1.  How long has Windows & More been in business? We opened up for business in 2002.

2.  What exactly is the "more" part of Windows & More?  We offer unique door hardware, solid wood interior doors, all types of exterior door units, Fusion brand plumbing fixtures, and a few other specialty items.

3.  If I am building a home, when is the best time to make a decision regarding windows?  Before selecting a builder normally.  It is best for a homeowner to do research on their own.  The internet is a valuable tool with lots of information regarding windows and doors.

4.  Do you offer free estimates?  Yes we do.

5.  We see that you carry primarily Marvin and Integrity Windows & Doors.  Do you carry other brands as well?  Yes we offer Silverline windows, Atrium windows, and USBlock windows If so, can you tell me a little about the other brands you carry?  Silverline and Atrium are entry level, “Builder” grade windows and USBlock windows are glass block style windows.

6.  What is that stands out so much about Marvin and Integrity that would make you want to sell those products as your primary windows and doors?  The quality is consistent, performance is beyond any other brands I have represented in my 20 years in the industry, and they are still owned and operated by the Marvin family.

7.  How do your products stand up against the harsh elements of coastal Carolina?  Very well with Integrity being constructed of pultruded fiberglass which people in coastal community are already familiar with since boats are predominantly constructed of fiberglass. Marvin offers extruded aluminum cladding with a 70% Kynar 500 finish that meets the very stringent AAMA2605 spec, which is a commercial specification.

8.  Being that we are in a hurricane prone region, do you offer any type of product that offers residents any extra protection for their homes against hurricanes?  Marvin and Integrity windows are offered in Zone 3 impact glass.  North Carolina’s coast is in wind zone 3.

9.  Can you tell us about this tax credit for energy efficient windows and doors?  If a customer replaces the windows or doors in their permanent residence and the glazing meets a minimum requirement of a .30 U-factor, they can receive up to a $1,500 tax credit. Do you offer any products that will fall under this so that your customers would be eligible for this tax credit? Yes, most of our products offer glazings that meet the governments requirements.

10.  What about remodeling, or window replacement?  Is that something that your company offers to homeowners?  Yes, we offer full service installation of new construction windows and replacement windows.  This is one of Marvin’s strongest areas as they offer many replacement solutions.

11.  Will you work with architects, builders and remodelers in the planning stages of a home, or remodeling project?  Yes, we often do work with architects on helping them spec projects and homeowners or builders in the beginning stages of different types of projects.  Our Marvin distributor has personnel available to us as well to help with any overload we experience on projects.

12.  Fiberglass?  What are the pros and cons of using fiberglass windows and doors in my home?  Some of the pros are fiberglass is very strong yet light weight, it is extremely stable and resistant to temperature changes and extremes, it is paintable, and it is very durable especially in a coastal environment.  Cons are very few except for limited custom shapes and sizes.

13.  Clad?  Can you explain cladding to us, and what it means to me, as a homeowner?  It is basically a coat of armor for the wood members that are assembled to construct the window.  It protects these wood parts from the elements.

14.  Do you offer installation?  Yes, we have certified Marvin installers.  We also have two certified AAMA Installation Masters available.

15.  What type of warranty comes with your products?  They vary between manufacturers, but the most common is a 20/10 year warranty.

16.  Do you service the products that you sell? Yes, we offer in-house service technicians.

17.  What separates Windows & More from other window and door companies, or larger stores that carry windows and doors along with many other products?  Come by the gallery and people can see where we are different.  We believe in limiting the products we offer and doing it better than anyone else.

18.  "Green" seems to be the magical word lately in the construction industry.  Does Marvin and Integrity do anything special to help our environment?  Yes, and it is too detailed to answer in this interview, but Marvin takes their environmental responsibility seriously and they are on the leading edge of manufacturers in keeping their products and processes environmentally accountable.

Coastal Home Gallery, located in Carteret County in  Morehead City, NC,  is proud to partner with Lake Road Winery in Newport, NC, for an event slated for July 3, 2010.  This event will be a 4th of July celebration, as well as a benefit with all profits being donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. 

