From roofing to foundation repair, the Tri-State Home Show has your spring home improvement needs covered with the latest in products and services as well as advice from professionals on how to use those products.
The Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga will host its 53rd home show Friday-Sunday, March 1-3, in the Chattanooga Convention Center, 1150 Carter St.
If you go
› What: 53rd Tri-State Home Show› Where: Chattanoga Convention Center, 1150 Carter St.› When: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, March 1-2; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, March 3› Admission: $10 ages 17 and older each day; $5 for ages 55 and older on Friday only.› For more information: homeshowchattanooga.com
Cynthia Blackwell, Home Builders Association director of operations, says the exhibit hall will be filled with 500 booths representing 225 vendors.
From A (A&H Flooring) to Z (Pink Zebra), visitors will find booths for construction companies, energy control consultants, Realtors, kitchen and bath designers, painters and landscapers along with products such as flooring, brick, tile, stone, swimming pools, spas, roofing, guttering, garage doors, windows and outdoor entertainment areas.
Rick Neufeld, owner of Chattanooga Central Vacuums and Stone Center companies, has participated in the Tri-State Home Show for more than 20 years.
"It's the greatest exposure for the cost of the show that we have in our industry," he says as to why he returns annually.
"People who come to the show, for the most part, are thinking about building, remodeling or in the process now. They are looking for ideas, vendors, people they can work with to complete their projects, so it directly reaches our customer base."
Neufeld adds that one of his two companies booked a job two weeks ago with customers who saw him at the 2018 show.
"Some people don't necessarily buy right away. Many are looking for ideas and planning. We get work from the home show all year long," he says.
Always popular at the Home Show are booths with elaborate outdoor living areas displaying new trends in stonework, water features, brick pavers, decks, grills and appliances for outdoor entertaining. Custom kitchen designs are equally as big a draw, offering new ideas in tile, flooring, custom cabinets and appliances - all displayed within model kitchens women drool over.
Kristin Hitson, administrative assistant at Hitson's Cabinets, says her company will have new display ideas they haven't shown before: a custom closet with built-ins and a butler's pantry.
"We're doing a girl's bathroom with some different roll-outs and accessories. The pantry and girl's bath will be in new spring colors we've never done before," she says.
Hitson's focal point will be a kitchen with two-tone custom hood, custom island with butcher-block top, maple and oak cabinets and copper accents.
And, or course, there area always drawings and giveaways.
Hitson's is partnering with Lana's Love nonprofit to give away a $20,000 kitchen with countertops by Stone Source. For a $20 donation to Hitson's Hope Foundation, the donor receives a foundation button and chance on the kitchen. All proceeds will be donated to Lana's Love, which supports children fighting cancer and their families.
Raven Young, interior designer at A&H Flooring, says her company is holding a drawing for a 5- by 7-foot custom rug. In its booth, the company will display carpet and multiple types of flooring.
"The first year we were in the home show, we had a lot of leads with homeowners, builders and contractors in the area. We made a lot of connections that really worked for us," she says.
The Home Builders Association will donate a portion of ticket sales to Habitat for Humanity and the Chattanooga chapter of the American Red Cross, says Blackwell.
New this year is a designated Kids Zone with activities throughout each day. For example, children can walk through a log cabin made of balloons, try their skill at basketball and football. EPB's Professor Gig-A-Watts will give a show Saturday at 11:30 a.m., followed by a midday visit from Star Wars characters. Looie the Lookout will also visit the home show on Saturday, giving away vouchers for tickets to any home game. Free balloon animals will be given to children on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Whether remodeling or building a new home, this weekend's Tri-State Home Show is the place to get started.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.