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Expo puts all housing needs under 1 roof
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2012 Northeast Georgia Home Expo

When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

Where: Georgia Mountains Center, 301 Main St. SW, Gainesville

How much: $5, children under 12 admitted free

Contact: 770-536-8282

If you’re thinking of doing any type of home-related construction, you should make plans to attend the 2012 Northeast Georgia Home Expo this weekend.

From gutters to gutting homes, you’ll likely find information about it there.

"If you’re looking for anything to do with the building industry, we’ll probably have it," said Van Neese, executive officer of the Home Builders Association of Gainesville-Hall County.

"If you’re thinking about adding on, doing renovations or even building a home, then you need to come out."

The association’s expo will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Georgia Mountains Center at 301 Main St. SW in Gainesville.

"There have been years where we have had as many as a couple of thousand (attendees)," Neese said.

"The last couple of years, things have been tough, but this year it appears that we’re starting to turn a corner."

Even if you’re considering completing a do-it-yourself remodel, you may find it useful to consult with one of the remodeling professionals at the expo.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, some projects may seem simple at first, but they may have unforeseen complications, which is why you may want to call in an expert.

Things like knocking down a wall to open up a room may seem like an easy project for handy weekend warrior, but if you aren’t familiar with the architectural makeup of your home, you could end up compromising its structural integrity if you removed the wrong wall.

If nothing else, the expo provides attendees the opportunity to comparison shop and find out more about the materials that would be used on their home, organizers say.

"From HVAC to roofing contractors, siding and spas, it’s pretty much all there," Neese said.

"We have a pretty good mix of professional under one roof."

Attendees can expect to find floor covering, cabinetry and even septic system vendors. There will even be real estate and mortgage brokers.

If you’re looking to beautify your home, there will be landscaping and decorative concrete representatives as well.

Homeowners with questions about environmentally-friendly construction products and projects may find some of their answers at the expo.

"We’ll have a lot of green-type building (vendors)," Neese said.

Folks will also be able to learn a thing or two about home construction trends and technological advancements. The Home Builders group has been hosting the expo for more than 25 years, Neese says. Although the last few years have been tough ones for the construction industry, the association of builders are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

"These are exciting times," Neese said.

"Things may be a little difficult, but the bottom line is that opportunities are still out there."