The benefit for the Susan G. Komen Foundation will be in conjunction with 4th of July festivities held at Lake Road Winery in Newport, NC.  Susan G. Komen Foundation is an organization created to bring breast cancer awareness throughout the globe.  “Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures.” (Excerpt taken from www5.komen.org) 

Also, with 4th of July right around the corner, Lake Road Winery in Newport decided that they would also like to honor Carteret County and the United States of America at the same time.  America is such a wonderful place, and we feel that it is a privilege and an honor to be a citizen of this great place.  As we celebrate 4th of July with a day of activities and fun in Carteret County, we will work in conjunction for a wonderful cause.  During this time, we will provide yard games, LIVE music and sing-a-long, LIVE comedy, of course wine-tastings, as well as an auction, 50/50 drawing and door prizes.  Our very own local artist, Alexander Kaszas will also have an art showing and auction on that day.  You may remember Alexander Kaszas, as he was the artist of the 1993 NC Seafood Festival poster.  Barbecue will be served at 6pm.  We ask that you bring your own lawn chairs, and we also request Adults Only, no children please.  So please, come on out  to Lake Road Winery in Newport, NC and celebrate the 4th of July with us (on July 3rd) and at the same time, help us support breast cancer awareness through the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  Let’s let them know that Carteret County is alive and well, and supporting their cause through our benefit in finding a cure for breast cancer.

Lake Road Winery is a new winery serving Carteret County.  We are located in the quaint town of Newport.  Our comfortable and charming space is the perfect place to sample some of the best wines Coastal NC has to offer.  In addition to our free tastings, we offer a selection of cheese and crackers for sale, as well as our own brand of specialty foods.  Please feel free to bring a picnic lunch to pair with one of our wines and spend the afternoon at our winery.

Coastal Home Gallery, is a Home Gallery located in Morehead City, NC, serving Carteret County and surrounding areas with many different aspects of home building and home remodeling.  Coastal Home Gallery opened in Morehead City in March of 2009.  If you live in Morehead City, or are visiting Morehead City, make sure that you stop by and see our beautiful gallery.  Coastal Home Gallery houses more than a dozen retailers associated with the home building or home remodeling process, where you can see their products and services in real life settings.  

Tickets for this benefit can be purchased through PayPal on the Coastal Home Gallery website, or purchased at Lake Road Winery in Newport.

We look forward to seeing you there!

7.  Do you provide your customers with on-site service personnel that can answer customers questions as they arise? Absolutely

8.  What is your favorite piece of equipment that you have displayed in the Coastal Home Gallery, and why?  (I realize I am talking to two of you, so there may be two different answers here.) My favorite would have to be the Media Room, graphics on the acoustical panels, the way the audio fills the room, the comfortable seating arrangement and the starfield ceiling.

9.  Is your equipment easy to learn how to operate?  Yes, we make the equipment we install VERY easy and user friendly by installing custom configured remote controls with 1-button press control.

10.  How do you keep up with all of the changing technology so that you can keep your customers abreast of the newest advancements in your industry?  Monthly meetings with manufactures, monthly A/V trade magazines and annual A/V conferences in Indianapolis.

11.  Do you offer total and complete home audio and visual needs?  Can you provide as little or as much as a customer would want?  (ie:  could you hook up a television, all the way to providing music throughout a whole home?)   Yes, we provide any and all equipment for a low voltage solution. For instance we can hook-up and mount a customer purchased TV and audio system, configure and connect home automation, or install control lighting and HVAC control for one touch panel.  We do it all.
 
12.  Do you work on boats?  Yes, we are a full service marine A/V and electronics business.  We can integrate marine A/V and electronics in order to be able to display GPS and charts not only up on the bridge but also on every TV in the boat.

13.  Call you tell your customers about Vision Art?  We have that displayed here in the Coastal Home Gallery, and I find it amazing. The VisionArt is a product that allows the customer to mount a TV in a location where a picture would be better suited.  It's a high quality picture frame with a reproduction picture that is on canvas and when the TV is powered on the picture rolls up in top of the picture frame so you are able to view the TV.  When the TV is powered off the picture is rolled back down in position as to cover up the TV.  When the TV is off you can not tell there is a TV behind the picture.

