Roofing and Siding Archives | GNH Lumber Co. 1

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.

Benefits of Metal Roofing

Posted on July 20, 2022July 28, 2022

Metal Roofing is a Homeowner’s Dream

When most people think of metal roofing, they usually picture large commercial buildings. But metal roofing has been surging in popularity with residential homeowners lately. It’s a viable alternative to traditional asphalt roofing, but what are the benefits of metal roofing? Well, whether you’re building a new home from scratch or updating your existing roof, there are a few distinct advantages that you can enjoy!

Better Cost-Effectiveness

One of the key benefits of metal roofing is that a metal roof will last about 40 to 70 years, whereas traditional asphalt roofs last about 12 to 20 years. Live in your house long enough and you could end up replacing an asphalt roof anywhere from two to five times in the length of time a metal roof would remain in good condition. As a matter of fact, for many homeowners, the first metal roof they install on their home is the last roof they install!

Better Energy Efficiency

If you’re looking to save some money on your home’s monthly bills, installing a metal roof might be helpful. Homes that have metal roofs can help reduce your annual energy spending due to a couple of factors:

Reflectivity: Reflectivity means how well the roof reflects the sun’s rays, which metal roofs are great at. When your roof reflects the sun, it decreases the amount of heat transferred into the attic. The less heat in the attic, the lower your electricity bill will be!
Emissivity: Emissivity means how quickly your roof cools off after the heat is removed. Your roof is exposed to extreme heat in summer, and no matter what, it will soak the radiant heat and transfer it to the attic, essentially trapping it and making your AC unit fight to get it out. With energy-efficient metal roofs, your roof will be cool to the touch after the sun goes down, allowing your AC unit to take a much-needed breather, and resulting in lower cooling costs.

Better Weather Resistance

In our neck of the woods, heavy snowfall and rain are a common concern. Thankfully, adding metal roofing to your home makes dealing with inclement weather a snap! Metal roofing is hard and slippery by nature which makes it hard for snow and water to make a grip. On top of that, if you install dark tones of metal roofing or metal roofing with a PVDF coating it doubles up the benefits of metal roofing. Dark tones of metal roofing quickly warm to the sun, encouraging snowmelt and the resin polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) coating that’s common on both Union Corrugating or McElroy Metal Roofing helps to reflect back more sunlight, further increasing your roof’s resistance to snow or rain buildup.

Better Curb Appeal

Every homeowner is going to have an opinion about what looks best on their home. But even for those who only prefer the look of shingles on a home, there are specialty metal roofing options available that look just like them! In fact, there’s a ton of metal roofing options available in a wide variety of both styles, colors, and finishes. Shingles, on the other hand, typically only come in a limited number of colors. With a metal roof, you get the benefit of using the most energy efficient materials that save you money for several decades – on top of making your home look even more fabulous.

Add Innovation & Durability with Metal Roofing

Metal roofing has truly come full circle over the years! More and more homeowners are discovering the benefits of metal roofing and are adding it to their homes with great results. Get in touch with the GNH Lumber team today to learn how it can improve your home!

6 Colorful Ways to Complement Neutral Trim & Siding

Posted on June 14, 2022May 23, 2023

There are many benefits to choosing a neutral color palette for siding and trim. For one, neutral colors appeal to the broadest range of potential home-buyers, making your home more marketable when it comes time to sell.

Neutrals also may be the top pick in your particular neighborhood, and therefore necessary to help your home blend into its location. And because siding is something that will potentially grace your home for decades, neutral siding and trim colors are a timeless choice.

Even if your current siding color palette is quite basic, this doesn’t mean your home can’t have personality and curb appeal.

There are many creative ways to accent neutral siding if you’re looking for just a pop of color. Try these ideas to give your home a fresh new look!

1) Create a Welcoming Entrance

The entry door is a great candidate for color! If you want to paint an existing door, use a high-quality acrylic latex paint for maximum durability. Before painting, don’t forget to clean the door, use a sander or sandpaper to remove any imperfections, and apply a latex-based primer.

2) Choose a Bright Garage Door

Take it from DesigningIdea.com: “The color red brings intensity to a home’s character. It creates a strong impression and radiates a welcoming feel. Red garage doors are intense visual components which direct the attention away from the house. This is the ideal color if you want to make your garage door stand out from the rest of the features of your home.

