Welcome to the 41st Annual SICBA Home & Garden Show!
We hope that you will find everything you need to get started on your home and garden projects
The show kicks off Friday, March 24th at 12 Noon and concludes Sunday, March 26th at 4pm. With over a hundred exhibitors present, if there is a home improvement project on your list, we are sure you’ll be able to find the information you need from our professionals.
Stop by the SICBA info booth in the F Building to pick up a referral directory for Contractors in both Skagit and Island Counties and learn more about who SICBA is and what we do.
We welcome Ciscoe Morris back to the show on Sunday, March 26th at 1:30 pm in the A building, speaking on Spring gardening and answering questions. Our Make & Take classes are back by popular demand with new instructors and events planned!
Grab a bite to eat at one of our favorite food trucks – some are returning favorites, others may become your new favorites! Listen to live music all weekend while you eat and plan your next home improvement or garden projects.
Saturday, March 25th we are celebrating the little ones and bringing back our events for kids with birdhouse building, LEGO contests and a new “Young Entrepreneur” vendor market. Keep an eye on the schedule for those activity times and locations.
We can’t wait to see everyone March 24th-26th. Bring the whole family and spend the day with us at the 41st Annual SICBA Home & Garden Show!
Robert Desmarais Sound Cedar Lumber Home & Garden Show Chair(One ticket is good for all 3 days)
Adults: $7
Military: $5
Seniors: $5
Children under 15 FREE
Northbound on I-5:
Tickets & Parking - Page 3
Schedule of Events - Page 4
Sponsors - Page 5
Vendor Directory - Page 7
Food & Drink - Page 11
Make & Take - Page 13
Live Music! - Page 15
About SICBA - Page 17
ARTICLES:
What Builders are Featuring in Today’s Homes Page 8
Technical Education Can Lead to a Fulfilling Career Page 14
Want a Modern Home Design? Try Creating Dark & Light Spaces. Page 20
How to Pay for Home Improvements Page 22
Landscaping for Small Backyards Page 26
• FREE for the Home & Garden Show
• Parking is permitted in the South lot
• Disabled parking can be accessed at the North entrance or in the South lot
• The North entrance is reserved for walk up or disabled parking only
Southbound on I-5:
From I-5 take Anderson Road Exit #225, LEFT off the Freeway on Anderson Rd, RIGHT at stop sign on Old Hwy 99 S, LEFT at the light on to Blackburn, RIGHT on Cleveland, LEFT on Taylor St. South Parking Lot is straight ahead.
From I-5 take Anderson Road Exit #225, RIGHT off the Freeway on Anderson Rd, RIGHT at stop sign on Old Hwy 99 S, LEFT at the light on to Blackburn, RIGHT on Cleveland, LEFT on Taylor St. South Parking Lot is straight ahead.
Presenting Sponsor:
WECU
Tasting Event Sponsor:
PNW Construction & Energy Services
Ciscoe Morris Sponsor: Craft Stove
Gate Sponsor: Sound Cedar Lumber
Hospitality Room Sponsor: Mountain Pacific Bank
Birdhouse Sponsor: Cedar Country Lumber
Band Sponsors: Island Associates LLC, Craft Stove
Robert Desmarais CHAIRMAN - Sound Cedar Lumber
Hugo Prado - PNW Construction & Energy Services LLC
Rachel Patrick - US Bank
Joel Pasek - Servpro of Skagit County
Dee Dee Swartz - Olympus Containers / Circle A Trailers
Jeovanni Camacho - Yonkman Construction Inc
Sharman Burnam - TREB Executive Marketing LLC
Breanne Desmarais - Sound Cedar Lumber
Sunday, March 26th @ 1:30-3:30
Stump the Chump
Enjoy a lively session of Question and Answer. Ciscoe will help all of your garden dilemmas. You may even win a prize but you have to answer one of Ciscoe’s tough garden stumpers.
About the Presenter
Ciscoe is well known in the Pacific Northwest. He appears regularly on TV and radio, plus he writes for local publication. His book, Ask Ciscoe, was a best seller. When he is not speaking or writing, he is often gardening at his home in Northeast Seattle or off hosting a garden tour somewhere in the world.
