Masonic Contractor Offers Home Improvement Tips

In 1963, the late Brother George Grove Sr. began what was later to become George J. Grove & Son, Inc., a family-owned home improvement company specializing in exteriors. He launched his start-up from his home with some tools and a pickup truck.

Brother George J. Grove Jr. entered the business at a very early age, assisting his father and grandfather, Cleon Grove Sr., with installations. As it grew, the business moved to a shop on Cabbage Hill. In 1973, the business incorporated and moved to its current location on Manheim Pike in Lancaster. In keeping with family tradition, Brother George J. Grove III also entered the business at an early age. Fast forward 61 years later, and George J. Grove & Son is still going strong, with 19 trucks, 21 employees and a combined 300 years of experience, George Jr. said.

“It’s nice working with family,” he said. “It’s better than a partnership. Partnerships can fail. Families always seem to come back to each other. We have our issues, but we work through them like anyone else and grow together.”

George Jr. and George III are members of Millersville Lodge No. 476. Ronald Carson, District Deputy Grand Master for District 1 (which includes Millersville), is the company’s sales manager. George Jr.’s wife, Karen, does the accounting for the business.
His son’s wife, Liberty, is the office manager.

Products they sell/install include replacement windows and doors, roofing, premium vinyl siding, spouting, gutter protection systems and patio enclosures. They also carry skylights, railings, decks, retractable fabric and metal awnings and shutters.

George Jr. attributes the company’s longevity to doing jobs correctly and satisfying the customer. “We have a lot of longtime customers – we did their grandparents’ roofs and so on,” he said. “People will say we did a good job. They feel we’re dependable and that family businesses are a little more friendly.”

George Jr. has several tips for consumers looking to work with a contractor:

• Recommendations from friends and family are invaluable. Check online
  reviews for additional insights.
• Ensure the contractor can provide the products and options you’re interested in.
• Evaluate their experience. How long have they been operating in the industry? Check if they have a physical office or showroom you can visit.
• The lowest price isn’t always the best deal. Assess the quality of both the products and the installation services. Don’t be fooled by large discounts, for example: Buy one window, get one 40% off. How can you take 40% off a product that is supposed to be priced fairly?
• Make sure the sales representative can thoroughly address all your questions. Avoid high pressure salespersons who persuade you to make a decision immediately.
• If a contractor promises an unusually short completion time, question the feasibility and reasoning behind it.

George Jr. said the average person can usually tell by simple observation when it’s time to
replace major elements in their home or lodge, i.e. windows, doors and roofs, etc.

“Leaks are the first thing to be aware of,” he said. “The only things that really leak are the roof, pipes or chimney. Preventative maintenance is really important, and we strongly recommend it. It allows us to say, ‘you have a couple of years left’ versus ‘you better do something about it now.’”

Have your ever wondered whether you should hire a contractor to complete a home renovation, or whether you could do the work yourself? In many cases, there’s a good chance you’ll need to hire a professional contractor to complete the project properly, George Jr. said.

DIY home repair is suitable for simple tasks that don’t require permits or specialized tools. Just because you’re capable of doing the work yourself doesn’t mean that you always should. This is especially true for jobs involving roofing and electrical work, George Jr. said. Doing it yourself could end up costing you more money in the long run and could be potentially dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.

“The majority of our work ends up being on ladders because the roof is high up,” he said. “People are also not as handy as they used to be. When I was a kid, many people had a box of tools and did their own repairs. But the world has changed. Peoplelove to have service. It’s more affordable and safer than doing it on their own.”

On average, a roof will last between 25 to 50 years, although this depends on a variety of factors, including the roof material, quality of the installation and the climate. If your roof is 15 years or older, it’s a good idea to get it inspected annually to prevent problems, including missing or cracked shingles and water damage from leaks.

Signs that it’s time to replace your windows include visible damage, such as cracks or water stains along the border, drafts, leaks or condensation, difficulty opening or closing windows or rising energy bills.

The average lifespan of residential windows is 15 to 30 years, but once your windows start approaching two decades old, it’s time to think about replacing them.

“Some people don’t even open their windows anymore because of air conditioning and heating in their homes, but it’s good to keep track of it,” George Jr. said.