“Aside from the popular ravishing red and fire red, there are less intense options like burgundy and maroon which work well as garage door colors for traditional houses. Red garage doors work well for neutral (white or beige) and earth toned exteriors. For more modern and adventurous applications, a red garage door can also be used for adding a punch of color for pale yellow or blue houses.”

3) Add Bold Shutters

Whether functional or decorative, shutters add color and historic charm to a home. For the look of wood with the least amount of maintenance, look for shutters made of fiberglass, PVC or composite wood.

4) Try Creative Gardening

A neutral home can be the perfect backdrop for a riot of colorful shrubs and flowers. From blooming shrubs to lovely annuals and perennials, there are many plant options to make your home inviting. Ask your local nursery or landscaping company for recommendations.

5) Colorful Pavers & Pathways

You use winding, curvy pathways to contrast with and compliment the hard lines of your home exterior – why not also use them to add a pop of color? Try alternating brick red and light tan to create a host of interesting designs, patterns and effects.

6) Rock Some Unique Porch Chairs or a Swing.

Can’t commit to a bold shutter or entry door color? Take your color to something that can be moved, such as chairs, a swing or planters. You’ll get the same colorful effect that can be easily updated or removed when the mood strikes.

Learn more about using accent colors on your home’s exterior.

Need New Siding?

Is it time for new siding? Are you interested in learning about LP® SmartSide® engineered wood siding products? We invite you to experience the upside of remodeling with the LP SmartSide Visualizer. Pick your home style, or upload an actual photo of your home. Choose your siding and trim colors. See what you can achieve with different LP SmartSide siding options. Then get your home re-side project started today by requesting a project quote or scheduling an appointment at GNH Lumber to discuss your project particulars!

Sources: https://www.upsidetosmartside.com/blog/4-bold-exterior-accents-compliment-neutral-trim-siding/; https://lpcorp.com/products/exterior/siding-trim/blog/siding-products-benefits/how-to-use-lp-products-to-create-a-custom-look/; https://designingidea.com/garage-door-color-ideas/

How to Clean and Maintain Your Home’s Exterior Siding

Posted on June 14, 2022June 21, 2022

Keeping your home’s exterior siding in good shape is not only a great way to improve your home’s appearance, it also helps you avoid repairs and costly services down the road. With a bit of preventative maintenance, you’ll be able to extend the life of your home’s exterior siding for 50+ years!

In this blog, we’ll discuss how to clean and maintain your home’s exterior siding so you won’t have to worry about costs adding up for a few decades.

How Do You Maintain Your Home’s Exterior Siding?

No matter the materials, it’s important to clean your home’s siding every six months or more to keep it in optimal condition for many years to come. You should also inspect your home’s exterior for any damages at least every six months, or after violent storms and high winds. Here’s a quick guide on how to maintain the siding of your home based on the material:

Vinyl Siding Maintenance

Vinyl siding is low maintenance and is designed to be left alone, which is great! However, this doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have to be maintained. The good news is that you can easily clean vinyl siding yourself.

Vinyl siding requires a good power washing about twice a year. Check a few times a year to make sure no boards have come loose or are cracked. If they are, they will need to be fixed as soon as possible. High winds can cause damage and cracks to vinyl easily, so if you had a windy season, be sure to do a walk-around your home after the storm. Remember to give it a good pressure-washing twice a year to reduce damage and renew bright colors.

Tip: Making repairs early will save you money on more costly repairs further on down the road!

Wood Siding Maintenance

Wood siding will need to be treated every 4 to 6 years. In New York, sun and snow are particularly abundant so you may have to treat it more often than that. Because wood is porous and vulnerable to the elements, it also requires paint, stain or sealant to prevent it from moisture, rot and decay.

Like vinyl siding, you need to check the wood siding for cracks and breaks. Most repairs are easy to fix, so do it as soon as you notice the damage. If the color of your wood siding has been lost due to fading and old age, or if it’s spotted with mildew or rest, don’t worry! You can recover your wood’s natural beauty by using a stain remover, wood cleaner or brightener.

Stucco Maintenance

Often times, woodpeckers will attack your stucco siding. They tend to leave holes which will need to be replaced immediately or else they will live in your walls. Since stucco is a very porous material, if a tree leaks its sap on your siding, it can take over and cause huge problems. It can stain rather quickly so go around once or twice a year to remove any stains that are starting to form with a degreaser and bleach.