CISCOE MORRIS
Topic: Spring Gardening Tips plus Q & A and Book Signing.
A.B’s Hillbilly Gyros
Adair Homes
Asphalt Sealcoating, Inc.
Banner Power Solutions
Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing
Bath Planet
BECU
Blackburn Gardens
Builders First Source
Clearwater Systems
Complete Landscape Edging
Connolly Construction Company
Contractor Hotline
Cozy Heating Inc.
Crawford Garage Doors
Creations of Joy, LLC
Cutco Cutlery
DeWaard & Bode Appliances & Mattresses
Discount Fence
Donut Seed & Corney Dog CO
Edward Jones
Esary Roofing & Siding Co Inc.
Evergreen Home Exteriors
Farm Fresh Northwest
Feenaughty Machinery Company
Granite Transformations
Great Floors
Gutter Helmet by Harry Helmet
Harley Exteriors
Health First Chiropractic
Heritage Homecraft, Inc.
Hest Collaborations
Home Maintenance Central, Inc.
Interior Design & Staging by Trina
I’ve Got A Guy Tree Services
Land Title and Escrow
Lautenbach Recycling
LeafFilter North of Washington, LLC
LeafGuard of Seattle
Lenz Enterprises
Lumio
Ma & Pa Kettle Corn LLC
Marla and Company - Keller Williams
Miller Barns LLC
Natural Way Chiropractic
New Floors USA
Olydoghouse
Olympus Containers and Circle A Trailers LLC
Patrick & Sons Construction and Excavation LLC
PNW Construction & Energy Services LLC
Polar Bear Exterior Solutions
Polar Fresh
Pro Active Choices - Tower Garden/Juice Plus+
Puget Sound Energy
Pure Smoke NW
Rainy Day Basement Systems
Red Barn Burgers and Hometown Grill
Renewal By Andersen
Riverline Cabinetry and Flooring
Ronk Brothers
ServiceMaster Cleaning by Roth
ShelfGenie
Simple Streams by Forrest Stumps
Skagit County Noxious Weed Control Board
Skagit Habitat for Humanity
Skagit Plumbing
Skagit WSU Master Gardeners
Skagit/Island Counties Builders Association
Skyline Construction Services
Sound Cedar Lumber
Stilly River Mechanical, Inc.
Stone Pros Marble, Granite & Quartz Countertops, LLC
System Pavers
Topside Roofing and Siding
Tristate Roofing Inc.
US Bank
WECU - Presenting Sponsor
Western Solar Inc.
Food Vendors are indicated with a Food Icon.
America’s home builders closely follow the preferences of today’s home buyers to ensure they enjoy their new homes. For example, builders responded at the height of the pandemic by adding square footage in new homes since people were spending more time at home. Now the trend is shifting, partly due to housing affordability factors. Here are a few notable trends in the residential construction industry based on recent U.S. Census Bureau data analyzed by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
Home Size is Trending Lower. An expected impact of the pandemic was a need for more residential space, as people use homes for more purposes, including work. The housing boom after covid led to a rise in new single-family home size. However, this trend appears to be reversing due to housing market conditions, namely affordability. According to 2022 third-quarter U.S. Census data and NAHB analysis, the median single-family square floor area declined to 2,276 square feet, compared to 2,326 in the third quarter of 2021.
According to the most recent data available, only a small percentage of new single-family homes have two bedrooms or less (9.2%), while nearly half (44%) of new homes had three bedrooms and more than a third (36%) had four bedrooms. Moreover, 2021 marked the second year that the
share of four-bedroom homes increased.
In addition, a majority (62%) of new single-family homes have two full bathrooms. According to an NAHB analysis, since 2005, most new homes tend to have two full bathrooms. And it is no surprise that an overwhelming majority (93%) of homes that were 5,000 square feet or more had three or more full bathrooms.
Patios are Preferred to Decks. Home owners treasure their outdoor space. For the sixth consecutive year, 2021 showed that the share of new homes with patios increased. In contrast, the share of new homes with decks is trending in the opposite direction. However, decks remain relatively popular in certain parts of the country, according to NAHB. For example, more than half (60%) of new homes in New England came with decks in 2021.
Declines.
