Cary, NC (PRWEB) January 29, 2014

Leading exterior building products manufacturer, Ply Gem, will host the ProTalk Education Series at the 2014 NAHB International Builders Show (IBS) in booth C3820, February 4-6 in Las Vegas. During the three days of the show, more than 15 informational courses will be presented by outside industry experts and members of Ply Gems internal product development team.

Ply Gem will kick off the show on Tuesday, February 4 at 10:15 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. with an outdoor living presentation hosted by Ahmed Hassan, celebrity landscape contractor as seen on DIY Networks Yard Crashers, and Damon Lang, owner of Las Vegas Green Planet Landscaping seen on Yard Crashers and Kitchen Crashers.

The series will continue during the three days of the show with key presentations by:

We have a full roster of courses lined up, and we expect attendees to come away with new insights on some of the latest ideas from experts in the industry to help grow their business, said John Stephenson, senior vice president, marketing, Ply Gem.

As part of the newly launched Ply Gem Build Forward program, Ply Gem has also invited the best and brightest inventors in the industry to pitch their innovations on stage in front of a panel of judges in the booth. Presentations begin on Thursday, February 6 at 9:00 a.m. and all show attendees are welcome to watch.

For the full ProTalk Education Series by Ply Gem schedule, go to http://www.pgprotalk.com. During IBS, follow Ply Gem on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/plygem) and Twitter (@PlyGemNews) for photos, videos and updates direct from the show floor.

*The three National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) approved education sessions can count toward continuing education credits.

About Ply Gem Ply Gem (NYSE: PGEM), headquartered in Cary, N.C., is a leading manufacturer of exterior building products in North America. Ply Gem produces a comprehensive product line of windows and patio doors, vinyl and aluminum siding and accessories, designer accents, cellular PVC trim and mouldings, vinyl fencing and railing, stone veneer and gutterware, used in both new construction and home repair and remodeling in the United States and Canada. Ply Gem siding group brands include Mastic Home Exteriors, Variform, NAPCO, Mitten, Cellwood, Georgia-Pacific Vinyl Siding and Accessories, Durabuilt, Ply Gem Stone, Ply Gem Trim and Mouldings, Ply Gem Fence and Railing, Ply Gem Accents and Shutters, Leaf Relief, Leaf Logic, Leaf Smart, and Monticello Columns. Ply Gem windows and patio door brands include Ply Gem Windows, Mastic Replacement Windows, Ply Gem Canada and Great Lakes Window. The companys brands are sold through short-line and two-step distributors, pro dealers, home improvement dealers and big box retailers. Additionally, Ply Gem distributes a wide-variety of exterior building products including replica-stone, fencing, railing, windows and doors and architectural accents via export globally and offers installation services in western Canada under the Gienow Renovations by Ply Gem brand. Ply Gem employs more than 6,000 associates across North America. Visit http://www.plygem.com for more information.

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Ply Gem to Host ProTalk Education Series at 2014 International Builders Show

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has announced lawsuits against two Ohio home improvement contractors accused of failing to deliver promised services to consumers.

The lawsuits charge Michael Combs of Fairfield, who did business as Granite Designs, and Michael Evilsizer of Westerville, and his business Buckeye Exteriors, with violations of Ohios consumer laws.

Consumers gave these contractors thousands of dollars for work that was not performed as promised, DeWine said. We try to resolve the issues out of court, but when months go by with no resolution for consumers, we must move forward.

Granite Designs, which is no longer in business, offered granite installation services to consumers in Southwest Ohio. Six consumers filed complaints saying they paid an average of about $3,000 for work that was not completed as promised. The Attorney Generals lawsuit, filed in the Butler County Common Pleas Court, charges Combs with failure to deliver, performing shoddy work, and violating the Home Solicitation Sales Act by failing to give consumers proper notice of their right to cancel.

Buckeye Exteriors specializes in home window replacement, vinyl siding, and roofing. The Attorney Generals Office currently is aware of six unresolved complaints from consumers who said they paid between $950 and $10,000 for construction work that was not delivered as promised. The Attorney Generals lawsuit, filed in the Franklin County Common Pleas Court, charges the business and its owner with failure to deliver, performing shoddy work, and violating the Repairs and Services Rule.