14.  Are you products warrantied?  Do you offer any other type of warranty or service contract for your customers? Yes,  all products come with at least a 1 year warranty.  We do offer additional on-site warranties which include a 3 hour response time with a direct replacement at our expense.  These types of warranties have been very beneficial to customers who really are not interested in doing without their audio or video systems, not even for a day.  We are there within 3 hours and we get them back up and going.

15.  Can you provide products for outdoor usage?  If so, will your products withstand the harsh environment of living on the coast?  Yes,  we provide a complete line of outdoor speakers and TVs.  Our outdoor speakers range from rock, flower bed, fish, frog and planter speakers.  Our outdoor TVs from Runco and SunBrite are built with weatherproof enclosures that offer internal cooling and heating devices which are controlled by a themostat. You can wash these TVs off with a water hose.

16.  If a customer would like to add on a Home Theater or Media Room, will you work with the builder, or can you recommend a builder to homeowners who are looking?  Yes, we would work with the builder to be completely involved in the engineering process of the customers media room and if the customer is looking to us to provide the builder then we would refer to the our list of AI approved builders and provide them with most qualified builder so my customer receives the A/V solution they are expecting.

17.  Do you offer lighting and climate control systems as well? Yes, we are a complete A/V and automation provider.  If the customer is looking for a GREEN house, energy savings or simply convenience. We offer all types of solutions with control lighting and climate control, and of course 1 button control.

18.  Can you provide business audio/video needs for local businesses?  We provide complete commercial A/V solutions included but not limited too: boardrooms, control lighting, night club systems, video conferencing, automation for presentations and intercoms for schools.

19.  What can you offer your customers that is they can not receive from anywhere else?  We provide full support for all of the services we provide before, during, and after the installation.  We keep an abundance of equipment and parts in our stock.  These extras are there for the customer, so we will be there when they need us. The customer will be pleasantly surprised to find a company who truly approaches technology with people in mind.  

20.  Is there anything else that you would like for us to know about Audio Interiors?  With an Audio Interiors integrated system, you can be assured that you will be provided with the finest in design, engineering, products, installation, training, maintenance and services.

Windows & More, A Marvin Design Gallery, is extremely excited to announce that they are now serving Raleigh, NC, with window and door replacement, home remodeling or home renovating!

3. How did you get involved in the Coastal Home Gallery?  The decision to get involved in The Coastal Home Gallery was a decision based on former successful relationships that I had with the two primary owners Jason Yeomans (back from the Ern-Dog Keyhayes days) and Brian Bass (who sold me my first computer {and that baby was a hotrod}). The concept of bringing together local vendors who excel in their craft and exhibit them in a phenomenal setting is something you will be hard pressed to find anywhere. To take on a project like the CHG you need to have very solid, good people involved. I felt like those people were in place and I wanted to be a part of it.

4. What do your favorite product in the Coastal Home Gallery, and why?
One of my favorite parts of the Gallery (in addition to the theater area) is the wet bar. I like it because it brings a lot of elements together in one small space: wood turnings from Inkeboll in California, turnings from Virginia, the TV behind the mirror, the quartz c-top... A pretty creative piece that you won't see down the street.

5.  Do you offer free estimates to your customers?
We feel like it's a privilege to be asked to bid a job and so we do a well thought out informative estimate at no cost.

6. If someone is remodeling, and would like for you to come out to their home and offer suggestions, is that something that your company offers?
We have always done a good deal of remodeling and are happy to go to a potential client's home to offer ideas. It's always rewarding to watch a project go from concepts and ideas through design and ultimately completion.

7. How many different wood species do you offer to your customers to choose from?  The wood species we use are basically whatever our customer wants. We have excellent access to exotic wood as well as your everyday cherry and maple. We've done several kitchens in Tiger-Stripe and Birdseye maple.

8. What is your favorite type of wood species to work with?  It's kind of hard to pick a favorite because I like different woods for different applications (and people). It's all about making the perfect fit for the customer (when they're excited about the wood we're using then that becomes my new favorite).