In 2021, most new single-family homes were built without a two-story foyer nationally and regionally. According to the Census Bureau, a two-story foyer is an entranceway inside a house’s front door and has a ceiling at the second-floor ceiling level. In the United States, the share of new homes with two-story foyers fell from 29% to 25% in 2021, the lowest level in the last five years. A two-story foyer has been an unwanted feature for many home buyers since 2012, as many consider two-story foyers energy inefficient.
For more information on new home trends or how to find a home builder in our community, contact Skagit/Island Counties Builders Association
(360)757-6916 or info@sicba.org
Come see what our youngest entrepreneurs have been up to! Jewelry, 3-D printed treasures, woodwork products, plants, & more!
Saturday, March 25th from 10-3 pm
Birdhouse building with Boy Scouts
Saturday, March 25th and Sunday, March 26th
All Day in the Pavilion
Friday 5:00-7:00
Saturday 1:30-3:30
Sunday 10:30-12:30
Hunt for a fairy house in the C, D, and F buildings and in outdoor booths!
Stamp your scavenger hunt card when you find each fairy house and turn it into the SICBA Info Booth, in the F building, for a chance to win a BIG prize!
As you walk through the Fairgrounds, be sure to be on the lookout for the Fairy Houses!
All Days!
All over the Fairground
Saturday ALL DAY Sunday ALL DAY in the Pavillion
The competitions will take place on Saturday, March 25th with two sessions.
Kids ages 9-12 will compete at 11:30 pm.
Kids ages 5-8 will compete at 12:30 pm.
• Each participant will receive a Classic Lego Medium Box of 484 Legos® and a 10 x 10 Lego® pad. Every box of Legos® is the exact same.
• Participants will have 30 minutes to build a “building.” To be qualified, the structure must have a door or a place for a door.
• Judging will take place privately after the final session and Ribbons will be awarded at 2pm on Saturday in the Pavillion.
Saturday 11:30-12:00
Saturday 12:30-1:00
By Curtis Banta, President
Graduation season is around the corner. For new graduates, this can be an exciting yet daunting time as they contemplate the next chapter. If you know a soon-to-be or recent grad seeking new opportunities, encourage them to explore technical education opportunities that can lead to professional and personal fulfillment.
Each February, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and industry leaders in our community celebrate Careers and Technical Education (CTE) Month. CTE includes several fields, such as information technology, advanced manufacturing and construction. In addition, this nationally recognized month shines a spotlight on the educational opportunities available for high school students, college students and adults.
There are many reasons to steer someone toward technical education, including:
Promising Career Prospects. Baby boomers currently fill many trade jobs. According to a recent Home Builders Institute report, a substantial portion of the construction labor market could retire in the near future. That means job prospects for CTE students are promising, especially in residential construction. According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data and analysis by NAHB, the number of residential construction jobs available in November 2022 was 388,000.
continued on page 24
Pacific Twang plays Country, Swamp Rock and Americana, featuring beautiful vocal harmonies and stellar musicianship.
A big Thank You to the sponsors of SICBA Stage and Musical Guests!
Savanna Woods
Former contestant on The Voice, Local Stanwood favorite, singer/ songwriter plays ‘Americana Grunge’ both folksy and raspy rocker.
Enchantrix
Guitar driven, awesome female vocals, and a big sound.
Mama Dirty Skirt Fun and upbeat with a full sound, we play all the best hits of the 70’s!
Friday, March 24
3 to 6 Pacific Twang
Saturday, March 25
12 to 3 Savanna Woods
Saturday, March 25 4 to 7
Enchantrix
Sunday, March 26 12:30 to 3:30
Mama Dirty Skirt
The Skagit/Island Counties Builders Association was founded in 1979 and has been active since then. When the interest rate was in double digits, SICBA members drove across the country to Washington, D.C., collecting 2x4s with messages for Congress protesting the state of the home building industry at the time.
Now over 440 members strong, SICBA continues to advocate for affordable housing and the health of the building industry this day. Our partnership with the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) helped create the framework to get the industry safely back to work during the COVID-19 crisis and to serve as an example for other industries in their safe return to work. Thanks to our members’ commitment to work safely within these guidelines, residential construction has been going strong in Washington ever since.
