With dozens of trucks maneuvering their way through the oddly shaped seven-acre yard and offices of Western Materials, getting around can be quite a challenge.

The company hopes to overcome that challenge when it completes a $2 million expansion for its Yakima plant at 1202 S. First St.

Co-owners Bill Douglas and Stan Martinkus purchased six acres in 1996 with plans to use the land for a future expansion. The opportunity to do so came late last year when Wilbert Precast, who was leasing the property, moved out.

The opportunity couldn't come soon enough, Martinkus said.

Navigating in and around the company's sales offices often means dodging a bunch of trucks and forklifts carrying dry wall, windows and other construction supplies.

"You won't have to do that anymore," he said.

The expansion includes paving five acres to increase the size of the yard, remodeling an existing 9,400-square-foot building and constructing a 9,000-square-foot covered storage facility.

The remodeled building will provide warehouse space, offices, a pick-up counter and a larger design center, where customers can touch and feel the different product lines Western Materials offers.

In addition to the building, the company has plans to develop green areas around the building to make the center less industrial.

Although 95 percent of its business is from contractors, the company wanted to develop a comfortable place for the landowners when they need to select materials for their residential or commercial projects, Martinkus said.

"We're trying to provide a value-added service to our customers," he said.

That's a good move, said Joe Walsh, director of governmental affairs for the Central Washington Home Builders Association. When it comes to working with contractors, customer service to the end is essential.

"A happy customer is going to make a happy contractor, and a happy contractor is going to support Western Materials," Walsh said.

The minutes saved by quickly entering and exiting the facility can make a big difference in helping a contractors complete their projects on time. "Those five extra minutes add up," he said.

The company expects to finish the expansion by early fall, Martinkus said. He hopes the expansion will easily accommodate business in the next 10 to 20 years.

Yakima has not seen the drastic economic decline of other areas and he believes there's plenty of room for more growth.

"Over the next 10 years, it will be a good market," Martinkus said.

Western Materials

* Stan Martinkus and Bill Douglas have co-owned the company since 1983.

* Employs about 140 workers

* Serves customers throughout Eastern Washington and Northeast Oregon through for its facilities in Yakima, Wenatchee and Pasco

* Mai Hoang can be reached at 577-7685 or mhoang@yakimaherald.com.