63rd HBA Home & Garden Show drawing big crowds

February 23, 2014 at 12:04a.m.

BOARDMAN

Aaah, spring.

Such a sentiment seemed to be on many people’s minds and faces as they took their time looking at everything from outdoor hot tubs to daffodils.

“People are really looking forward to spring and summer,” said Jennie Brewer, referring to those who have attended the Home Builders Association of the Mahoning Valley’s 63rd Annual Home & Garden Show at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center, 7440 South Ave.

The free event kicked off Friday and continues from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at Mr. Anthony’s.

The gathering is allowing consumers to meet more than 100 local, regional and out-of-state certified vendors for ideas on everything from home repairs to landscaping, Brewer, HBA’s executive officer, noted Saturday. She added that attendance has been very high, partly because of people’s yearning for spring during what has been a severe winter.

Many attendees looked at or bought items such as lighting fixtures, garage doors, several types of windows, siding, masonry and construction materials, gutter attachments, built-in showers, hot tubs, patio furniture and enclosures, air-conditioning and heating units and wooden fixtures. Others enjoyed presentations, such as the cooking demonstrations by John Aker of Procraft Waterless/Greaseless Cookware.

On the greener side of things were garden displays that featured arrangements of gerbera daisies and daffodils.

“I’ve talked to a lot of people interested in projects to be done this spring and summer,” said Rich Kali, owner of Landscape by Design, which has offices in Boardman, Hubbard and West Middlesex, Pa. “I’ve had several people say, ‘It’s nice to see something blooming.’”

The official start of spring may be several weeks away, but this is a good time for people to begin planning their outdoor gardens and other related work, he added.

Landscape by Design does about half commercial and half residential work, Kali continued, adding that the business also performs landscaping projects at many area schools, as well as Mill Creek MetroParks’ Fellows Riverside Gardens.

Those who are content to look at their gardens from new sunrooms likely found Madison Phillips helpful.

Phillips, event coordinator with Macedonia-based Great Day Improvements LLC, noted that all of the business’s sunrooms, windows and enclosures are customized.

In addition, Great Day offers soft-wall finishing for basements, she said, adding that sunrooms can be designed for seasonal or year-round use.

Many attendees looking to make smaller improvements to their homes sought out Doug Hyde, sales manager with Cortland Hardwood Products LLC, a 13-year-old Cortland business.

“Little custom pieces are a big part of our business,” Hyde said.

The family-owned business’s offerings include door knobs, switch plates and other fixtures made of oak, pine and various types of exotic wood.

Cortland Hardwood Products also sells, pre-finishes, designs and installs hardwood flooring, interior doors and other kinds of woodwork, Hyde noted.

As many homeowners prepare for spring and summer, they need to be cautious of shady contractors who claim to offer repairs and home improvements for bargain-basement prices, HBA’s Brewer advised.

“Always remember that you get what you pay for,” she said. “The lowest bid isn’t always the best bid.”