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5 Ways to Make Your Deck a Cozy Gathering Place This Fall

Posted on July 26, 2023January 6, 2025

Fall is the perfect time to gather out on the deck and enjoy the crisp cool air. That means it’s time to transition your summer deck from a “fun in the sun” hotspot to a warm and cozy autumn hangout!

And here’s the good news: it doesn’t take much time, effort, or money to change the feel of your deck, and effectively reinvent it for the coming fall season.

Get your deck or porch project started!

Here are 5 easy ways to make your deck a cozy gathering place this fall:

1. Create a Focal Point

One easy way to give your deck a cozier feel is to create a visual focal point. Focal points encourage people to gather, chat and gravitate together in the space. This can be created by using an outdoor rug or a sitting area with a coffee table and comfy chairs. You can also use a stylish Chimenea or an outdoor fireplace to create a warm, inviting focal point

2. Make Large Areas Smaller

Pulling furniture closer together naturally makes people feel cozier. If your furniture is strewn out across the deck, try rearranging it into several smaller seating areas. Also, bring grills, benches and potted plants into tighter circles to improve this effect. You can also screen off larger portions of deck with room-divider screens or trellises covered with fabric to create cozy nooks.

3. Spice Up Your Space

If you want people to gather on your deck, then give them something fun to do! The addition of a spa or hot tub might just be the thing that beckons everyone outside. Try adding stylish outdoor lighting or strings of outdoor lights to further enhance that cozy glow in the evening.

Remove canopy umbrellas, sun-lounging chairs and other remnants of summer. Then try placing sturdy, woodsy furniture, like Adirondack chairs and picnic benches. Add some large, cozy pillows to encourage people to kick back and relax.

4. Add Some Greenery

Adding plants is a quick and easy (and budget-friendly!) way to update your outdoor areas each season. Vines crawling up a pergola softens the space while adding interest. You can also create a splash of color with potted plants and seasonal flowers like goldenrod and chrysanthemums. This not only adds color and interest, it also gives you the flexibility to replace them depending on the occasion or your color palette.

3. Use Warm Colors

Summer means bright-colored plastic and garish, colorful decor. Fall calls for a more subdued, warm palette. Earthy tones like maroons, oranges and rusts. You can easily change out your color scheme by changing out cushions, accessories and carpets. Consider adding painted wood-furniture with deep-red and orange throws for snuggling under!

When making your deck the superstar of your cozy autumn gatherings, you’re only limited by your creativity and imagination! And don’t hesitate to stop by your local GNH Lumber for expert tips and guidance for your decking project.

Stop in to your local GNH Lumber for more tips and techniques for making your deck the gathering place of the season. We have outdoor furniture, lighting, Halloween decorations and other items to help you create a magical effect this fall!

Trending Textures for your Home’s Exterior

Posted on March 7, 2023August 10, 2023

Gone are the days of boring, cookie-cutter style houses. Today’s homeowners are finding ways to express themselves by designing their homes in a way that reflect their style. One increasingly popular trend is mixing textures on your home’s exterior, which makes your home stand out among the rest.

How to mix textures

You’ll want to pick 2-3 different textures for your home’s exterior, and no more than 2-3 different colors. Too much variation will appear chaotic, so it’s important to be thoughtful about your choices.

You can take a drive around your neighborhood to get a sense of what you like, use online design tools like Cultured Stone’s Visualizer tool, or talk to our GNH design experts to get started.

Think about what focal points you want to stand out on your home— dormers, gables, porches, bump-outs, etc. Use contrasting colors and/or textures to draw attention to these features. You may also want to switch up the siding on different levels of your home.

Not ready for a remodel? You can start small by adding contrast with your front door, shutters or trim.

Using Cultured Stone for texture

One texture you’ll definitely want to consider using is stone. With so many colors and textures to choose from, the possibilities are limitless. You can also choose between using natural stone or a manufactured veneer, such as Cultured Stone veneers. There are a number of benefits of using Cultured Stone veneers. Cultured Stone is about one-quarter the weight of natural stone and is generally easier and less costly to install. Because of its light weight, Cultured Stone can be installed on a variety of substrates, unlike natural stone which needs to be fixed to something structural. Composed of lightweight concrete, Cultured Stone will last as long as other concrete materials, which can be anywhere from 50-100 years. Cultured Stone products are virtually maintenance-free and come with a 50-year limited warranty.