Cedar Shake Maintenance

If you want your cedar shake siding to live for a long time, you want to make sure it’s treated or stained properly and checked often. Left untreated, cedar shakes can discolor and start to soften, causing it to rot. In order to maintain healthy cedar shakes, you want to make sure to paint or stain the cedar every 5 years. Stain is a more effective protectant for cedar than paint so opt for stain when you can. Hiring a professional to paint or stain your cedar shakes could cost upwards of $2,500 depending on your home’s size.

How Often Should You Clean Your Home’s Siding?

The exterior of your home needs a good cleaning about twice a year. Overtime, cobwebs, dirt and mildew can build up and shorten the life of your siding. A clean house will protect your siding as well as your investment.

How Do You Clean All Types of Siding?

Cleaning the siding of your home can be a bit treacherous, but luckily you only need to do it once or twice a year!

All types of siding benefit from a good cleaning to remove residue. Here’s how to do it correctly:

1. Check for Cracks and Damages in the Siding

Do a quick walk around your home and check for cracks, chipped paint, cracked boards, or other damages before you start the process of cleaning your siding. If you have cracks, water from cleaning could seep into the home, causing serious damage and trouble over time.

2. Invest in a Power Washer

A power washer is key to getting up in the peaks of your house by the roof, blasting away grit and grime, and takes far less time that washing the home’s siding by hand. This is especially true for homes with vinyl and wood siding.

3. Scrub the Siding with TSP

Next time you’re at GNH Lumber, pick up some TSP (trisodium phosphate). The TSP that GNH Lumber carries is phosphate-free. Mix ½ cup with 1 gallon of water and apply to a sponge, washcloth or soft-bristled brush. Start scrubbing those stubborn areas where birds or spiders have left their droppings. These are usually the toughest things to get out of your siding! Work from the bottom to top to avoid streaking and then rinse.

Don’t want to mix your own solution? GNH recommends 30 Seconds Cleaner for Algae, Mold and Mildew. This powerful formula is safe to use around landscaping, plants and your lawn. Simply attached to a garden hose, spray on and hose off. It is proudly made in America and has been around since 1977 so it is a tried an true product. Stop into our Greenville or Windham locations and ask for it by name.

Keeping your home clean and maintained properly can save you tons of money in the long run!

For all your outside cleaning and maintenance needs, visit our Windham or Greenville location

Design Smarter with LP SmartSide Exterior Home Siding!

Posted on July 12, 2021June 16, 2022

Experience High Performance Siding with Less Maintenance!

It’s always important to keep a close eye on your home’s exterior siding! If you’ve noticed any leaks, cracks, chips, or any other visible problems that have developed over the years – it may be time to replace or restore your siding! But not all siding is created equal, and some siding is more difficult to keep looking beautiful without extensive maintenance on your part. Thankfully, there is a siding option that is not only high-performance, but also requires only basic upkeep! LP SmartSide Siding is the perfect engineered wood siding to improve your home’s curb appeal while requiring little maintenance!

Let It Shine with Basic Cleaning Techniques

Taking care of your home, siding included, should be a year-long effort. Even taking the time to do an annual visual home inspection can pay dividends for you in the long-term. We recommend taking a yearly inventory of your home’s exterior and siding to check for any stains, mildew, or mold that may have cropped up over the last year. You can keep your home’s exterior and LP SmartSide Siding looking beautiful by performing some basic periodic care and maintenance. Follow these tips to keep your home free from mildew, dust, dew, and other environmental damages:

Dust and dirt can build up on your home’s exterior siding, no matter where you live. If you want to keep your home looking its best, we advise using a soft cloth, sponge, or light brush along with a mixture of mild soap and water to wash and clean the surface of your siding. You can then lightly rinse off with water from a garden hose – be sure not to pressure wash, as this can damage your siding and increase your risk of damaging or discoloring the paint on your home.
For mold, we recommend using a lighter solution of three-parts water to one-part white vinegar to safely remove any intrusive mold or mildew stains. This can help remove pesky discolorations without risking any damage to your paint or wood stains!

Simple Monthly Maintenance

In addition to basic maintenance to keep your home siding free from stains and mildew, you should also take note of any chips, wears, or tears within your siding. Thankfully, small imperfections like these are easily fixed – especially with LP SmartSide Siding! For any small chips or cracks in the paint finish your home’s exterior siding, you can simply touch them up with matching paint. We recommend that you don’t paint over existing paint or try to blend the paint out into existing paint – and that you allow at least 24 hours for the paint you use to dry. When checking your siding, it’s also key to check on your gutters and sprinklers. Make sure your gutters are draining properly and your sprinklers aren’t exposing your siding to water spray – issues with either of these can lead to irreparable damage to your exterior siding.

