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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (June 13, 2007)
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, June 13, 2007 George Jones, smiling and tiling for happy clients He may have a famous name, but in this neck of the woods, tile -- not singing -- is his forte. For the past 25 years, George Jones, a tile contrac- tor and owner of Jones Ce- ramic Tile, has been doing legendary tile and stone work all across Southern Oregon. From small floors and simple remodels to million-dollar houses and mega commercial work, Jones has tiled it all. “I started in 1982, and at the time that was just what came in my direction,” said Jones. “I’ve been fortunate enough to have been reared in old school fundamentals.” Jones, who has had plenty of time to perfect his trade, has seen many younger tile setters come and go, be- cause they lack critical ex- perience: a knack for the lay- out and design process. And, Jones couldn’t agree more with the adage “You get what you pay for.” His best advice: “Cheaper is not always better.” He adds, “There are many procedures to follow. If it’s not done in a professional manner, the resale value of the home is hurt. There’s lay- out, design and many steps even in a simple project that are all important to follow. If even one step is missed, it’ll affect the entire job.” “There are no short- cuts,” he said. “Everybody sees the tile. “People may walk into a George Jones working on a shower stall in a home being remodeled in O’Brien. (Photo by Robert Bazen) house and not even look twice at linoleum, but they’ll stop and pause to check out the tile and stonework, so it has to be done right.” Besides the benefit of aesthetics, Jones said that there are other added benefits of installing tile and stone. “If it’s properly installed and sealed, then tile and stone is actually pretty easy mainte- nance and it’ll last longer than vinyl and linoleum,” he said. “Initially, it may be more expensive, but it’s cheaper in the long run, and it gives you a higher resale value.” And, in today’s real es- tate market, Jones said that tile and stone can sometimes be deciding factors that help sell a house. “These days of a flat market, sellers need all the help they can get,” he noted. “Buyers are in control and will look at the house that’s been upgraded over one that just has vinyl and plastic.” And, according to Jones, “the sky’s the limit,” when it comes to the type of upgrades that he can install: granite, slate, marble, glass block, ceramic tile and travertine are popular choices these days, he said. “I’ve been through many eras of styles,” Jones contin- ued. “It used to be that 4¼- inch ceramic tile was the hot ticket; now everybody wants the natural stones.” However, he said that it’s important to know what stone works best for what area. According to Jones, for kitch- ens, granite is the best choice, because it’s a more durable and harder stone. Marble is a softer stone and is often better in bathrooms. Slate works well for floors and is frequently seen as kitchen backsplashes and in showers. “It’s very rewarding for me when remodeling or start- ing from scratch and to see the product before and after,” said the veteran craftsman. “It’s very gratifying for me and my clients to see the fin- ished product,” Jones said. Much of his work can be seen throughout hundreds of homes spanning from the coast into Eastern Oregon. His commercial portfolio includes various Taco Bell restaurants and convenience stores, plus truck stops, hotels and restaurants. But Jones added, “No job is too big or too small.” For more information or to receive a complimentary estimate, Jones can be con- tacted at 660-3252. Advertise ..? Sponsors for the new sign were National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Dept. of Transportation, Dan Hertler, It’s A Burl, and I.V. Building Supply. A NEW SIGN designating the northern boundary of Illinois Valley Soil & Wa- ter Conservation District was unveiled and chris- tened Monday afternoon, June 11, at the top of Hay’s Hill. The sign was built by an I.V. High School landscape and design class. Among those recognized was Dan Hertler, who served as consulting mason; and Amy Fogg, IVHS pro- ject leader. Kevin O’Brien, district man- ager, also provided sup- port, as did bus driver Sandy Madden. (Photos by Scott Jorgensen, IVN) C ONCEALED H AND G UN L ICENSE C LASSES Learn to keep yourself safe. Classes in personal Protection. Become more confident. Superior training from handgun expert Rex Umsted. NRA Certi- fied. Group classes on demand. Cost $35 per person for basic instructions. Time involved 6 hours. Advanced training available to Basic class graduates. Live fire classes are held at Josephine County Sportsman Association Range, $7 range fee for non JCSA members. Call Rex at 592-2588 to sign-up for a class. Make happy those who are near, and those who are far will come - Chinese Proverb - Happiness is not so much in having as in sharing. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. - Norman MacEwan - A man awakens in the morning after sleeping on an advertised bed with adver- tised sheets, and he’s wearing advertised pajamas He bathes in an adver- tised shower or tub, washes with advertised soap, and shaves with an advertised razor. He eats a breakfast of food, juice and coffee -- all of it advertised. He uses an ad- vertised toaster, an advertised microwave oven, and an ad- vertised coffee-maker. The man puts on adver- tised clothing, and checks his advertised watch. He then drives to work in an adver- tised motor vehicle; sits at an advertised desk using an ad- vertised PC; and makes notes with an advertised pen on advertised paper. Yet this man hesitates to advertise. He says that adver- tising doesn’t pay. Finally, when his unad- vertised business goes under, he will advertise it for sale. Illinois Valley News, newsroom1@frontiernet.net, 592-2541 Page 9 Cutting cooling costs with caulk Warm seasons can be the perfect time to start home- and office-sealing projects that keep in air conditioning, the heat out, and energy costs down. Gaps and cracks around windows and doors let air condi- tioning escape, accounting for 25 to 40 percent of the energy used to cool homes and offices, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Choosing the right silicon caulk is important, and following the lead of professionals can help. For more information, visit www.gehomesealing.com. (NAPS) Providing natural, alternative medical services: ~ Diagnosis & treatment ~ Preventative & school sports exams ~ Women’s health ~ Life style recommendations ~ Natural & conventional prescriptions ~ Homeopathic & craniosacral therapy Margaret Philhower ND 9335 Takilma Road (541) 415-1549 naturedoctor@frontiernet.net Linda Sallman 128 S. Redwood Hwy. Cave Junction OR 97523 541-592-4541 Across from the new Home Valley Bank on Redwood Hwy. Open Mondays - Fridays, 9 to 5 Auto - Home - Life - Commercial “M ORE A LL ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ THAN J UST FENCES ” TYPES AND STYLES OF FENCING Outstanding Outbuildings Custom decking and foot-bridges Rock work, pathways & tile Complete house painting Landscape project labor Metal fabrication Professional tree service Handyman services O NE - STOP SHOPPING FOR MANY QUALITY SERVICES Phone: 592-6014 Licensed - Bonded - Insured CCB#157224
