Home repair workshops begin at Habitat shop

After taking the summer months off, Rich Cowgill, vice president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry of Greater Chicagoland, is back at Habitat ReStore to lend his expertise on a wide array of home improvement topics and provide a fun and interactive experience at ReStore's free classes starting Saturday, Oct. 10.

The classes will be held at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month at ReStore, 800 N. State St. (Route 31), Elgin.

"I'm excited to get started again," said Rich Cowgill. "I love teaching these classes and its fun to see people learning new skills and expanding their home improvement knowledge. We have added a couple of new classes this year and brought back the most popular ones from previous years. Plus as always, it isn't just about how to do it, it is also about having the right terminology for those times when a contractor would need to be hired."

He began conducting classes at ReStore in November 2007. The classes have been very popular and often fill up fast. To sign up for a workshop go to www.restoreelgin.org, call (847) 742-9905 or stop in at ReStore during open hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday to Friday or 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

The topics will be:

• Oct. 10: "Winterize Your Home the Right Way"

• Nov. 14: "Ceramic Tile Installation and Repair for Floors and Walls."

• Dec. 12: "Drywall Installation/Repair/Taping and Mudding Techniques."

• Jan. 9: "Reclaim Your Basement."

• Feb. 13: "Kitchen Cabinet and Furniture Refinishing and Repair."

• March 13: "Getting Your Home Ready for Summer."