Pike home show this weekend highlights renovations

With the economy still in recovery, improved homes, rather than new homes, will likely be the interest of visitors to the Pike County Builders Association Home and Garden Show this weekend at Delaware Valley High School, says custom builder Ed Nikles.

So, vendors will accommodate them with innovations that help with economizing.

After a snowy winter, ways to save money while staying warm may be particularly appealing, and Nikles points out a variety of ways to keep heat indoors, including high-efficiency doors, triple-pane windows and special insulation.

Foam, Fiberglas or cellulose insulation can be sprayed or blown into wall cavities to fill them without gaps, resulting in better insulation, he says. And joints in wall sheeting and ceiling plates can be sealed with caulk or foam.

At least one home show vendor, Superior Walls, sells pre-cast concrete foundation walls, with interior insulation.

The walls come in sections on the back of a tractor-trailer, says Nikles. A crane sets the walls in place. It's all done in one day.

Plus, new thermostats can be adjusted remotely with smartphones.

On your way home from a vacation, you can adjust the heat or air conditioning before you arrive, says Nikles.

For those who get miles away from home and wonder whether an oven was left on, now you can turn it off without turning around. Other appliances and light fixtures can also be controlled from a distance. And vendors will bring various home fixtures in new colors, finishes and styles.

The show will include an array of licensed building professionals, he says, including builders, remodelers, electricians, landscapers and vendors selling roofing, gutters, generators, siding, sun rooms, fireplaces and more. Representatives from insurance and security companies and banks will also be on hand.

Excerpt from:
Pike home show this weekend highlights renovations