SICBA members work and live in Skagit and Island Counties and take an active role in our local community. We host the annual SICBA Home & Garden Show to allow our builders to showcase their craftsmanship to the community and to prospective buyers. We work with charities and nonprofits in our neighborhoods to strengthen our community and help the needy. Our annual golf tournament gives a portion of its proceeds to charity and our holiday drive raises money for two local food banks in Skagit and Island Counties.
In addition to advocating for small businesses and affordable housing, SICBA keeps an eye towards workforce development. In many trades today, only 1 new person joins the workforce for every 5 that retire out. We advocate for greater emphasis in schools on the trades as a rewarding career path for students. SICBA and its chapter association SWHB (South Whidbey Home Builders) gave $6000 in scholarships in 2022, to children of SICBA members and to students seeking careers in the construction trades.
2023 OFFICERS
President Curtis Banta
1st Vice President Kim Piazza
2nd Vice President Kelly Fox
Secretary Robert Desmarais
Treasurer Hugo Prado
2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Builder Member - Josh Williamson
Builder Member - Jay Roberts
Builder Member - Charles Locke
Builder Member - Bob Johnson
Associate Member - April Moore
Associate Member - Jason Joiner
Associate Member - Kathy Sanchez
Associate Member - Dee Dee Swartz
2023 STATE DIRECTORS
Kim Piazza, Jay Roberts (CGB & CGP), Charles Locke (CGP & CAPS), Chris Deasy (CAPS & CGP), Curtis Banta (CGB), Dee Dee Swartz, Kelly Fox, Gary Wray, Robert Desmarais, Patrick Hayes (Life), Bob Moe (CAPS & Life), Dottie Piazza (Life), Ted Clifton (CGB, MCGP & Life), John Piazza Sr. (CAPS & Life), Rick Tremaine (Life), Scott Rainwater (Life), Bob Johnson (CAPS, CGP, & Life)
2022 NATIONAL DELEGATES
Curtis Banta, Gary Wray, Bob Moe (CAPS & Life), Ted Clifton (Life), Dottie Piazza (Sr. Life), John Piazza Sr. (CAPS & Sr. Life), Bob Johnson (CAPS & CGP)
SICBA OFFICE STAFF
Executive Officer – Wayne Crider
Marketing & Events Coordinator – Pamela Sheedy
Membership Services Coordinator – Sydney Ross
With careful planning, modern home designs are within reach. One common approach is to use light and dark color combinations throughout your home, from paint colors to light and dark wood choices (usually on cabinets or floors), furniture, and even carpets
or other décor items. If you’re interested in creating a fresh look for your home, consider the following approaches to using dark and light hues to modernize your living spaces.
Dark bold pieces or accents give any space depth and a traditional feel. For example, painting walls with dark colors allow art and other objects to stand out. Generally, dark colors like black thrive when paired with neutral tones. When together, it can create a more inviting and comfortable space. Having darker colors in homes is elegant, moody, chic, and sophisticated; most importantly, they always stay in style.
Adding white or light-colored furniture can make a room look more spacious, open, and airy. Painting walls or cabinets white allow for a blank palette to start a space with, which can then be the base for creativity to begin and shine through. Using white as a base gives leniency to play with other colors to stand out.
Combining dark and light colors can also create an appealing space with a sense of organization and order by following the 80/20 rule. According to the American Institute of Interior Design, “As long as 80% of your interior is unified by the same style, period, or philosophy, you can deviate with the other 20%.” This rule makes it easy to combine colors.
One way to bring more life to a space is by using different patterns, textures and even adding greenery.
continued on page 22
Whether you’re looking to build a new fence, re-do your kitchen, or have a new roof put on your house, the costs can be daunting. While it’d be nice to pay cash for your upcoming project, that’s not always possible. In this article, you’ll learn about the different financial tools you can use to fund your improvement projects.
A HELOC is one of the most versatile products you can use to tap into the equity of your home. This product gives you the flexibility to borrow when
By Paul Cover WECU Home Lending Skagit County
you need it, rather than taking a lump sum all at once. A HELOC is a revolving line of credit that is secured by your home. Its flexibility makes it a great choice for all types of home improvement projects. Large and small, simple or complex, the HELOC provides peace of mind knowing you have funds in reserve to meet the demands of most improvement projects.