Some consumers may worry that manufactured stones will be too repetitive in appearance, but Cultured Stone uses thousands of individual molds and no two stones are ever cast with the same exact coloring. In fact, Cultured Stone has the largest variety of colors and textures in any manufactured stone line, with more than 20 textures available in over 100 color combinations. Check out some combinations below!

Echo Ridge Country Ledgestone Credit: Symphony Homes

Artic Pro-Fit Terrain Ledgestone
Credit: Hearth and Home

Aspen Dressed Fieldstone & Aspen Country Ledgestone

These examples show how you can use different colors of Ledgestone to create vastly different styled homes. One the left you have Echo Ridge Country Ledgestone and an arts and craft style home, followed by a modern looking home in the middle with Artic Pro-Fit Terrain Ledgestone, and lastly the rustic log cabin style home with a combination of Aspen Dressed Fieldstone and Aspen Country Ledgestone.

Echo Ridge Dressed Fieldstone
Credit: Barrington Homes

This Echo Ridge Dressed Fieldstone gives the house a rugged and historic look like it has been here through the ages.

Gray Cobblefield

The Gray Cobblefield on this home is designed to mimic the architecture of 19^th century rural America.

For more inspiration, visit the Cultured Stone Designs Gallery.

Amazingly Simple Home Deck Design Ideas!

Posted on February 14, 2023February 14, 2023

Crafting the perfect deck for your home is about more than what materials you use. A backyard escape should also tell a story through design — and invite you to become lost in the narrative. When it comes to building and designing an outdoor deck, there is a lot of planning and design-making. To get your creative juices flowing, we’ve put together tips and advice on how to plan out your deck.

Planning a Perfect Deck

When you plan out your deck, you’ll need to determine the size deck you’d like, establish a budget, select material, and determine whether you want to build it yourself or hire a professional. Here are some tips to ease the process along:

Decide the deck’s purpose.
Where are you building the deck?
Check with your local zoning board to find out the building codes.
Are you going to add lighting to the deck?
Do you want built-ins or benches built into your deck?
Determine what are the type of railings you want as this will be your deck’s most visible part.

Design Ideas

1) Herringbone Deck Patterns – This elaborate, fun design that brings a dynamic look to your deck surface. To create this look you repeat laying two deck boards at a 45-degree angle. You can use different deck board widths or colors to create an inspiring deck pattern. Herringbone pairs best with larger decks that have space for the pattern to repeat.

2) Picture-Frame Borders & Contrasting Hues –

A picture frame border refers to boards laid around your deck perimeter perpendicular to the inlay boards. Choose one, two, or three boards for your picture frame to give your deck as subtle or as bold of a border as you desire.

Use boards of a contrasting color to your deck surface for one or more of your border boards. This will create a truly striking and eye-popping perimeter!

Love a dynamic, high-contrast look? You can also combine white elements in your deck design with richly-hued modern composite decking for a dramatic effect. Choose white PVC trim for your fascia and stair risers to create a crisp, clean border against the saturated decking. A white composite railing with black balusters adds further contrast to the design.

3) Contrasting with Curves – Choose outdoor furniture that will complement your deck design. A curved, modular couch echoes the rounded cascading stairs while a dark frame and light cushions contribute even more contrast to an already dramatic design.

4) Wide Railing for Cocktails

– Your deck railing is more than tasteful decoration and added safety to your deck. One of TimberTech’s more fun products is the Drink Rail – part of the Classic Composite Series. The Drink Rail features a deck board as the top rail to tie your deck and railing together seamlessly. Plus, it’s the perfect place to rest your morning coffee or late-night cocktail. It’s perfect for anyone looking for sharp designs that complement their deck AND home!

5) Think Outside the Box

– Rounded decks feel organic and merge well with natural settings. They also create separate areas for cooking, seating, or housing a garden or hot tub. Try creating new and unusual decking patterns, such as basket weave, or alternating diagonals. Just remember – it’s your backyard space and your design, so don’t be afraid to try something new if it fits your budget.

6) Wrap Around Views

– Having a deck that wraps around the second story of your home will give tremendous access to views. These decks can also double as balconies for morning coffee and are a great place for anyone in the family to sit. And they provide as much aesthetic value from inside the home as they do from the outside.