If you notice any damage to your siding’s caulking, it’s best to contact a professional contractor to help repair it. They’ll know how to replace caulking around LP SmartSide siding that has cracked, hardened or lost its seal.

Responsibly Made, Environmentally Committed

Choosing LP SmartSide Siding not only improves the curb appeal of your home, it’s also great for the environment! All LP SmartSide Siding products are made with renewable wood, grown and gathered under strict Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) standards. These standards include responsible forestry practices that protect water quality, biodiversity and wildlife habitats. All wood used by companies participating in the SFI program must come from legal and responsible sources, whether the forests are SFI-certified or not. These standards ensure forest products remain a sustainable resource now and for generations to come.

By adhering to these standards, all LP SmartSide Siding products benefit your health by using:

Low-emitting binding agents and resin – Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemicals found in many products we use to build and maintain our homes, including siding. The binding agents and resins in LP SmartSide products release low levels of VOCs, which may decrease some people’s risk of health problems.
No added formaldehyde – Formaldehyde is a common chemical used to make building materials. It irritates the airways and is known to cause cancer. No urea-formaldehyde is added during the manufacture of LP SmartSide products.

Your home’s siding should do more than improve its looks – it should also protect it against the elements and keep your energy costs down! If you’re looking to replace or restore your home’s siding, be sure to reach out to the talented team at GNH Lumber. We can help you find the best siding for your home and ensure it’s installed successfully!

How to Harmonize Your Home Exterior’s Color Palette

Posted on June 28, 2019June 16, 2022

Outdoor entertaining season is in full swing! Delight your guests with siding that creates eye-pleasing symmetry and utilizes harmonious color combinations. According to LP Siding, there’s no reason your siding can’t be the true focal point of your home’s exterior, with landscaping and other outdoor elements supporting its aesthetic.

The best part? Creating a colorful and dramatic home exterior and backyard doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor! It’s easy to re-side your home on a budget. Just ask the experts at GNH Lumber for more information.

Here are some tips and tricks from LP Siding to ensure your home’s exterior and outdoor elements complement each other perfectly this summer:

Tip #1: Go for Greens, Browns or Beiges

The greens, browns and beiges of nature are colors that are easy to integrate with outdoor focal points like a garden, shed or fencing.

Tip #2: Muted Tones are More Versatile

Grays and muted colors are more versatile than pure pastels and bright hues. You don’t have to exactly match plant and paint color with these subtle shades. Fence and shed colors should also be muted.

Tip #3: Keep Undertones Together

Keep color undertones together. A “cool” house color like blue, green or purple works well with cool plant colors and complementary fence and shed colors. Conversely, “warm” house colors like light yellow, pink or apricot harmonize with “warm” outdoor elements.

Tip #4: Use Caution with Complimentary Colors

In some cases, you can match colors that are on opposite ends of the color wheel (like red and green), but they need to be muted shades accented with gray. Otherwise, your home may stand out for all the wrong reasons (and end up looking too much like Christmas).

Source: https://lpcorp.com/blog/4-tips-to-harmonize-your-home-s-exterior-and-outdoor-color-scheme

Painting for Resale: Neutral Palettes

Posted on January 5, 2018June 17, 2022

When it comes to selling your home, first impressions are everything. Eager buyers may ask questions about house maintenance or the quality of your neighborhood and schools, but these things will pale in comparison to the feeling a buyer gets the first time they step into your home.

So, if you want to sell your house quickly, it’s critical that the decor is up-to-date and attractive. This includes the freshly-painted colors on your walls! Painting your home is quick and inexpensive way to make a dramatic improvement.

Get your painting project started!

Here are a few tips for painting your home for resale:

1. CHOOSE A PERFECT PALETTE

Think of your home’s color palette as a backdrop. This backdrop sets the stage for the home’s furnishings and decorations and gives rooms their unique feel.

Paint is a simple way to apply or change the whole feeling of a home. The wrong color inside or out can turn a buyer off from the entire house. To help appeal to the most buyers, seasoned real estate professionals recommend painting your home in neutral colors.

You’ll want to look at Earth tones, including shades of brown, green, blue, pale orange, and tans that are often depicted in nature.