In the lawsuits, the Attorney General seeks restitution for consumers, an injunction to stop further violations, and civil penalties.

Consumers can help protect themselves by taking the following steps:

Check contractors reputations with the Ohio Attorney General's Office and the Better Business Bureau. Get written estimates from several contractors before making a final decision. Get all promises in writing. Make sure the written contract includes the start date and end date and an itemized list of all costs and services. Be wary if the contract requires a large down payment, such as half of the total cost, or requires that you sign over an insurance check. Keep in mind that door-to-door sales contractors are required to give you a three-day right to cancel and cannot begin the work until the three-day period ends.

Consumers who believe they have been treated unfairly should contact the Ohio Attorney Generals Office at (800) 282-0515 or http://www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov.

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Restitution sought from two Ohio contractors

(FOX19) -

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has announced lawsuits against two Ohio home improvement contractors accused of failing to deliver promised services to consumers.

The lawsuits charge Michael Combs of Fairfield and Michael Evilsizer of Westerville with violations of Ohio's consumer laws.

The lawsuits state Combs did business with Granite Designs and Evilsizer did business with Buckeye Exteriors.

"Consumers gave these contractors thousands of dollars for work that was not performed as promised," Attorney General DeWine said in a press release. "We try to resolve the issues out of court, but when months go by with no resolution for consumers, we must move forward."

Granite Designs, which is no longer in business, offered granite installation services to consumers in Southwest Ohio. Six consumers filed complaints saying they paid an average of about $3 thousand for work that was not completed as promised.

The Attorney General's lawsuit, filed in the Butler County Common Pleas Court, charges Combs with failure to deliver, performing shoddy work and violating the Home Solicitation Sales Act by failing to give consumers proper notice of their right to cancel.

Buckeye Exteriors specializes in home window replacement, vinyl siding, and roofing. The Attorney General's Office currently is aware of six unresolved complaints from consumers who said they paid between $950 and $10 thousand for construction work that was not delivered as promised.

The lawsuit, filed in the Franklin County Common Pleas Court, charges the business and its owner with failure to deliver, performing shoddy work and violating the Repairs and Services Rule.

The lawsuits seek restitution for consumers, an injunction to stop further violations and civil penalties.

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Lawsuit seeks restitution from 2 Ohio contractors

When putting your home on the real estate market, getting it ready structurally and cosmetically can be a challenge. There are some projects that can be do-it-yourself, or DIY, and others are better left to an experienced contractor.

Becky Burghart, president of the Topeka Area Association of REALTORS, said when it comes to a DIY project, being honest with yourself is the best policy.

You have to ask yourself, what is my time worth? Do I have the skill level to do it? How much would it cost to hire a professional to do it? she said. They have to consider their time and whether they can do the job correctly. We (real estate agents) would prefer that any work that needs to be done be done by a professional because they have the knowledge and expertise to do the job correctly.

Burghart said she has a laundry list of items she looks at when getting a home ready to be put on the real estate market. She said the items she looks for are related to a homes appraised value - like a good roof, siding, gutters and the structural integrity of the house. When it comes to getting the home ready for inspection, the mechanical system upgrades like the plumbing, heating and cooling and electrical should be done by a professional contractor.

According to Remodeling Magazines 2011-2012 Cost versus Value report, the national average for return on a home remodeling investment was 57.7 percent. In the West North Central region, where Kansas is, the average return was 49.5 percent during the same time period.

Burghart said a homeowner can try to do some of the major upgrades but if a home inspection report states that a project was completed by the homeowner, a potential buyer can always ask for a professional to come in and check the work to make sure it was done properly.

You have to look at everything, she said. Most of the buyers today are looking for a home in move-in ready condition. (When making upgrades) you have to switch from being a homeowner to a homebuyer.

Burghart said kitchen and bathroom upgrades are always good to do before putting your home on the market because thats what buyers will look at first when going into a home. She said paint colors arent as much of a concern unless theyre particularly bold or bright in which case, shed suggest the color be toned down to a more neutral shade.

There are no two homes alike, Burghart said. Every situation we walk into is different. We just look at it like this house needs to be move-in ready today. We just want to make sure your house gets on the market.

