The CMBA Home Show Features New Technology and Elaborate Outdoor Living [VIDEO]

ST. CLOUD - The 43rd Central Minnesota Builders Association Home Show kicked off the weekend with plenty to do and look at. Bonnie Moeller is the executive director of the CMBA, and says this show is one of their biggest ever.

She says, "This year we expanded across the hall, and we have a large landscape area. We're bringing in Matt Muenster from Do It Yourself Network, and Bobby Jensen, so we really put our best foot forward this year I feel." 

Moeller told me about a brand new TV system that is on display at the home show. I met Richard Erkens of Audio Video Extremes in Waite Park, and I found a 110 inch, full 4K display system.

"It's the latest in technology, in fact the folks here at the CMBA home show are one of the first to see it in the United States," says Erkens, "It's and ultra-short throw laser projection system, so at 110 inches you only need to be 1.2 inches away from the screen to truly take advantage of the system."

Laser technology has been around for a while. Erkens says the benefit to laser technology is there are no bulbs that need to be changed like other projection systems. He says it runs usually for about 20,000 hours.

There is plenty more to do at the CMBA Home Show. There is a huge landscaping exhibit put on by Land Concepts, PW Landscapes, Nature's View Landscaping, and Supreme Lawn & Landscaping. At the exhibit I found Todd, Leroy, Pete, and Jeff who helped build the elaborate landscape.

"It took two days. We started on Wednesday morning, and we finished up last (Thursday) night. We had fifteen guys working, two hundred and forty hours we have into it."

The set up features different elements of outdoor living. The four landscapers say water, fire, wood, metal, and plants are all part of the exhibit.

Moeller says there is also a room just for the kids. It features playgrounds, trampolines, face painting, and a playhouse giveaway, which will take place on Sunday.

The CMBA Home Show runs until 9:00 p.m. tonight, Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the River's Edge Convention Center.

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