Humans are naturally attracted to the great outdoors so warm and inviting colors for living rooms and dining rooms are often perfect for when selling your home. Because these colors are often flat and muted, they’re soothing and relaxing to the eye and will go well with most people’s furniture. Earth tones also complement rooms with a lot of wood, stone, metal or glass.

2. WHAT IF YOU ARE STILL LIVING THERE?

If you’re still living in the home you’re selling, changing things up can be tricky. Just know it does not mean you’ll be stuck inside a bland, beige nightmare until your home sells!

Neutral colors are not limited to shades of white and beige. With a little pre-planning you can use shades of browns, greens and even bolder colors to highlight your home but still set the stage for a sale.

3. EXTERIOR MATTERS

Don’t forget about the exterior of your home when it comes to preparing for resale. Painting the exterior can also help attract potential buyers. Look around your block and see what’s trending in your community. This is not a time to go bold.

You’ll also want to know the type and style of your home before selecting a color. This is because beige might not work on all styles of homes. When picking an exterior color consider the type of house. Muted colors might not work on a Victorian home, where bolder hues would make the interesting architectural details pop. A farmhouse, would look odd in bright red because more traditionally, they are light colors like white or light gray.

4. HOW DO COLORS STACK UP?

Zillow did research on what colors work best for what homes. It’s impressive to see that just a simple change of color can increase your home’s value by thousands of dollars.

Here are Zillow’s findings on what colors to choose (and which to avoid at all cost):

Kitchens:

Blue (light blue to soft gray-blue): home sold for $1,809 more on average.
Yellow (straw yellow to marigold): home sold for $820 less on average.

Bathrooms:

Blue/purple (light powder blue to periwinkle): home sold for $5,440 more on average.
White/no color (off-white or eggshell white): home sold for $4,035 less on average.

Bedrooms:

Blue (light cerulean to cadet blue): home sold for $1,856 more on average.
Pink (light pink, to antique rose; often found in kids’ rooms): home sold for $208 less on average.

Dining Room:

Blue (slate blue to pale gray blue; navy blue also found in dining rooms with white shiplap): home sold for $1,926 more on average.
Red (brick red, terracotta, or copper red): home sold for $2,031 less on average.

Living Room:

Brown (light beige, pale taupe, oatmeal): home sold for $1,809 more on average.
Blue (pastel gray, pale silver to light blue, periwinkle): home sold for $820 less on average.

Home Exterior:

Gray/brown (greige — mix of gray and beige): home sold for $1,526 more on average.
Brown (medium brown, taupe, or stucco): home sold for $1,970 less on average.

Front Door:

Gray/blue (navy blue to dark gray or charcoal): home sold for $1,514 more on average.

Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be able to increase your home’s value with just a simple coat of paint! And stop by GNH Lumber for paint suggestions, guidance and help at every step along the way.

DIY: How to Clean, Repair, and Protect Gutters

Posted on November 3, 2017June 17, 2022

Making sure that your home’s gutters are clear of debris after the autumn leaves have fallen is an easy way to prevent potentially significant water and ice damage later. Since your homes gutters work to control the flow of water, and help to prevent damage to the exterior of your home, it’s vital that you keep them in proper working order.

Here are six steps to getting those gutters in tip top shape:

Step 1: Clean Out the Gutters

Begin by removing the debris and leaves that collect in your gutters. Most find that handheld blowers or even wet/dry vacuums are effective tools for removing debris. If the debris is dry, you’ll find it easier to remove. Blow out as much loose debris as possible and collect it into yard bags.

If you find that the plant matter is really packed in, use a gutter scoop to remove the compacted debris. Simply attach a bucket to your ladder and then scoop out the debris and place it in the bucket. Begin at the downspouts and work your way over. Do not push debris over, rather scoop it out.

You will also need to check out the downspout. Clogs often occur here. Generally, a garden hose on full blast will manage to dislodge the clog quickly.

Step 2: Fully Inspect Gutters

Always take the time to inspect your gutters. This will let you know if they’re in need of repair, and help you assess the scope of work ahead of you. If your gutters show any signs of corrosion, make sure you look for holes or leaking joints and check for loose, missing or even bent gutter hangers. A great tip is to use masking tape to mark where a problem area so you can go back to it quickly when you get the supplies needed to make repairs.

Step 3: Repair Small Holes and Cracks

You’ll want to repair small holes or cracks in your gutters and downspouts with a gutter patching kit from your local GNH Lumber store.

