The Home Improvement Minute: one minute, one smarter decision
The Home Improvement Minute is the home improvement blog from Thrush & Son®: quick, honest reads on roofing, siding, windows and doors, written for Miami Valley homeowners.
It started in 2012 with a simple idea. Most homeowners don’t need a textbook, they need a straight answer before they spend money. Each post takes one question, like which shingle to choose or why a window fogs up, and answers it in about the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee.
Why a minute? Because the most expensive home improvement mistakes usually come from not knowing one small thing at the right time: a ventilation detail, a warranty registration, a flashing step that gets skipped. A short, focused answer is easier to remember when it counts, standing in your driveway with an estimate in hand.
The Home Improvement Minute is written by the Thrush family and the crews who do the work every day, so the home improvement tips come from people who have done the job. Browse the newest posts below, dig through the archive, or catch the video versions on our YouTube channel.
- Since 2012More than a decade of straight answers.
- Every exterior topicRoofs, siding, windows, doors and storms.
- From the crewWritten by the people who do the work.
Read The Home Improvement Minute in two places
Same family, same straight answers. Each site does a slightly different job.
Right here: roofing and siding advice for your project
This library ties every answer back to real projects in the Miami Valley: the products we install, the warranties behind them and what to expect when our crew shows up.
- Roofing, siding, windows, doors and gutters
- Local storm and weather guidance
- Links to estimates, warranties and the design center
The companion site: the full series and beyond
For broader home improvement tips, visit The Home Improvement Minute companion site. It carries the complete series plus extra how-to guides, product deep dives and video episodes for homeowners anywhere.
- Every episode in one place
- DIY maintenance how-tos
- Ideas and inspiration for your next project
New to The Home Improvement Minute? Pick a topic
Six places to start, depending on what’s on your mind.
- 01RoofingShingles, underlayment and the terms you’ll hear at your estimate.Start reading
- 02Storms and windWhat wind and hail do to a roof, and what to do next.Start reading
- 03WarrantiesWhy claims get denied, and how to keep yours valid.Start reading
- 04Roofing materialsAn honest look at the pros and cons before you choose.Start reading
- 05Seasonal tipsWhat your home needs as the Ohio seasons change.Start reading
- 06Planning a projectHow to get your home ready before the crew arrives.Start reading
How a Minute gets made
Every post on this home improvement blog follows the same four steps.
- 1
A homeowner asks
Most posts start as a question at a kitchen table or in a driveway during an estimate.
- 2
The crew answers
The people who install roofs, siding and windows every day explain what actually matters.
- 3
We write it short
One topic, one straight answer, readable in about a minute, with photos from real jobs.
- 4
We keep it current
Older posts get revisited when products, codes or warranties change.
The newest from The Home Improvement Minute
Updated automatically every time a new post goes live.
Siding Warranty: What CertainTeed Covers and What Voids It
FAQs About CertainTeed Siding
Weather Stopper® Golden Pledge Warranty
GAF® Lifetime Roofing System
Advanced Protection® Shingle Technology: Lighter, Tougher GAF Roofs
StainGuard™ Plus: 25 Years of Protection From Black Roof Streaks
GAF® LayerLock™ Technology: The Bond Behind Every Timberline Nail
Fiberglass vs Spray Foam: 5 Surprising Pros and 3 Mistakes
About the series, answered in a minute
What readers ask us most about the series.
What is The Home Improvement Minute?
The Home Improvement Minute is the home improvement blog from Thrush & Son®, a family roofing and exterior company in Brookville, Ohio. Each post answers one question about roofing, siding, windows, doors or gutters in about a minute.
Who writes the posts?
The Thrush family and the crews who do the work every day. That means the roofing and siding advice comes from people who have installed it, not from a marketing desk.
Is it only for Thrush & Son customers?
No. The home improvement tips are written for any homeowner, anywhere, who wants a straight answer before spending money. Examples and weather notes lean toward the Miami Valley because that is where we work.
Can I suggest a topic?
Yes, and please do. Many of our best posts started as a question from a homeowner. Send it through the contact page or ask your project lead, and if it helps other homeowners too, it will likely become a future post with a straight, plain-English answer.
Where else can I find the series?
Right here on thrushandson.com, on our YouTube channel, and on the companion site, thehomeimprovementminute.com, which carries the full series and extra how-to guides.
Every post since 2012, newest first
Scroll the full library, or jump pages at the bottom.
Ice Dam Prevention Guide: 7 Powerful Ways to Stop Winter Roof Disasters
An ice dam is a buildup of ice at the edge of a roof that prevents melted water from draining off the roof. When that melted water backs up behind the dam, it can work its way under the roof shingles, infiltrating your home and damaging ceilings, walls, and insulation.
Argon Gas Explained: What’s Really Between Your Window Panes
You know you need replacement windows and you are looking forward to the changes in you heating bill. But it can get confusing with all the different options available for increasing the energy efficiency of replacement windows.
Insulated Glass Unit Facts – 4 Powerful Benefits
With over 500,000,000 IG units under warranty Cardinal Glass has proven not only to be a leader within the window industry but they also know a thing or two about building long lasting IG units.
Gutter Protection Systems: 5 Proven Benefits Homeowners Love
Gutters might be one of the things you think about the least in your home, but it’s one of the most important aspects of a complete exterior system. Finding the right type of gutter system, to fit your homes’ needs as well as maintaining it might not be at the forefront of your project list but it is a necessity. Without the proper system installed, your foundation, your roof and your basement can sustain damages.
4 Bold Benefits of TimberTech Composite Decking
Fall is almost here and we know what that means… relaxation. It also means that it may be time replace your old, worn out deck or possibly have a new one built! TimberTech may be the answer that you are looking for!
4 Smart Reasons Energy Star Replacement Windows Slash Bills
As a homeowner you may have wondered to yourself, “What the heck does this R-Value exactly mean?” Or “What is more important, R-Value or U-Value?” Check out this great blog to help you better understand the science behind these letters!
Vinyl Siding Durability: 5 Proven Reasons It Lasts 40+ Years
Vinyl siding may be easy to install, convenient to maintain, and hold a wide variety of other advantages that make it a smart choice for your project, but will it last? The answer is YES!
Roof Algae Prevention: Why Those Black Streaks Matter More Than You Think
If your home has dark stains on the roof, it may at first glance appear to be a sign of age. However, those spots could actually indicate the presence of blue-green algae growing on your roof, making your roof look older than it is. You may ask "How can I protect my roof against blue green roof algae discoloration?" Roofing materials that contain copper can help.
Vinyl Siding Installation Problems: The $6,000 Mistake
I’m sure we have all seen rows of new construction homes where it looks like the siding is waving at you as you drive by them and you think to yourself “Wow”. Trust me, even being in this industry, I certainly have! This modern day phenomenon is referred to as “oil canning”. Now it’s not necessarily the products fault that causes this unsightly phenomenon to occur. It’s actually a product of many elements that come into play when discussing this issue.