9. Can you resurface existing cabinets in a home, or do cabinets have to be completely replaced?  Existing cabinets can be refaced though that's one segment of the business that we don't do. My experience with that is the cabinets you invest so much time and material in need more than just a facelift. The hardware, drawers, lack of pullouts... brings you within striking distance of a brand new kitchen (and a lot more design options). Painting cabinets and replacing doors (if you have a wood cabinet) and new countertops is probably a more sound investment.

10. Do you offer hardware for your cabinetry? If so, what brands do you offer?  We offer many brands of hardware (most of which can be seen on our website). Some of my favorites are: Annie at Home, Classic Brass, Schab...

11. Are all of your cabinets custom made? All of our cabinets are custom made and most of our turnwork, corbels and specialty items are made in this country. We do business with some third generation woodworkers whose quality and value gives customers the finishing touches that are exquisite at a great price.

12. Is there any special cleaning instructions that customers would need to know regarding wood cabinetry?  There are different degrees of cleaning cabinets. A mild mixture of soap and water (or vinegar) can handle most of the cleanup chores. The basic rule of thumb is to use only the strength necessary to get the job done (especially when getting into commercial cleaning products). Murphy's has a line of good maintenance and cleaning products out as do others.

13. How long should a homeowner expect custom cabinetry to last in their home?  A homeowner can expect a lifetime of enjoyment from a well-built custom cabinet. Depending on usage, there may be varying degrees of maintenance over the years. Wood cabinets with an excellent finish and durable hardware have a proven track record. I just lightly sanded my 22 year old cabinets and put a coat of conversion varnish on them and they look like new again.

14. What can you offer customers that a mass production store can not offer?  We offer a customer the flexibility of building a solid long lasting cabinet in any size or shape (in any wood species). In addition we take advantage of many long-term relationships in the industry to bring truly unique products into the project. We try to give each customer the best: from the initial meeting through design, construction, and installation...at the very best price we can possibly do it for.

15. Is there anything else that you would like for us to know about your or your company?  When we started the Cabinet Shop we settled right away on a mission statement: "Specializing in Satisfied Customers". That has served us well and introduced us to many loyal customers and friends throughout the years. We feel that the Coastal Home Gallery is a showcase that is designed with today's customer in mind: one space, where one can see all of the elements of a beautiful house working together.

With Easter just two days away, thoughts of the Easter Bunny, vibrantly colored Easter Eggs, Chocolate Bunnies, and Jelly Beans are sure to be running rampant in the minds of toddlers and children all across Carteret County.

For that reason, we thought we would compile a list of local Easter Egg Hunts and Festivities all around Carteret County.

There will be the Annual Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by Beaufort Historic Site over the weekend, as well as Backstreet Pub in Beaufort will host an Adult Easter Egg DECORATING contest.

Beaufort Historic Site-100 Block, Turner Street, Beaufort
            *  Date:  April 3, 2010
            *  Time:  11:00am
            *  Location:  Beaufort Historic Site
            *  Children ages 7 and younger are welcome to join in on the fun!  Refreshments, prizes, and lots of eggs!  It’s all FREE, just have your child bring their Easter Basket.
            *  Call 252-728-5225 or visit www.beauforthistoricsite.org for more information

Backstreet Pub-124 Middle Lane, Beaufort
            *  Date & Time:  All Day Easter Sunday
            *  Location:  Backstreet Pub
            *  This is a fun time, and kids are welcome to attend
            *  Call 252-728-7108 for more information

Morehead City will also host an Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the Morehead City Parks & Recreation Department.
            *  Date:  April 3, 2010
            *  Time:  10:00am
            *  Location:  Rotary Park, on Mayberry Loop Road, Morehead City
            *  Children ages 12 and under are welcome….there will be over 10,000 eggs!!!
            *  Call 252-726-5083 for more information

Last, but not least, the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores will host an Aquarium “Egg’stravaganza” Event.
            *  Date:  April 3, 2010
            *  Time:  Different activities throughout the day.
            *  Location:  NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, 1 Roosevelt Drive, Pine Knoll Shores
            *  If you are in the Pine Knoll Shores Area, take a tour of the Aquarium for an in-depth, larger-than-life look at the wondrous shapes and varieties of eggs that can be found in a coastal environment.  The Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores will be offering Egg Scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, and live animal programs throughout the day.  Or it is DEFINITELY worth a special trip to Pine Knoll Shores for this event.
            *  For more details, please call 252-247-4003, or visit NC Aquariums

Carteret County offers a host of activities for tourists and locals alike.  If you know of any more Easter Egg Huns in Carteret County, please e-mail me at info@coastalhomegallery.net, and I will add them to our list.

