Waukesha County Home

WEST ALLIS – "The Plant Doctor" and the "Construction Guru" headline the Presentation Stage at the 56th annual Mil- waukee NARI Home Improvement Show, which runs Feb. 15 through Feb. 18 at the State Fair Park Exposition Center, 8200 W. Greenfield Ave. ■ Melinda Myers, The Plant Doctor, will make a presentation each day on a variety of gardening topics, including one on "Micro-Green Garden" at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 17. A nationally known gardening expert, TV and radio host, author and columnist, Myers is the author of more than 20 gardening books. ■ Nick Kerzner, The Construction Guru, will conduct presentations from Feb. 15 through Feb. 17. Kerzner, owner of Kerzner Remodeling & Construction in Oconomowoc, is an author of numerous articles on industry-related subjects and hosts the Construction Guru radio show that airs at 9 a.m. Sundays on WISN-AM 1130. ■ New to the Home Improvement Show is the "Guess the Price" game show, emceed by Mike McGivern, host of the weekly "Home Improvement Show" radio program that airs at 8 a.m. Saturdays on WSSP-AM 1250/The Fan 105.7 FM. McGivern will provide an overview on specific award-winning remodeling proj- ects, including before and after photos, and audience members will compete for prizes as they try to guess the cost of the project. The complete Presentation Stage sched- ule: ■ Feb. 15 1:30 p.m. — Melinda Myers: "Low Maintenance, Big Impact Perennial Gar- dens" 3 p.m. — Guess the Price Game Show 4 p.m. — Nick Kerzner: "The Difference Between Cost and Quality" ■ Feb. 16 11 a.m. — Melinda Myers: "Create A Stunning Front Yard and Entryway for All to Enjoy" 1 p.m. — Guess the Price Game Show 3 p.m. — Nick Kerzner: "Project Expec- tations and the 'Home Remodeling TV Show Effect'" ■ Feb. 17 2 p.m. — Nick Kerzner: "How Much is Not Enough? What You Should Expect for Free from a Contractor" 4 p.m. — Guess the Price Game Show 5:30 p.m. — Nick Kerzner: "How to Shop for A Contractor" ■ Feb. 18 Noon — Melinda Myers: "Vegetable Gardening Success — Bountiful Gardens for People with Limited Time, Space and Budget" 2 p.m. — Guess the Price Game Show In addition to the Presentation Stage, there will be live rock and soul acoustic music from the "In the Park" outdoor display by Vinnie Hines from noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 17 and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 18. The show will also feature a Culinary Stage with cooking competitions and chefs preparing their favorite recipes, including Mad Dog & Merrill, the Grilling Buddies. There will be more than 250 exhibitors at the home improvement show. Hours: noon to 8 p.m. Feb. 15, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 16-17, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 18. Admission is $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Tickets for seniors 60 and older are $8, while children 17 and younger and active and retired military personnel with military identification are admitted at no charge. For more information, call 414-771-4071 or visit www.milwaukeenari.org. HOME FEBRUARY 2018 2 Distributed by: ©2018 by Conley Media Waukesha County Home is published monthly by Conley Media - Waukesha County, 801 N. Barstow St., Waukesha, WI 53186. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. A publication of Conley Media Sales Director: Jim Baumgart 262/513-2621 jbaumgart@conleynet.com Editor: Dan Muckelbauer 262/513-2626 dmuck@conleynet.com Production: Patricia Scheel 262/513-2690 pscheel@conleynet.com Home Volume 7 ■ Number 2 ■ February 2018 could cause bricks to crack. Milwaukee NARI Treasurer Tom Mainville said intense cold causes vinyl siding to become brittle, and even a snow- ball's strike can cause breakage. Mainville, who owns Story Hill Renova- tions in Wauwatosa with Jack Golatke, said customers have noticed gaps in their wood floors and cracks in paint due to the recent weather conditions. Like masonry, wood responds to temperature fluctua- tions by shrinking and expanding. "It's pretty crazy how many things move in the winter," he said. Taking steps Homeowners can take several steps this winter to guard their homes against the effects of temperature swings. Condensation is caused by warm air meeting cold air, which can ruin trim and finishes, Egner said, adding that it's important that low humidity levels are maintained in the home. Bathrooms, kitchens and even bedrooms, due to body heat, contribute to humidity, according to Wittman. "Houses have microclimates going on. The focus should be on heat distribution throughout the home," Wittman said. Homeowners should run bathroom fans and ensure that vents are placed and opened outside so air can escape. Attic fans should be kept outdoors, and exhaust pipes should be connected to outside vents, not just near or around them. "These things really become important in the winter," said Mainville, who noted that many older area homes have crawl spaces that are not ventilated, causing pipes in these areas to become frozen. Egner said that proper ventilation, especially in attics, is key to avoiding damages caused by freeze-thaw cycles. However, more than 80 percent of area homes are not sufficiently insulated and ventilated, Wittman said. He recommends 16 to 20 inches of attic space be insulated. Installing baffles, or venting chutes, allows air to circulate evenly. Attic air leaks, usually located under insulation, need to be sealed off, and attics should not be used as storage spaces, as clutter can create a "hot spot," said Wittman. Homeowners should also ensure that their downspouts are working properly. "The idea is to make sure water moves away from foundation walls," said Egner. Because improperly installed insula- tion can cause further home damage, both Egner and Wittman recommend peo- ple work with expert contractors, particu- larly NARI members, to weatherproof their homes. "A home is truly a system. Everything you do affects something else," said Egner. Wittman praises the high standards NARI professionals maintain. Continu- ing education courses equip members to pass on knowledge to homeowners. "They are ever-evolving, gifted people," said Wittman. Continued from Page 1 Winter: Getting control of your home's 'microclimates' Submitted photo Melinda Myers, the Plant Doctor, will be returning to the Presentation Stage from Feb. 15 through Feb. 18 at the State Fair Park Exposition Center in West Allis. Remodeling and gardening experts to present at Milwaukee NARI Home Improvement Show

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