To me with that much spending coming up I'd ask myself if I was ok with opening a lot of cards and splitting the spending among them to reach sign up bonuses.

If the answer is yes I'd apply for the AA cards (all three if you could, or even 2 for you, and two for a spouse/parent), and split the spending up. A total of just 4 cards with spending requirements met would net you 300,000 miles on AA. Sure they don't fly to your regonal airport...but 300,000 miles could be used to book hotels, or you could pay for a flight to a larger airport and then take the award flight from there.

If the answer is no, I'd focus on the higest milage/cash back possible (which has been outlined pretty well above AARP/Cap 1/SPG, etc). Of course it sounds like to do this you'd still need to apply for 1 or more cards...

There is no rule!

No kidding, I wish it was only 5%, but I live in an expensive area, they use good products, and have good reviews, and heck they accept credit cards. Thanks for the input it seems like SPG or AARP maybe the way to go. I will read the AA forum to see how they are about using there miles. (Since I don't fly them I really don't have much knowledge of there program). Thanks for the help, and I'm still open to suggestions.

One thing you and everyone can do on large purchases related to your home is Lowes (not sure about others) offers a program if your purchases are over $2,000 is to submit everything to them that your going to purchase. Do this at the commercial desk. The Lowes CSR will them submit the package to corporate and with 24 hours you'll have a discount on all items. Usual savings is around 10%-20%. Some items are a little less and some more. On a Refrig I received 19%, deck supplies 21%, fencing 9%, riding lawn mower 14%.

Then I use my CC and got the miles. I never let the contractors make the purchases. I find I get better savings making the purchases myself and paying the contractor for work only. Just an idea.

To parlay this idea further, your capital one venture card currently offers an effective return of 6% toward travel expenses when you buy Lowes Gift Cards through their website. You get 2 points for the purchase and 4 bonus points per dollar. So for every 1000.00 you purchase in GCs you'll get 60.00 in travel credit. Pretty darn good when you stack when submitting to the commercial desk.

Well, AA may not be a choice but what about another One World partner? I can't see what airport the OP is near, while using this iPhone app. Just trying to share info and OP can decide for him/herself if AA looks more appealing after evaluating mileage potential - maybe even drive to an airport AA serves.

ALB Albany, NY is my home airport

This is just from my recent experience, but I just replaced my roof 3 weeks ago. Two of the four contractors I obtained quotes from accepted credit cards, including the one I chose. The highest and the lowest cost roofers were the ones who didn't accept cards, while the two who did accept them were right in the middle. All of them were reasonably close in price (within $500) of each other.