The holidays are a busy time for a lot of us and at Ace of Gray we want everyone to be able to enjoy the holidays with their friends and family without worrying about unfinished home improvement projects causing clutter throughout your home during a time when family and friends should be the main focus. This is why we’ve taken the time to put together a list of last minute housework projects you should think about tackling before the holidays. Check it out!

Rack your leaves

This may not sound like a traditionally “fun” activity, but there are plenty of ways to make it more exciting and less like a chore. Like, turning it into a competition between siblings and parents, where the winner receives candy or gets to jump in the pile without having to re-rake.

Clean the gutters

You may hate cleaning the gutter but we bet if you have children that they’ll find it exciting. It’s a great chance for them to see the house and landscape from a whole new perspective, and learn all about ladder safety—which leads to more opportunities to climb it.

Install solar lamps

These are a great way to add some extra lighting to your outdoor spaces while spending some quality time with the family. Solar lights come in a variety of styles, and you can find everything from hanging types to in-ground stakes.

For more information about our products and services at Ace of Gray, visit our website or give us a call at 478-986-9200. Are you already an Ace of Gray customer? Rate and share your experience with our staff in the review section of our Facebook page today. We always enjoy hearing from you!

It’s that time of year again and putting lights on a Christmas tree takes patience and a few simple steps. At Ace Hardware of Gray, Georgia, we take pride in knowing everything about home improvement, so we’ve taken the time to put together an easy guide to help make your decorating process smooth.

First things first, when you’re hanging Christmas tree lights on a fresh tree, you should plan on using three 100-light sets for every foot of your tree’s height. Next, mentally divide the tree into three triangular sections, from top to bottom, around the tree’s cone. This works easier than just wrapping the lights around the tree in a maypole style.

After plugging in the first string of lights, nestle the last bulb on the string at the top of the tree next to the trunk and weave the tree lights back and forth across the triangle. Be careful not to cross the cord over itself. Finally, when you reach the end of the first string, plug in the next set and continue weaving the lights back and forth until you reach the bottom, and repeat the procedure for the remaining triangles.

One thing to remember when you’re taking the lights down is to just work in reverse.

For more information about our products and services at Ace of Gray, visit our website or give us a call at 478-986-9200. Are you a current Ace of Gray customer? Rate and share your experience with us in the review section of our Facebook page today. We always enjoy hearing from you!

The temperatures are dropping and the holidays are rolling in. This means that it’s time to snuggle up by the fire and enjoy the company of your loved ones. After getting your lumber wood from Ace of Gray and making your way home, make sure you’ve taken a look at these safety tips to make sure you and your friends and family are in for a warm and most importantly, safe night by the fire.

Be sure the damper or flue is open before starting a fire. Keeping the damper or flue open until the fire is out will draw smoke out of the house. The damper can be checked by looking up into the chimney with a flashlight or mirror. Don’t close the damper until the embers have completely stopped burning.

Use dry and well-aged wood because wet or green wood causes more smoke and contributes to soot buildup in the chimney. Dried wood also burns with less smoke and burns more evenly making for a better fire.

Levels of ash at the base of the fireplace should be kept to 1 inch or less because a thicker layer restricts the air supply to logs, resulting in more smoke. This is why you want to be sure to clean the ashes after each use of the fireplace.

These are just a few things to think about before lighting the fire for the first time each year.

For more information about our products and services at Ace of Gray, visit our website or give us a call at 478-986-9200. Do you shop at Ace of Gray? Rate and share your experience with our team in the review section of our Facebook page today. We always enjoy hearing from you!

Many things can alter how much water your tree needs to stay healthy. Factors such as; tree age, root damage, time of year, weather conditions, soil conditions and the type of tree all play a part in how much water your tree really needs. So, if you’re not sure how much your tree actually needs, don’t worry, Ace of Gray is here for you.

So what do you need to do to make sure your tree stays alive?

1. Water deeply than frequently. Believe it or not, most tree’s roots are located under the first two feet of soil. Watering this area is called “deep irrigation,” and yeah, you guessed it, this area also needs the most water. Each deep irrigation should last a tree between 10 days and 4 weeks. That’s a big gap, right? This period depends on the species of the tree and weather conditions.
2. Stop when the runoff starts. Depending on the soil, it can take longer for some soils to receive the water. Soils like this are usually high in clay and can accept water as slowly as ¼ inch per hour. This means, take a break from watering if the water starts to create a puddle, or you notice the water is creating a running off instead of soaking into the soil. This will make sure your tree is getting all the water it needs.
3. Don’t over saturate the soil. Don’t over water your tree. Long periods of saturating the soil can cause the tree roots to suffocate. If the soil is soggy, you’ve watered too much.

By following these simple steps, your trees are sure to always be properly hydrated. For more information about our products and services at Ace of Gray, visit our website or give us a call at 478-986-9200. Do you enjoy shopping at Ace of Gray? Rate and share your experiences with us in the review section of our Facebook page today. We always enjoy hearing from you!

The leaves are beginning to fall off of the trees and the cooler winter temperatures are rolling in. That means it’s time to prepare your plants and garden for the winter. At Ace of Gray, we pride ourselves on being more than a hardware store with a Garden Center, but providing valuable education to gardeners so that your plants are healthy and you’re making the most of your gardening experience. This is why we’ve taken the time to put together a guide to help you find what you should be planting this month. Check it out!

According to the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension (UGA Extension), November and December are great months to get ready for the new year. Spreading manure, rotted sawdust and leaves over your garden and plowing them under – don’t forget to save those plants for a compost heap!

Now, it’s time to take inventory. Everyone loves to save money, right? If you like to get the most for your money, taking inventory at the end of the year can save you a lot of money next gardening season. Maybe you had too much of some vegetables and not enough of others – or maybe there were some unnecessary “skips” in the supply. Now is a great time to make a note about favorite varieties and start planning next year’s garden now.

Last, but not least, look around at your gardening tools and see what needs to be replaced, then hint for those as a Christmas gift.

For more information about our products and services at Ace of Gray, visit our website or give us a call at 478-986-9200. Do you shop at Ace of Gray? Rate and share your experience with our team in the review section of our Facebook page today. We always love to hear from you!

Winter will soon be here but is your home ready to take on the bitter cold? Take a look at 3 things you can do to make sure your home is ready for the winter, then stop by Ace of Gray to stock up on your home winter essentials.

Prepare Your Plumbing

Drain the water from your outdoor faucets and garden hoses and arrange to have any in-ground sprinkler pipes blown out. Roll up your hose and store it in the storage – you won’t be needed it during the winter. Be sure to do this because when temperatures drop below freezing, if you leave the water in your hose they could freeze and burst. If the worst happens, ensure everyone in the family knows how to turn off the water at the source. This will minimize leaking when and if a pipe bursts.

Heat Things Up

It’s almost time to snuggle up next to the fire. Ensure your fireplace is ready to provide warm nights all winter. Be sure to have the chimney inspected and cleaned by a professional before the first snow. Also, be sure to have a routine inspection completed on your heating system before turning it on.

Seal The Deal  

In order to keep cold drafts down this winter, you must SEAL the deal by sealing any leaks in window seals, entry ways and doors – don’t forget windows in the basement. Add or replace worn weather stripping around the doors and windows and caulk any gaps. If doorstops are worn, replace them.

For more information about our products and services at Ace of Gray, visit our website or give us a call at 478-986-9200. Are you a current Ace of Gray customer? Rate and share your experience with us in the review section of our Facebook page today. We always enjoy hearing from you!