7) Combined Deck and Walkway – It is important to consider the transition between the deck and backyard. Adding a paved walkway leading from your deck helps to visually join a deck and garden or large lawn area. This allows you to introduce harmonizing colors and shapes to pull the deck and yard together. Even better it provides a much-needed safe path back indoors in case of inclement weather.

8) Added Shade – Adding a pergola, canopy or a shaded archway can create a one-of-a-kind outdoor living space. It also provides relief from the sun and offers a safe place to stay outside in the rain. You can introduce shady nooks, such as planting a wall of trees or using cornered walls of your home as a framework. You can also add hammocks and shaded benches to the covered patio below a second-story deck.

9) Make a Playground Deck – Why should kids have all the fun? Turn your deck into a grown-up playhouse with built-in climbing walls, slides and more! Nothing brings a gathering of friends and family together like a chance to have some good-natured fun and feel like a kid again. Check out this cool playground deck highlighted on HGTV.com:

And don’t forget! The expert staff at GNH Lumber is ready to help you find the right home deck ideas and work through the process! At the end of the day, we want you to create the outdoor space of your dreams and stay within your budget. Place your order today for a beautiful outdoor living space tomorrow.

Looking for more deck design ideas and inspiration? Here are some of our favorite styles from TimberTech to help spark your imagination:

Sources: TimberTech Deck Design Options; TimberTech Deck Design Ideas;

How to Measure Windows for Replacement

Posted on February 7, 2023February 7, 2023

If you’re going to install replacement windows, it pays to measure windows correctly the first time and avoid the headache of placing an incorrect order.

How to Measure Windows 101:

Always measure the entire window, not just the glass. This includes the frame and trim as well as the window glass.
When recording measurements, follow the format “width by height.” For example, a window that is 63 inches wide and 27 inches tall is recorded as “63 x 27.” A window that is 37 inches wide and 55 inches tall is recorded as “37 x 55.” Record your measurements to the nearest 1/16 inch.
Measure window width from the left edge to the right edge. Check this measurement in three places: the bottom, middle, and top. If these measurements are not equal, use the smallest as your width.
Measure window height from the top edge to the bottom edge. Check this measurement in three places: on the left side, middle, and right side. If these measurements are not equal, use the smallest as your height.
Take an additional set of measurements inside the window frame.
Measure the width of the trim that surrounds the window. The trim on the sides may be different from the top and bottom – so measure each part.
Measure the height and depth of the sill. If your windows don’t open, check if you have a door in the same wall where you can measure the wall’s thickness.
Take a picture of a multi-paned window and record the measurements on the print to eliminate confusion. Record the overall window width and height, both inside and outside the frame. Measure and record the width and height of each window section and the measurements of any subsections. For example, the overall window may be 60 x 20, composed of two windows 30 x 20.

What’s the Next Step?

Bring your measurements and photos into GNH and talk to one of our window experts to help plan your replacement window order. Keep in mind that the windowsill’s height may be added to your window height to get the full size of the opening. When ordering replacement windows, we recommend ordering just slightly smaller than the opening. This allows for leveling and the application of sealant.

A helpful overview of the window replacement process from Marvin Windows:

DIY: Lawn Repair 101 – How to Fix Bare Spots

Posted on February 6, 2023May 23, 2023

Ahhh! A lush lawn of perfect green! It’s what we all dream about when it’s summertime. The soft, rolling green backdrop to our cookouts, ballgames, BBQs and entertaining. That said, if you have a lawn with bald or bare spots, it can be frustrating to diagnose and fix.

Do I Need Lawn Repair?

It’s not uncommon to encounter bare spots at some point or another throughout the summer season. Take heart! There are easy ways to diagnose and repair these unsightly patches of yellow, brown and beige, and restore your lawn to its true GREEN GLORY.

A few common causes for those bare spots and patches in your lawn:

Not enough water
Over-fertilizing or spilled chemicals
Lawnmower damage
Grubs or other insects
Pet damage or foot traffic

Depending on the type of damage, there are different solutions to your lawn’s bare spots. However, most involve adding new grass seed, lawn food and water (see steps below). Considering the unusually rainy spring and summer we’ve had so far in upstate New York, it’s doubtful that your lawn has bare spots due to dryness. But if there is a dry spot, it’s an easy fix – just be sure to water frequently, in addition to reseeding to improve thickness.