In a recent article posted on MSNs Real Estate website, Sal Alfano, editorial director for Remodeling Magazine, said the cost of remodeling projects has dropped 10 to 15-percent in the past five years nationwide.

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Home improvement: Do it yourself or contract the job?

Amid one of the most brutally cold winters in recent history, Madison-based Project Home is seeking additional community sponsors to help it fund an emergency water heater replacement program for low-income families in Dane and Green counties.

The new program, which uses an on-staff plumber to get installations done quickly, has completed two replacement jobs already this year, but that barely begins to address the need, group spokesman Jason Hafeman said. Members hope to install 20 water heaters this year, but only have funding for another eight, in part through current sponsors Madison Gas and Electric Foundation and The Evjue Foundation, Inc.

Best known for its Hammer with a Heart program, which helps low-to-moderate income homeowners make repairs such as new roofs and windows, Project Home decided to branch out into big-ticket water heater replacements because staff get "numerous calls" for help every year from low-income people with no hot water. Hafeman said no government program covers this emergency need, defined as a home being completely without hot water due to a non-functioning water heater, not one that's merely old or inefficient.

"It has to be not working, not just leaking," he said.

Water heaters that put the health and safety of residents at risk because they are no longer venting properly also qualify under the program, he said.

Hafeman called the lack of a functioning water heater a "huge safety concern," especially for the physically disabled and elderly, whose only alternative may be to carry pots of boiling hot water to fill their tubs.

Project Home is a nonprofit organization aimed at improving the quality and affordability of housing for low- to moderate-income residents of Dane and Green counties. The group helps residents save money and energy through its weatherization and home repair programs, typically at 7 to 10 homes each spring.

Typical projects in the annual Hammer with a Heart program include roof repairs and the installation of new windows, doors, siding and wheel-chair ramps for accessibility. The group also has replaced furnaces and "a few water heaters" over the years, Haveman said, but the increasing need for emergency water heater replacements now requires a more systemic solution.

For more information, contact Hafeman at 608-246-3737, Ext. 2104 or via email at outreach@projecthomewi.org.

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Madison non-profit seeks sponsors for new water heater replacement program

James Hardie Preferred Remodeler South Jersey: SJ Cement Siding Co.
SJ Cement Siding Co. is a James Hardie Preferred Remodeler South Jersey. Visit us: http://sjcementsiding.com or call 856-429-2992 for a free siding or home r...

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James Hardie Preferred Remodeler South Jersey: SJ Cement Siding Co. - Video

Installing siding can refresh and beautify your home, protect it from the elements, and save money on your energy bills. Installing vinyl siding and fiber cement that look like wood siding are excellent options to consider.

With your free in-home consultation, expert siding installers from The Home Depot will explain the features of our vinyl siding and fiber cement siding materials and show you actual samples. Theyll explain how vinyl siding installation works and recommend a siding installation solution for your budget.

You can trust The Home Depot to install siding the right way. We handpick home service providers who meet our high standards for experience, know-how and customer service. We screen and do background checks on all of our installers to make sure they are licensed as required and insured before sending them to your home to install vinyl siding. We know siding a house is an important investment and we make sure its done correctly. The Home Depot also offers credit and/or project loan financing options for your siding installation.

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Siding Installation | Vinyl Siding Installation at The ...

The Kalona City Council Monday night set a public hearing on the proposed 2014-15 fiscal year budget for 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3.

The property tax asking will be increased from $9.60810 per $1,000 taxable valuation in the current fiscal year to $9.61929 per $1,000 taxable valuation in the 2014-15 budget year, an increase of $0.011/$1,000 valuation or a 0.0012% increase, City administrator Ryan Schlabaugh pointed out.

Since the property valuations have increased, the total amount projected to be raised by taxes is $855,498 as compared to $743,966 budgeted in the current fiscal year. That is an increase of $111,472 for the next fiscal year.

Actual taxes collected the current fiscal year was $775,524 due to increases in property values.

See the official public hearing notice on page 3B of this issue of the Kalona News.

Total expenditures are projected at $3,187,431.

