532-3881 or 515-293-2455 • www.fireplacesatthecountrystore.com