If the bare spots are due to overfertilizing or lawnmower damage, you will see them appearing uniformly across the lawn. For damage caused by overfertilizing, reseed the bare spots and do not add additional fertilizer until the lawn heals itself. For lawnmower damage, be sure your lawnmower blades are sharpened regularly, and keep the blades raised high enough from the ground when you mow.

Grubs or other insects can wreak havoc on your lawn, as well. Grubs, curling white worms, are a common problem in mid to late summer, and most easily identified when your sod easily pulls back from the ground like a carpet. More than ten grubs per square foot can cause lawn damage. Grub control products are available at your local GNH.

Pet or backyard animal urine can create bare spots of yellowed-grass with a brighter ring of green around them. These can be repaired following the steps below, but to prevent future damage you will want to train your pets to do their business elsewhere. Likewise, foot traffic must be redirected to allow these spots in your lawn to heal.

How to repair bare spots in your lawn the quick and easy way:

Supplies & Tools:

Grass Seed (we recommend Scotts® Turf Builder® seed varieties)
Topsoil or compost
Fertilizer (we recommend Scotts® Step-3 Lawn Fertilizer)
Small gardening trowel and rake

1. Break Up the Bare Spot and Reseed.

Use a small gardening shovel or rake to break up the dry spot on your lawn. Remove any rocks, leaves or debris. Choose the appropriate grass seed for the spot’s shade density (such as Scott’s Turf Builder seed varieties, available at GNH) and cast the seeds over the turf. Spread about a half an inch of compost or topsoil on the strewn seeds.

Tip: To get good seed-to-soil contact, gently rake the seeds and soil into the grass.

2. Water Generously at First, Less Later

Water the area immediately, and then continue to water lightly three times a day for 7-10 days. When you can see the new grass sprouting, reduce watering to once daily.

Tip: After the new grass emerges, less is more. A good, thorough soaking rather than a quick watering ensures that the water gets down to the root system. This helps roots grow strong and deep for a thick, more drought-resistant lawn.

3. Feed Your Entire Lawn to Nourish It

To encourage the new growth, and keep your whole lawn looking its best, add a gentle lawn fertilizer to the spot, like Scotts Step-3 Lawn Fertilizer, available at GNH! Tender seedlings, as well as existing grass, need nutrients to help grow thick and strong.

4. Kick Back & Enjoy the Results!

Repairing bare spots in your lawn is a quick and easy project that reaps many rewards. It’s the perfect weekend task that you can finish in no time, so you can get back out in the hammock and enjoy the results! Don’t forget to improve the lushness and color of your whole lawn (and reduce the chance of future damage) with regular feeding and proper maintenance.

For more on bare spot lawn repair, check out this helpful video from Scott’s Lawn: https://youtu.be/rI4WhxUq4zM

https://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-identify-the-cause-of-brown-spots-in-your-lawn/, http://www.planitdiy.com/how-to/lawn-garden/lawn-repair-fix-a-bare-spot/, https://www.scotts.com/en-us/library/grass-grass-seed/how-repair-seed-bare-spots-lawn, http://www.hgtv.com/design/outdoor-design/landscaping-and-hardscaping/how-to-repair-bald-spots-in-your-lawn

How to Create a Garden Oasis

Posted on February 6, 2023February 6, 2023

An inviting yard provides a calm atmosphere, a tranquil retreat and a relaxing place to entertain.

With springtime in full bloom, it’s time to start creating a detailed game-plan for your spectacular garden oasis! Remember, with a little bit of work and planning now, you can create a garden sanctuary to enjoy all season long – and one that your neighbors will envy, too.

Here are 7 ideas for creating a garden oasis that you can use to escape, relax and even entertain:

1. Add a Bird Bath

Adding a bird bath will attract birds to your garden, which are not only fun to watch but will help control pests. Place the bird bath in a relatively open area in your yard, so that birds can scan for predators. To keep your bird bath in tip-top shape, clean it approximately twice a week.

You can also put out nectar to attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Hummingbird feeders also need to be cleaned out regularly to ensure mold doesn’t build up, which can be harmful to the birds.