In today’s times, with the economy being the way it is, customers are reporting that customer service in businesses is at an all-time low.  Local businesses are forced to work on skeleton crews, thus further aggravating the customers when it comes to customer service.  Employees and small business owners alike are doing more work, for less money.  It is definitely a “buyers market” out there, but at what expense?  With customer service lacking like it is, is it worth it to the customers?

With all of that being said, that is benefit of working with the Coastal Home Gallery, located in Morehead City, NC.  Coastal Home Gallery serves Carteret County home owners, builders, and remodelers as a one-stop shop for 15 local retailers.  When creating the Coastal Home Gallery, we knew that we needed to have retailers affiliated with the Coastal Home Gallery, who offered the best products, with the best customer service that caters to homeowners, builders and remodelers.  We also knew that we were all going to depend on each other, and what one business does will reflect on the reputation of the other retailers involved in the Coastal Home Gallery.  If someone is building a new home, or if a home owner is remodeling their current home in Morehead City, or Carteret County, the Coastal Home Gallery will be a one-stop shop of sorts, offering all the best of home products. 

We are all intertwined, and we all have to depend on each other, and we all help each others.  We all work together in Morehead City, Carteret County and the surrounding areas to bring home owners, builders and remodelers all the best products for their home building, remodeling, computer or financing needs. 

All of the retailers located in the Coastal Home Gallery, are local businesses in Morehead City, Carteret County, or the very close surrounding areas.  We are fine home products retailers providing Carteret County professionals and homeowners superior products of today with customer service of times passed.  Coastal Home Gallery is located on Highway 70 West, in Morehead City.

Coastal Home Gallery, located in Morehead City, serves builders, remodelers, homeowners and architects with an array of products and services.  It is sort of a one-stop shopping "experience" for anyone (including home builders, remodelers, OR homeowners) searching for those "just right" products for your new home or remodeling project. 

Coastal Home Gallery in Morehead City, serves Carteret County, and most of eastern NC.  Each company that is a part of the Coastal Home Gallery, was exclusively hand-chosen to be invited to be a part of the Coastal Home Gallery.  If we are going to serve the builders, remodelers and homeowners in Morehead City, Carteret County, and the surrounding areas with "superior home products all under one roof", then we knew we had to have local companies involved that had excellence in products, service and experience.

We offer Carteret County homebuilders, remodelers, architects, and homeowners everything from audio and visual equipment, windows and doors, granite countertops, custom cabinetry, outdoor lighting and landscaping, residential and commercial elevators, computer and networking services, security and fire alarms, mold remediation and air quality control, water softening, plumbing, interior design services, financing, closet and organization products, and sell and install accoustical fabrics.  So, as you can see, homebuilders, remodelers, or homeowners could benefit from a visit to the Coastal Home Gallery in Morehead City.

Foursquare is a new location based social networking service that is quickly becoming a major player on the social networking scene.  However, unlike Facebook and Twitter, Foursquare uses a GPS enabled smartphone like the Blackberry, Android, or IPhone to bring users, communities, and businesses together in a social and FUN way!

Foursquare can be a huge boost to a Morehead City, NC business or other interest by being visible, interacting with consumers in a social manner, and offering tips and specials to consumers who are using Foursquare and other social sites. And, given that our society is becoming increasingly mobile and people are using their smart phones to interact with others, you can be sure that your business will reap the rewards.

Eastern Carolina Technologies is a comprehensive computer and networking service provider servicing Carteret, Craven, and Onslow counties. We also specialize in Social Media Marketing for businesses needing ultra visibility and search engine ranking on the Internet. We are located at 5056 Hwy 70 West ( Coastal Home Gallery ) in Morehead City, NC and can be reached at (252) 240-8990 during business hours or at (252) 723-4327 after business hours.