Interest rates: Rates are variable and range from interest only, to principal and interest payments on any outstanding balance. However, WECU’s new product
will allow you to lock your interest rate and term to fit your individual needs.
Best for: Large purchases, long term financial planning, providing a safety net, home improvement, and more.
A home equity loan allows homeowners to borrow against the equity in their homes with a fixed rate and term. Like a HELOC this is also a popular option for either homeowners who want to tap their equity but retain their first mortgage rate, or those who own their homes free and clear and want to make home improvements or consolidate debt. They may even be less expensive than a conventional cash-out refinance.
Interest rates: Fixed. Often a lower interest rate than a personal loan or credit card. Best for: A larger project with a specific end date, such as a roof replacement or kitchen renovation.
continued on page 33
continued from page 20
Combining dark and light colors creates a contrasting design and allows for substantial flexibility for accessorizing or accenting with a mix of colors to tell a story.
There is no answer to which design (dark or light) is better. Depending on how a room is styled, a dark or light choice can be one of the most simple, classic, and influential ways to design any interior, while the use of both shades can create a clear, powerful, and modern design.
continued from page 14
Avoid Crushing College Debt.
For many individuals, the high cost of college outweighs the benefits. In the 2020-2021 school year, more than half of bachelor’s degree recipients from public and private nonprofit four-year colleges and universities graduated with debt and had an average debt level of $29,100, according to the College Board’s Trends in Student Aid 2022 report. Technical education offers an alternative to the fouryear college track without the burden of sky-high student loan debt. And there are numerous “earn while you learn” apprenticeships available, so you don’t have to wait to complete a training program to generate income.
Escape the Daily Doldrums.
Professionals working in the trades are problem solvers and critical thinkers. Each day has new tasks and challenges that are an ideal match for any talented individual. For example, critical thinkers and detail-oriented individuals would excel as carpenters, ensuring materials are exact; and those with exceptional analytical skills are qualities found among expert electricians and plumbers.
Trades are for Everyone.
More women across the country are becoming a part of the residential construction industry. According to an NAHB analysis, the number of women employed in the construction industry increased to over 1.24 million in 2021. Women make up 11% of the construction workforce, the highest share on record. Generally, a pay gap exists between men and women across most industries in the United States., where women earn 80 cents for every dollar a man earns. However, the gap is much smaller in the construction trades. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women in the construction industry earn 97 cents for every dollar a man earns.
Even if you have no yard, you can still enjoy food gardening, whether it be on your porch in a container, or inside your home.
Sun: Vegetables need at least 6-8 hours of sun each day. Fruits will not riped without adequate light. You may supplement with grow lights, of which many
Soil: Vegetables need soil rich in organic matter. Soil quality impacts not only the growth of leaves and flowers, but the taste of your vegetables.
Companion Planting: Choose the right combination of plants for better harvests! Lettuce will keep producing if offered some shade from a friend.
Plants with early harvests, like radishes, can be planted with later harvested peppers.
Is your small backyard causing you planning problems?
Not sure how to make the most of the space? If you have a small backyard, you may be wondering how to design your garden and still have enough space for kids and friends. You needn’t worry. There are many ways to enjoy nature and the great outdoors, even if you have a small backyard. With well-arranged flowers, decorative pottery, and small shaded areas for entertaining, you can transform your small, cluttered yard into a beautiful oasis.
People today are leading busy lives. This hardly leaves time for things we enjoy. So, people are choosing an avenue
towards simple living. Taking this concept a little further, and set the stage for simple planting. This basically means not cluttering up your small backyard. Instead, space out the tree and shrubs in such a way that there is still sufficient space to move around and create a haven that becomes your escape for privacy, quiet, and tranquility when you want it. Moreover, when deciding your small backyard, be sure to pay attention to the type of shrubs, trees, and flowers you want in your garden. Take into account, their growth pattern, as it could crowd your backyard and make it appear even smaller than what it is. Remember the maxim – less is more in this case
Before you start landscaping the backyard, check it out from all angles. Write down the features you want to get rid of and the ones you want to showcase. Here, you also need to take into consideration the architecture of your home, so that you plant shrubs and flowers that complement the style and design.
