Thoughts and ideas from one of the best area home inspectors in the Bloomington Normal area.
Replacement Windows
Midwest Glass has a surprising range of products and services
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The baseball that went through the living room window, the golf-ball sized hailstones that smashed the SUV?s windshield, the glare in the offices on the west side of the manufacturing plant ?
Those are all things that Midwest Glass has been able to install, replace and repair in Brookings ? and beyond ? since its founding in 1974.
But some people in the community still don?t know what Midwest Glass has to offer.
?We had a Chamber mixer here a while back,? owner Jim Skyberg said, ?and a local insurance agent had thought we only did auto glass. He came in surprised and said, ?I didn?t know you did all this!?
?Auto glass is a very small part of our business volume. We have commercial projects and do so many different things ? anywhere from putting a piece of glass into a picture frame to big glazing jobs to automatic entrance doors.
Some people don?t realize how diversified we really are, and we joke about that sometimes.?
In fact, automotive windshield and window replacement is only one facet of a growing, changing business. Commercial glass ? store windows and glass for apartment and office buildings ? is the largest part of Midwest Glass operations these days. The company?s commercial division can build a complete storefront, an entrance or a curtain wall, install skylights and sun-control devices, or consult with a property owner on the value of thermal-barrier windows.
On the residential side, Midwest Glass carries Larson doors as well as other top-of-the line brands, skylights, mirrors, sunrooms, custom and replacement windows (Replacement windows should be distinguished from new-construction windows. New-construction windows have a “nailing fin” along the outer frame. This fin provides a surface so that the window can be nailed in from the outside of the ho and shower enclosures.
And they?ll sell you a single pane of glass if you want to fix a broken window yourself.
Having served eastern South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota for more than three decades, the Brookings company is set to celebrate its 36th anniversary Thursday with an open house at its South Main headquarters.
There will be windows and mirrors and doors galore to see, all professionally staged in Midwest?s spacious showroom, but one item that will get a lot of attention at the open house will be the Midwest Glass private-label Glass Cleaner No. 1973 (open house limit, two per customer).
The streak-free cleaner has been Midwest?s ?little secret,? popular among customers since the company took root in Brookings.
?We used to buy it just to use generally in our shop,? said Skyberg. ?The stuff is very good ? It works great, especially if you use a terrycloth towel instead of a paper towel. But you can also use one of those cheap dollar-store-brand paper towels that are lotion-free, and it works just as good.?
First footsteps
In early 1974, Skyberg, who was then working for Schubloom Glass out of De Smet, saw the need for a glass company in Brookings. Traveling back and forth to work on the Staurolite Inn, Skyberg had a late-night conversation with his boss, Wendell Schubloom, and that set the wheels in motion for Brookings? first glass-and-mirror company.
?He said to me, ?If you want to run it, we will start a glass company there,?? Skyberg recalls.
The beginnings were modest.
?At that time, I sold my equipment and truck back to him,? Skyberg said. ?I came over by myself initially and hired another guy that summer.?
Renting a 60-by-40-foot space on Third Avenue South, the company got off to a running start with its first contract, the windows for the Brookings Mall.
By the summer of 1977, the business added automotive glass with the purchase of Dakota Windshield Service. By 1978, Skyberg had bought into the company ? he was now half-owner ? and Midwest Glass was growing rapidly, adding more employees.
A few years later, in 1985, Midwest took on another market when it added residential replacement windows (Replacement windows should be distinguished from new-construction windows. New-construction windows have a “nailing fin” along the outer frame. This fin provides a surface so that the window can be nailed in from the outside of the ho and doors to the company?s lineup.
Continuing Growth
Currently employing 20 employees, Midwest Glass has been involved recently with the glazing for the Avera Health and Science Center on the SDSU campus, the Wellness Center, the Children?s Museum of South Dakota, the Dykhouse Student-Athlete Center, the Innovation Campus buildings and Jackrabbit Village.