2. Create a Water Feature

There’s nothing more relaxing than the calming sound of a natural stream or waterfall in your garden. Turn a decorative pot into a waterfall feature, or create a built-in waterfall or stream element with large, stepped stones. A closed circuit of water can also act as circulation for a pond, serving dual purposes.

If you really want to go all-out, you can create a koi pond. While these are more costly to install and maintain, koi fish are mesmerizing to watch and they eat mosquito larvae.

Whatever you choose, a water feature is a dramatic touch that provides soft tranquility.

3. Hang Wind Chimes

Wind chimes are a quick and easy way to create a relaxing vibe in your garden. There are lots of designs and sounds to choose from, whether you prefer a softer, wooden sound, or something light and metallic.

4. Incorporate Natural Stone

Natural stone accents, like stepping stone paths, are great features to add to your garden oasis. Natural stone is an easy accent feature to incorporate into your backyard and can be inexpensive, depending on the stones you purchase.

5. Install Solar Lights

Solar lights increase the function and versatility of your garden. Add them along your stone path or hang them in your pergola to create a space you can keep using after dusk.

5. Add a Bench

Place a bench in view of your water feature or bird bath to create a tranquil spot where you can enjoy your oasis.

6. Get a Pergola

Pergolas are a great way to get more use out of your yard. Perfect for entertaining guests, you can set up patio furniture beneath them, plant vines that grow on them and hang solar lights to keep the party going after dark. During the day, they provide a nice shady place to keep cool and enjoy your garden.

7. Surround Yourself with Plants

Let plant life create the outdoor retreat of your dreams! By selecting tall, large-leafed plants, you can simulate a tropical rainforest experience.

Adding vines to fencing, trellises, benches and other structures in your yard will create a soothing retreat with added privacy. Creeping vines that flower such as clematis, honeysuckle, trumpet vine, and morning glories will provide a pop of color against all the green vegetation as a lush backdrop.

Adding a few of these simple features to your backyard will go a long way towards creating your tranquil retreat. A garden oasis is fun to create, and will provide a great place to decompress after a long day or even entertain your friends and family. Now get a head start on designing your garden oasis!

How to Replace Windows in Zones

Posted on February 3, 2023April 26, 2023

Should you replace windows in zones?

Replacement windows can save you as much as 15% on your energy bills while reducing wear and tear on heating and cooling systems. Plus, updated windows will improve your quality of life by introducing more light and fresh air to your favorite room or home office.

If you’re overwhelmed by the idea of a full window replacement, don’t worry. You don’t have to replace every single window in your home to start enjoying beauty, function, and energy-savings. Instead, you can replace windows one zone at a time.

Explore replacement Marvin windows in a wide range of styles at GNH Lumber! Simply request a project quote today!

Want to learn more about the benefits of new windows? Get the FREE guide!

Window Replacement by the Zone

Now is the perfect time to replace your home’s older or malfunctioning windows before the chill of autumn comes and begins stealing away precious heating dollars. But how do you know which windows need replacing? Some signs, such as condensation or cosmetic damage, might not need replacement at all and are actually perfectly normal. Others, like water stains and wood rot, need immediate replacement.

Knowing the signs that require prompt attention versus those that can be easily fixed can help you evaluate whether and how soon a replacement is needed. This will help you replace windows in “zones” for a more targeted, cost-effective approach.

Remember, you don’t have to replace every single window in your home in order to make a dramatic improvement in your home’s style, airflow, and energy savings!

Here’s our guide to evaluating your home’s overall window health and creating “zones” for targeted window replacement.

Zone #1 – Immediate Attention Needed

Sometimes replacement windows are non-negotiable, especially when they greatly compromise your home’s energy-efficiency and/or security. Look for these signs that you’re in the “red” zone:

WATER DAMAGE – Water between glass panes, leaking, water stains or evidence of wood rot can be signs excess moisture is accumulating where you cannot see it, which means your windows are no longer effective. This can lead to mold, mildew, warping, or structural damage.
COMPROMISED SECURITY – As entry points into your home, you should address broken windows immediately.

Zone #2 – Time to Investigate

Sometimes replacement isn’t immediately necessary, although it would still help with ease of operation and climate control. Here are some warning signs for windows you should keep an eye on:

FAULTY OPERATION – Difficulty opening or closing, sticking sash and pesky operational issues can sometimes be solved with a thorough cleaning or small repair. However, these can also be signs that parts are nearing the end of their lifespan.
LESS CLIMATE CONTROL – New windows can get rid of drafts to make rooms more comfortable. But if the time isn’t right, replacement can wait!

