Press:

Extreme Paint-over
Hernando Today
March 9, 2005

SPRING HILL - Two local businesses have been asked to fulfill a dream. A dream bred from a catastrophic nightmare.

The ABC-TV reality show, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," selected a home in Seminole after its owner, 30-year-old James Dolan, was shot as he worked in a St. Petersburg Radio Shack last year. Dolan lost his eyesight as a result of the attack.

The show has been rebuilding Dolan's family home in Seminole since Sunday. The finished version will be customized for a blind resident.

Hernando Roof Cleaning & Custom Coatings Inc. and Porter Paints have been asked to donate services to the house being redone for an upcoming show.

"We have the painting contract for the entire project," said John Campbell of Hernando Roof Cleaning & Custom Coatings on Spring Hill Drive.

Porter Paints donated more than 100 gallons of paint for the project. The company has a wholesale outlet on Cortez Boulevard
"This is not your standard builder's grade," Campbell said. "We have upgraded materials."

Tuesday, the original 1,200-square-foot family home was demolished. Concrete trucks came in about 8 p.m. Tuesday night. Within two hours, the foundation was laid, Campbell said.

"The manpower was just phenomenal," he said. "The house is kind of hidden by tarps. They are busing in people by droves."
Campbell said his business was selected for the job because it has the manpower.

"Very few painters could handle this type of project," Campbell said.

His crew will be required to finish the internal and external paint jobs within four to five hours. Originally, they were scheduled to start Friday between 3 and 5 a.m., but they learned their schedule was pushed up by a full day on Wednesday.

They will stay in hotels near the site to be close and get sleep when they can.

Campbell said his company has always tried to do the right thing in business. However, this project means more.

"We're getting a sense of community pride. I can't see a better way to do that."

Jim Ledsome shared Campbell's sense of community pride. Porter Paints corporate headquarters is in Louisville, Ky., but the company has 49 Florida stores, Campbell said.

The specialized paint provided dries faster to accommodate the tight schedule the show requires. Heaters will also be on site to increase drying time.

Both companies had business ties with Lexington Homes, contractor for the refurbishment project. Craig Gallagher, president of Lexington Homes, contacted each company for their time and service.

Sunday, the reality show's staff will unveil the finished product - a 5,000-square-foot home complete with a different color for every room.

Campbell has been given special details for the home's new color scheme.

"The designers do a lot of neat stuff," Campbell said. "The colors will feature just about every color in the rainbow."

By ANGELINE TAYLOR