?Right now, the economy is having an effect on us,? said Skyberg. ?Our backlog of work in front of us is smaller now than it has been recently. But there are big jobs coming up, and we are optimistic. We keep picking up smaller jobs on a steady basis.?
Since 1999, the company has seen considerable growth, and that coincides with an expansion of its service area. While trying to stay within a 60- to 70- mile radius of Brookings, Midwest Glass has picked up several sizable jobs in Pierre, Aberdeen and Sioux Falls, as well as Marshall and Redwood Falls in Minnesota.
?We decided to look out a little bit farther outside of Brookings,? Skyberg said. ?We actually increased our business considerably. We started doing things differently and kind of changed our philosophy on how we needed to do business. We always tried to be competitive on our bidding, but we knew that if we were going to grow, commercial was one area that we could grow.?
Despite its regional work, the company still sees most of its profit from local projects. Of an estimated $3.2 million the company took in last year, more than $2.25 million of that was from work within the city of Brookings.
Giving back
Jim and his wife Joanne moved to Brookings in April of 1974. Joanne has been employed with South Dakota State University since the family arrived and is currently an agency integration specialist, working with student records.
The couple?s oldest son, Brad, works with Midwest Glass in the sales department. Daughter Stacey, married with four kids, lives in Savannah, Ga., and youngest son Matt is in school working toward a degree in landscape architecture.
Midwest Glass? mission statement makes mention of the desire to be a good steward to the community, and the fingerprints of that philosophy can be found across Brookings. With the three kids, the Skybergs have always been active in the community, sponsoring numerous local sports programs. The business has been influential in the new Larson Ice Arena as a major contributor and subcontractor. And along the way, Midwest Glass has also been involved with the Boys and Girls Club as well as the United Way. Another project that the company was involved with was Vision Brookings 2010, where it is a Silver Investor.
?Brookings has been good to us,? said Skyberg. ?If you are going to be a part of the community, you?ve got to participate in more than just taking.
?Anybody who is in business has someone knocking on the door all the time, and we try to support most local charities as much as we can. We?ve got a scholarship up at SDSU, and we donate a fair amount to the SDSU Foundation.
?I hope we have been good stewards in the community; we try to be involved.?
The Midwest Glass Customer Appreciation Day next Thursday, July 29, will feature free hot dogs, pop and ice cream from 11 a.m. ? 1 p.m. Visitors can register for door prizes at the anniversary celebration, which runs from 8 a.m. ? 5 p.m. The Midwest Glass showroom is located at 1333 Main Ave. S.
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Early Monday blaze destroys Guaranteed Home Improvement
666 days
10 things to know before you remodel
666 days
You?ve had just about enough of taping plastic wrap over your windows whenever it rains hard. Your gutter overflow creates rivers in your front yard. So, you?ve decided to renovate your home (finally!)?with Mother Nature in mind. Where to start? If funds are limited, what are the most important remodels to tackle? Here are 10 things to consider before you pick up the sledgehammer:
1. Ask an expert. Even if you are planning a DIY-remodel, you should consult with the folks at your local green homebuilders association (HBA). Such organizations are educational nonprofits that set criteria for the most up-to-date environmental homebuilding processes and practices. They also help you, the consumer, understand what?s going on and why, and they can point you in the right direction when it comes to supplies and starter projects.
2. Energy efficiency. Georgia Pacific?s Barry Reid can?t emphasize energy efficiency enough in a green renovation. And it doesn?t have to drain your 401(k), either. ?You can cut your energy bill 30 percent by making smart, small changes,? he says. He advises renovators to get their green HBA to conduct an energy audit to see where the house is leaking air. Small changes such as adding/updating insulation, caulking windows and sealing ductwork can dramatically reduce your carbon footprint without breaking the bank. Add updated, efficient appliances and you?ve made a big difference already.