Even if you have a small backyard, you can still install a pergola. Get a customized DIY pergola kit that comes with precut parts and all the hardware and instructions you require to set it up. This is perfect for homes that want to have a place for entertaining without using up precious space to installing an outdoor patio. If you are building your own, consider using Western Red Cedar, as this wood is durable, gorgeous to look at, and naturally repels pests. Once the pergola is up, you can decorate it with flowering pots, have a portable barbecue and a few cushions and pillows where you can sit and relax. You can paint the pots with glow-inthe-dark paint and get the illumination you seek. Install a hot tub under your gazebo. Make sure you have a privacy fence around the backyard.
If you have kids and an active family life, such as barbecues, you could choose a pergola with a retractable canopy. This way, you can enjoy your garden, even when the weather is not your best friend. Use this space to add a portable barbecue, music system, and
a few strategically placed outdoor furniture pieces to ensure adequate seating. Focus on planting perennials in flowerbeds to enjoy vibrant colors and a relaxing fragrance. A small backyard actually gives you many opportunities to showcase your taste and personality. It hardly takes a couple of weekends to get the landscaping done and you will be able to enjoy your handiwork for years to come. Use these tips to make your small backyard into a haven where you can create outstanding memories and increase the value of your property
If you have a sloping area to fill in, you know that not all your favorite plants will grow well on the side of a hill.
Creeping Juniper
Size: 10 feet spread
Full sun
Plant Zone: 3-9
Dianthus
Size: 6-36 inches tall
Full sun
Plant Zone: 3-9
Creeping Myrtle
Size: vines up to 18” long
Full or partial shade
Plant Zone: 4-9
Do you have a shady corner in your yard where nothing grows?
Evergreen groundcovers are well-suited to soil conditions in the shade.
DRY SOILS
Carpet Bugle
Cotoneaster
Bigroot Geranium
Bellflower
AVERAGE/MOIST SOILS
European Ginger
Sweet Woodruff
Wintergreen
Salal
Fill in the blank spots in your garden, while providing some beneficial edibles at the same time: from herbs to flowers and fruiting plants!
Nasturtiums - flowers and leaves have a peppery taste
Alpine Strawberries - easy maintenance with no runners, delicate fruit
Oregano - Bees love the clusters of delicate flowers! Flowers make a fragrant garnish for soups, salads, and other dishes.
weeds at bay with helpful, spreading plants in your garden! Washington State includes growing areas from zones 4 to 9, with most of the Puget Sound region in zones 8
continued from page 22
Best for: A larger project with a specific end date, such as a roof replacement or kitchen renovation.
Another option for homeowners is the cash-out refinance. Typically, with a cash-out refinance you replace your current mortgage with a new, larger loan. The difference between the new mortgage amount and the balance on your previous mortgage goes to you at closing in cash, which you can use on home improvements, debt consolidation, or other financial needs.
Good design can be used in both home & garden spaces. Just like in home design, good garden design directs the eye.
Focal points are plants or objects that stand out from the background: a water feature, garden ornament, or weeping tree can be the basis to build garden around.
TIPS:
• Choose a proven performer.
• Make sure focal plants have long peak period of growth.
• Change it up with colorpots, updated seasonally.
A personal loan is another lending tool that can be used for financing smaller home improvement projects. With a personal loan, you’re not using your home as collateral, so it’s considered unsecured debt. One of the big benefits, as compared to other options discussed, is at some financial institutions (like WECU) it can be approved in as few as 24 hours. Your terms are be determined by your income and credit score.
Interest rates: Fixed.
Best for: A smaller project with a specific end date, such as a household appliance or windows.
While we wouldn’t normally recommend using a credit card for a large home improvement project, it can be great for short term borrowing. If you use a cash back credit card and pay off the balance in full each month, this could help with the cost of the project.
If you have more questions, our team at WECU is here to help. As a not-for-profit credit union that has been around for more than 85 years, you can rest assured knowing that our team will always have your best interest at heart. Visit wecu.com or call us at 360-676-1168.