Zone #3 – No Need to Replace

Some of your home’s windows may not need replacing at all! Don’t mistake these signs for critical damage. They are likely normal and can be corrected during routine maintenance:

CONDENSATION – Condensation is perfectly normal. It simply indicates the presence of humidity, which means your windows are doing their job and holding heat inside your home. There are many easy ways to remove condensation that don’t involve replacement.
COSMETIC ISSUES – Issues like chipped paint, tarnished hardware, and dirty weather stripping can be addressed on your schedule with routine care and maintenance.

By dividing your home into zones using the evaluation methods above, you can make the right window replacements now while keeping less urgent updates on the back-burner for a later date.

5 Things to Include on Your Yard Cleanup List

Posted on February 3, 2023February 3, 2023

Can’t wait to get back out into the garden? Well, here’s the good news! It’s time to get a head start on your spring cleaning checklist, and that includes taking care of your yard and garden beds.

To look and feel its best after the harshest winter months, your yard and gardens require spring cleaning the same as the inside of your home. Taking a weekend to clean up as the weather begins to warm will save you time later, and it helps prevent some problems further down the road in summer.

First, look over your yard before creating a specific checklist of what needs to get done to be ready for the season.

To help you get started, don’t forget these 5 things when cleaning up your yard this spring:

1. Clean Up Around Plants

To help your plants and shrubs get ready for new growth, clean up any debris left over from the winter months. Make sure you rake out fallen leaves and dead foliage, since this can smother your plants and help foster disease. Don’t forget to cut down any mums or other fall-season plants that you haven’t had a chance to cut down due to the snow and ice.

Toss your yard waste into a wheelbarrow for easy disposal and cleanup (ideally, this is done after the threat of frost has passed). Next, you’ll want to remove existing mulch to set the stage for a new layer after spring planting. You’ll also want to push heaved plants back into flower beds and borders. To encourage new growth, you can also spread a pelletized fertilizer tailored towards your existing plantings onto the soil’s surface. Spring rains will then carry these nutrients to the root systems.

2. Prep Your Lawn

The first step to a gorgeous lawn all spring and summer long is a good feeding now. Fertilizing your lawn with Scotts STEP-1 Crabgrass Preventer Plus Lawn Food can improve a lawn’s ability to absorb water & nutrients. Apply to your lawn for a fast green-up after winter. It also controls crabgrass for up to 4 months!

Apply in early spring, anytime between February and April when temperatures are still cool (under 80° F). Step-1 prevents crabgrass before it can germinate. It also feeds to green up a winter-weary lawn, too. Learn more about the Scotts Program.

In mild climates that experience little to no snowfall, winter lawn damage is usually minimal. However, that’s not the case for us here in the Catskill Region. As a rule, it’s best to avoid walking on soggy areas of the lawn until they are dry so the grass doesn’t become damaged. But there is usually some damage from snow removal, ice prevention, shoveling and the mud of thawing.

Remove any turf damaged by salt, plows, or disease to prepare for the seeding that should follow in a few weeks. Resume mowing once the grass grows to 4 to 5 inches tall and only trim it back to 3 to 4 inches. But don’t start mowing too early! Mowing too early in spring, or trimming your lawn too low, results in weak grass that is more prone to summer damage during dry periods.

3. Clean Walkways and Patios

The early spring is a perfect time to neaten up your hardscape surfaces, too. This includes both walkways and patios.

Make sure to rake escaped gravel back into your walkways and patios, and purchase more gravel to spread if needed. Refill joints between flagstones by sweeping in new sand or stone dust; water with a hose to set it, then repeat. Use a pressure washer with a low-pressure tip to remove any algae spots or leaf stains.

4. Replace and Paint Worn Wood

Remove badly rotted or damaged pickets or boards in your fencing, then scrub the wood clean by mixing water, bleach, and liquid soap. Once you’ve fully cleaned it, allow it time to dry before continuing. You can patch rotted sections with wood epoxy, and subsequently install new wood as needed.

