Home Expo to showcase modern options for rural living this weekend

MOSES LAKE - The people of Grant County take pride in their homes. Many families have built their house from the ground up, or were the first family in a development, or live in a house next door or handed down from Mom and Dad.

A nice house is hard won in the Central Washington environment where high winds, burning sun and sudden rains can quickly deteriorate any sort of structure.

The Central Washington Home and Lifestyle Expo creates a venue for modern home conveniences to be brought to the rural families of the area.

Are you looking for new blinds or draperies to keep out the heat or accentuate your new cathedral ceilings? Has your foundation settled a couple inches lower than the builders anticipated, causing cracks and other damage? Are you sick of grimy tile and shower curtains? Do you want the latest in high speed Internet and cable?

These are a couple needs that can be remedied at the expo this weekend.

Will and Cindy Johnson own and operate Budget Blinds. Blind, shutter and drapery options will be on display at the expo for people to see, touch and operate, Will said. He said they will have a $500 giveaway for free window dressing, as well.

Last year, "we had a very good summer because of it!" Will said.

Will said expo attendees were happy to have the same sort of shopping experience as bigger cities in their own backyard.

He said Solar Shades, which allow a view out of a window while controlling sun glare and heat, are a popular option in this area. Many of his customers are also opting for faux wood, true wood blinds, and combinations of blinds or shades and draperies which create "accent, function and style."

His products come with a no-ask five-year warrantee.

1855SlabJack's service is somewhat of a miracle demonstrated in its battle against the elements. Jerald Sargent owns the business that serves all of Eastern Washington.

Sargent said last week his crew was able to lift an entire cabin in Leavenworth that had settled 4 inches because of a pipe that ran through the winter. The water damage seeped in between the cabin's foundation and the dirt around it, which caused the settling.

Sargent's crew uses a geopolymer foam that, in a couple of hours, wedges itself between the foundation and ground, and raises concrete to a desired height. He said the cost is half or even a quarter the price of replacing old foundation or driveway, and you don't have to deal with weeks of construction.

Andrew Starnino owns the Bathfitters franchise in central and eastern Washington, and North Idaho. His products are custom made for each installation, and his company manufactures all the products they sell.

Starnino said many homeowners are shying away from grout and fiberglass around showers, as they discolor, leak and grow mildew in their pores. He said many families are replacing bath tubs with full size showers, which are accessible to the whole family, including those with limited mobility. "You're going from a 8 or more inch step over to 4 or 5 inch stopover instead," Starnino said.

Starnino is offering a $450 coupon if you purchase a full system at the expo, and offers 24 month no-interest financing. Bathfitters products come with a lifetime warrantee for chipping, peeling and staining.

The Central Washington Home and Lifestyle Expo is sponsored by Northland Communication, and will be providing raffle prizes throughout Saturday and Sunday. Prizes include popular TV show "Dexter" bags with goodies, and a Showtime duffel bag with goodies. They will also give away one Roku box each day of the expo.

Other sponsors include Grant County Homebuilders Association and the Columbia Basin Herald.

Dozens more vendors will be there, too. You can see a full list of vendors on the expo Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/CentralWaHomeExpo.