3. Windows to your soul. If you have an old home, you might have noticed a chilly draft coming in from old windows?possibly the biggest source of heat loss in your home. It might not, however, be necessary to replace your entire window to make an Earth-conscious renovation decision. Consult your green HBA to see if you can replace just the sash around your window, add storm windows, shade screens, or simply reseal and caulk the edges. According to Carl Seville of Seville Consulting, an Atlanta-based green building consulting firm, ?replacement windows (Replacement windows should be distinguished from new-construction windows. New-construction windows have a “nailing fin” along the outer frame. This fin provides a surface so that the window can be nailed in from the outside of the ho are generally not worth the investment? in all but the most extreme climate zones. Take care to seal the windows and make a world of difference. According to EarthCraft?s renovation guide (www.earthcrafthouse.com/resources/builder-guidelines.htm), ?In many homes, basements are major heat sinks due to poor insulation and air leaks. In addition, radon, mold, dust and other contaminants can collect in the basement and enter the house.? If you?re already insulating the house, you should definitely include the basement and foundation in your renovation plans. If insulation wasn?t on your checklist, you should consider having your basement treated and/or waterproofed to make your home more Earth-friendly. While you?re down there, make sure your pipes are insulated, your doors are sealed and, if necessary, the basement airflow is sealed off from the rest of your house.
5. Nice ducts. Speaking of airflow, Seville says VAC upgrades are some of the most efficient, sustainable changes you can make to your home. ?Spend more money on sealing your home and install a smaller, more efficient ventilation and air conditioning (VAC) unit that is designed properly for your home,? he says. Seville bristles at the notion that bigger is better and also emphasizes that location is just as important. ?Where your VAC system goes matters,? he says, ?Putting ducts in the attic means using more energy to cool your house…which is why you can put a smaller unit in the basement to achieve the same effect with less!? Seville?s motto ?Build it tight; ventilate right!? is more than just a catchphrase. He says this philosophy is ?key to making a house comfortable and efficient year round.?
6. When it rains, it pours. Better water management can be an inexpensive and fantastically effective upgrade to any home. Internal improvements such as blanketing your hot water heater and installing low-flush toilets will help you consume less water and energy, but outdoor fixes can be extremely important, too. You might consider reshaping your landscaping to draw water away from your foundation or ?planting? a grass parking spot to help control storm runoff.
Keeping this water away from your home can only mean good things for the longevity of the building. Reid says, ?People are often surprised by how leaky houses are, by how much water is actually getting into houses through vents or windows or the tops of doors.?
7. Repurpose your old materials. Seville insists that, ?Remodeling is inherently a sustainable business,? and a huge part of this equation is the way in which your contractor repurposes your old materials. Seville advises clients that lumber is easily ground into landscaping wood chips or donated to furniture makers, bricks and stone can be used on other construction sites. The best part about finding new homes for appliances or construction supplies? Many of the organizations accepting the donations are nonprofits, which means you get a tax benefit to boot!
8. Interior details. One of the easiest ways to improve air quality in your house is to rip out the carpet and stop wearing shoes indoors. According to Seville, ?You should use hard surface flooring wherever possible and put down some rugs that you can easily move and clean.? If you feel compelled to put down carpet, make sure you are choosing a sustainably produced carpet (pay attention to the pad and adhesives, too!). Other interior details such as energy-efficient appliances, motion-sensor lighting and low-VOC paint on the walls make it easy to finish off a green renovation.
9. Materials matter. If you?re spending the money for a green renovation, you?re definitely concerned with the materials supporting and finishing your home. While your first instinct might be to use materials that are entirely organic or made from recycled materials, Reid says this isn?t always the best overall choice. ?A rapidly renewable product might put you at risk for water damage because it?s slower to dry and more absorbent.
Sometimes the most forgiving materials with the best longevity are not the most obviously green,? he says. Reid encourages homeowners to consider durability and, based on your specific climate, ?choose materials that support the long-term viability of the home.? What does this mean? Reid says you need to consider what parts of your home are most vulnerable to moisture?generally the basement, kitchen and bathroom. ?Nonpaper faced wallboards in these critical areas can lower your risk for moisture and potential mold,? he says. ?It?s all about choosing a material that?s in line with what you want to accomplish with the space.?