It’s always easier to fix small issues early on as opposed to making costly repairs later (such as replacing your gutters altogether). Gutter patching kits are easy to use, and can help prolong the life your gutters and prevent damage to your home.

Step 4: Replace Sections with Large Leaks and Tears

Sometimes parts of your home’s roof gutter may be damaged to the point of no return. This can happen if they are not properly installed, or if they have been damage over time because of weather and wear. These sections are best replaced to keep the gutter functioning properly.

Step 5: Adjust Pitch of Gutters

More than likely when your gutters were installed, they had a pitch of about 1/16.” You’ll want to measure the pitch and make adjustments if necessary. This is very important because improper pitch can equal poor or no drainage.

Any high or low spots can often be corrected by slightly bending the hangers that support the gutter itself. You may need to add additional gutter hangers to raise or lower the slope of the gutter at any given point also.

Step 6: Install Gutter Screens or Guards

Once your gutters have been cleaned and fully repaired, you’ll want to keep them that way! One way to prevent gutters from filling with leaves and other debris is to install metal gutter screen or an aluminum gutter guard. Gutter guards simply extend across the entire width of the gutter blocking debris but still allowing water to enter. It helps to prevent clogs and makes cleaning out your gutters much easier.

By following this step-by-step guide for cleaning, repairing and protecting your home’s roof gutters, you can rest assured that they will work without clogging during the worst of rainstorms, protecting your home from the elements, and prolonging the life of your siding and foundation.

Questions or concerns about your home exterior maintenance projects? Stop in to your local GNH Lumber! We’re always glad to offer guidance, tips or suggestions, or point you in the right direction for just the product needed to get the DIY project done.

How to Pick House Paint Colors for Curb Appeal

Posted on October 21, 2016June 17, 2022

Whether your home is brand new or in need of an update, the best way to make it stand out on the curb is with a beautiful coat of exterior paint. While this might sound like an opportunity to go crazy expressing yourself with bright and busy colors, there are many things to consider before choosing a color scheme for your house:

Do you intend to resell your home in a few years?
How will the color scheme work with your gardens and landscaping?
Does your house have wood or vinyl siding?
Are there pre-existing colored materials, like brick, stone or stucco, to complement with your palette?
What is your region or climate? What are your neighborhood trends?

Get your painting project started!

If you’re planning to sell your home in the future, sticking to a more neutral color scheme is a good resale strategy. Keep in mind that tried and true combinations are always a great choice.

Five of the most popular house colors are:

White/Off-white
Tan
Gray
Yellow
Blue

These are time-tested hues that work well against green lawns and gardens, and complement reddish brick fireplaces and roofs. You can add more impact by using darker or lighter variations of the main house color to accent things like window frames, shutters and trim.

If your plan is to keep your home for generations to come, or you want to make it stand out from the rest in the neighborhood, there are ways to successfully add vibrant colors without losing curb appeal.

Consider using that daring red paint on your front door in order to easily direct visitors to your doorsill.
Or add bright yellow shutters against a pale blue house to create nice visual contrast.
Sometimes highlighting an architectural element like an archway or chimney with a bold color can have a whimsical result.

If you’re working with natural wood stains, you can choose to highlight the natural warmth by adding cool-hued accents. Very large homes appear less sprawling with a bright white coat of paint accented with primary colors. Smaller homes are more forgiving with a vibrant color palette, especially when the roof and trim are neutral toned. Using pastel versions of a bright color is a great way to add uniqueness and charm without creating disharmony with the environment.

Whatever color scheme you choose, make sure to follow general rules for color harmonies, so your hues won’t compete or clash.

Not sure what your final color scheme will look like? Looking for a way to test out some wild ideas? Check out this great tool from Benjamin Moore! Paint your home online and see how colors will look before making a purchase with the Personal Color Viewer virtual paint color visualization tool.

How does it work? Simply choose a home exterior that is similar to yours (or upload a photo) and have fun experimenting with all kinds of color schemes for body, trim, shutters and door. The best part is, when you’re done, you’ll have a list of Benjamin Moore paint colors to bring in to GNH Lumber for your new home exterior color scheme.

So, explore your color options and get creative with the possibilities! Your home’s exterior color scheme will greet you every time you turn into your driveway. So, make choices that will enhance your home’s appearance for years to come… And don’t forget to have fun!