City Clerk Karen Christner explained that the city had to dip into reserves because WCRF had made two payments of $211,000 for the downtown street improvements project grant in fiscal 2013-14. The second $211,000 payment was deposited in the reserve account so those funds have to be retrieved from the reserve fund next fiscal year.

Schlabaugh explained that the budget does include hiring a general laborer (at up to $15 an hour) to the public works department. The budget projects a $32,870 increase in streets salaries or a 44% increase to help cover salary and other city benefits.

Capital Improvements

In addition to setting a hearing for the budget, the council gave approval for a Capital Improvements Plan (CIP). Schlabaugh said he would still need council approval before proceeding with each project, but approval of the plan allows him to start getting quotes and rough project costs.

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Kalona sets public hearing of 2014-15 budget

Portland, OR (PRWEB) January 21, 2014

Portland-based Clearwater Exteriors (Clearwater) today announced that Laurence Meadows will join the company as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

Mr. Meadows brings more than 30 years of experience in the specialty contracting industry to Clearwater. He has a proven track record for leading home improvement companies of all sizes, from small start-ups to multi-state operations with more than $30 million in revenues and over 350 employees.

I am incredibly excited to be part of a community that is so passionate about energy efficiency and the entire green movement, Mr. Meadows said. I look forward to leveraging key relationships in manufacturing, banking, and our supply channel partners to bring best-in-class service and the finest products in the industry to the Pacific Northwest, he added.

Mr. Meadows experience and leadership will give Clearwaters strategic marketing platform critical momentum in building its brand in Portland and surrounding metropolitan areas. We will immediately pursue strategic partnerships with local organizations that are aligned with our core values and commitment to the community, Meadows said.

Mr. Meadows has particular expertise in custom windows and siding, and is widely recognized as an industry expert by vendors, lenders and investment funds in the home improvement arena. He has served on the Steering Committee for Harvard Universitys Joint Center for Housing Studies since 2007, and has also served as a member of the GE Money Advisory Board since 2007. Mr. Meadows was also a Finalist for Ernst & Youngs prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2004.

ABOUT CLEARWATER EXTERIORS, LLC Portland, Oregon-based Clearwater Exteriors is a specialty contracting business focused on residential retail sales and installation of custom-built high performance replacement windows and maintenance-free insulated replacement siding.

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Clearwater Exteriors Announces Laurence Meadows to Join as CEO

Augusta, GA (PRWEB) January 20, 2014

The company residents and businesses of the CSRA can always depend on for remodeling and roofing needs has now begun construction on its first custom home.

GSP LLC is currently building a energy-efficient home using green materials, fiber cement siding, paint with low volatile organic compounds, tankless hot water heaters and custom-stamped concrete flooring. GSP LLC is also now a member of IKO ShieldPRO plus+ Contractor Program, and offers the programs Extended Iron Clad Protection for roofing projects. Not only can GSP LLC help build a custom home, but they can also help their clients to design one.

There are several benefits to having a custom home built, the first obviously that it gives the owner everything he or she is looking for in a home, and nothing he or she doesnt want. They are also extremely low-maintenance, as the newest materials will be used to construct it. Custom homes are also very energy-efficient, as energy standards have changed dramatically even just during the past few years. Due to the way they were constructed, its usually extremely difficult to improve efficiency in older homes. Also, theres currently a Federal Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit which allows up to 30 percent of certain green building materials to be deducted from taxes. Finally, a custom home allows the floor plans to be much more modern. Floors in older homes are seldom focused on traffic, making them feel like a collection of rooms. In modern times, the kitchen, living and dining spaces tend to come together in a design that enhances family contact and interaction.

GSP LLCs other services include interior and exterior remodeling, home builder services, design-build services, ASID-affiliated service, windows and siding, painting and padding, air conditioning installation, insurance claim work, frame work and tile, brick and wood work. GSP LLC is located at 3124 Washington Road, Suite H, Augusta, Ga. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.georgiasubcontracting.com, or call 803-430-6245.

About the Company: GSP offers remodeling, custom homes and commercial general contracting. Whether for business or residential, when customers have a desire to embellish their environment, it is GSPs job to answer it. When it comes to construction in Augusta, GA and the CSRA, trust Georgia Subcontracting Professionals (GSP), LLC.

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GSP LLC Now Offering Custom Built Homes