Check to make sure that you don’t have any wobbly fence posts that need to be replaced. You should also scrape off old paint, sand the wood, and apply a new finish coat. Once temperatures go above 50° F, brush on a new coat of paint or stain.

5. Prune Dead and Damaged Branches

Many non-flowering shrubs, trees and woody plants respond well to spring pruning, which cleans up their appearance. Prune back to live stems if damaged, and shape hedges with hand pruners rather than electric shears. Electric shears have the tendency to cause a thick outer layer of growth, which prevents sunlight and air from reaching the shrub’s center.

How to Care for Vinyl Windows: “Do’s and Don’ts”

Posted on September 20, 2022September 21, 2022

Are you wondering how to care for vinyl windows? Vinyl windows are designed for easy care and maintenance. Just a tiny bit of elbow grease from time to time will extend the life and beauty of your windows.

Below are some quick and basic tips for caring for your vinyl windows. Following these “do’s and don’ts will extend the life and performance of your vinyl windows:

Vinyl Window Care “Do’s”

Vacuum soil and debris from the sill or track before washing.
Use a mixture of mild dish soap or any non-abrasive soap and water to gently clean window frames.
Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft absorbent cloth.
Make sure any weep holes are clear of obstruction and draining properly. Weep holes help your window drain and are located on the bottom of the window.
Remove the screens and wash them with a soft brush on a flat surface with mild dish soap and water.
Check the weather stripping around all window sashes in the fall.
Occasionally lubricate moving parts including rollers and tracks. Make sure to test the lubricant on an unseen part of the window to ensure it doesn’t stain.

Vinyl Window “Don’ts”

Don’t use abrasive or caustic cleaners or solvents as they may damage the finish of your windows.
Don’t wash windows in direct sunlight, if possible.
Don’t use a high-pressure spray to wash the windows as it may damage the insulation and glass seal.
Don’t use sharp instruments or abrasive pads to clean the glass.
Don’t attach anything to the glass, such as masking tape. Heat from the sun may bake the adhesive into the glass, and make it difficult to remove.
Don’t use a silicone spray on plastic parts as it may damage them; use a non-wax furniture polish instead.

Vinyl windows are a great investment for your home. Ask one of our GNH Experts about vinyl windows or visit our showrooms to see the latest styles and options for yourself!

How to Paint the Exterior of your Home

Posted on September 12, 2022May 23, 2023

Early autumn is a great time of year to tackle your home exterior painting project. The temperature is warm during the day and the humidity is low. This means quicker drying times. If you’re not sure how to paint the exterior of your home, you will want to:

plan ahead
buy enough paint in the same color
tackle the job one section at a time

With a little planning, your home exterior painting project will be fun and satisfying!

Step 1: Envision the Final Product

Select a color palette for your home’s exterior walls, trim, shutters, and doors. There are some tried and true color combinations that are beautiful, taking the guesswork out of choosing colors.

Use Benjamin Moore’s Personal Color Viewer tool. It will help you visualize the end result. Plus it will list compatible paint colors by name and product number for easy reference. Tip: Basic whites, light blues, light beiges, and yellows work best for resale curb appeal.

Step 2: Prepare the Exterior Surfaces

A clean and debris-free exterior is best for holding paint. Before you apply paint, spend a day preparing your home’s exterior. The first step is sanding or scraping old and peeling paint. Then, check for gaps between the siding and windows. Caulk where needed, or replace lengths of siding or shingles. Finally, use a power sprayer to thoroughly wash your home’s exterior. Don’t forget to allow a couple of days to dry completely before applying paint.

Step 3: Planning & Prep

Watch your weather forecast. Then choose a stretch of warm, dry days to start painting. Plan on having a couple of days (a weekend) to work.

Make sure you buy more than enough paint to cover your home’s exterior. It’s helpful to get a little bit more than you think you will need for touch-ups.

Before you paint, place plastic tarps or drop cloths over walkways, shrubs, and grasses. This helps protect against spilled paint. Also, move or cover up any outdoor furniture, hoses, or grills, that are close to the house.

Step 4: Use Paint that includes Primer

Look for a paint that has combined primer and paint into one product. This will cut down on the number of coats you will have to apply.

Step 5: Start at the Top and Paint Down

Start at the top and paint down to control streaks and drips. This method will allow you to feather out mishaps in the direction you are working.