10. Maximize your space. Many people feel they need to expand their home and approach renovation to get more space. Seville urges homeowners to really maximize their current living space?you might be surprised how cozy and comfortable your house could become. ?People have rooms they just don?t use,? he says, citing easy changes like opening up doorways or switching the use of a room as ways to ?add? living space to a home.
If you?ve got an unfinished attic and are looking to convert it into a living space, Seville emphasizes taking care of business while you are up there (insulating, sealing, properly ventilating) to make your house ?bigger? and come out with a lower energy footprint. The same holds true for a basement?seal it from moisture, and it will become a useful space that no longer takes away from the comfort and air quality of your home.
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As Microsoft stumbles forward, is it a good idea to have its head in The Cloud?
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The company that once defined much of personal computing has spent the first half of 2010 suffering indignities large and small. Key executives behind some of the company’s more successful recent efforts have announced early retirements; its unimpressive new Office 2010 software has seen ho-hum sales; and the stock market now values Apple more than Microsoft.
At a speech that kicked off Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference in the District on Monday morning, chief executive Steve Ballmer tried to put a positive spin on things. But a look at three topics discussed in Ballmer’s speech and highlighted in product exhibits at the Washington Convention Center shows the kind of trouble the Redmond, Wash., company finds itself in.
In the interest of being nice, let’s get the worst part out of the way first: mobile devices. In no other market does Microsoft look more lost at the plate.
Back in February, Microsoft publicly abandoned its Windows Mobile operating system when it announced that it was developing a replacement, Windows Phone 7, that wouldn’t work with any hardware or software shipped for that older platform over the past decade.
Would-be buyers of Windows-based phones could only have been more confused two months later when Microsoft unveiled a different, equally incompatible line of smartphones under the Kin brand name. Was this the real hope for Microsoft’s mobile efforts?
Evidently not: In July, less than two months after the Kin One and Kin Two debuted in Verizon Wireless stores, Microsoft terminated the entire project.
Meanwhile, Apple’s new iPhone 4 — reception issues and all — and the latest crop of Google Android-powered smartphones have already vaulted past Windows Phone 7′s promised features with such added capabilities as videoconferencing.
The picture isn’t brighter in tablet computing. Back in January, Ballmer used part of his Consumer Electronics Show keynote to talk up “slate computers” — small, touch-screen models running Windows 7.
Three weeks later, Apple introduced the iPad, which has since sold fantastically well. Meanwhile, HP — the company whose prototype slate Ballmer displayed at CES — seems to have quietly dropped that effort and looks far more likely to ship a tablet running the webOS software of its newly acquired subsidiary Palm.
At WPC, however, Microsoft seemed determined to plow ahead with the same slate vision as before, despite historical evidence of its riskiness (anybody remember the “Ultra Mobile PC”?).
Processing power and battery technology have advanced since that venture flopped in 2006, but it’s still difficult to see how a Windows 7-based slate will outperform tablets based on such mobile operating systems as Android, webOS and Apple’s iOS.
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?250,000 revamp of Darwen Town Hall complete
666 days
?250,000 revamp of Darwen Town Hall complete
5:00pm Saturday 17th July 2010
THE ?250,000 revamp of Darwen Town Hall has been completed, and new shops could be trading within weeks.
Companies are waiting to sign up for three of the five units in the new facade, and interest has been expr-essed in the remaining two.
At this stage, the council said it could reveal what type of businesses they were.
The news has been hailed as ?very encouraging for the town? by local traders and councillors.
Denise Gee, president of Darwen Chamber of Trade, said: ?The units do look fantastic and I hope they bring in new customers, and the old ones continue to support us.
?I?d like to see them filled with shops offering things we don?t already have here.
“It?s a great little market town and initiatives like this only drive it forward.
“It?s very encouraging to know there is a lot of interest in the units. If people can?t get into the units, then I hope they can take some of the empty shops in the main road.?
Eileen Guy, of the Darwen Shop and Business Association, said: ?We?re doing well in Darwen at the moment – we?re riding the storm exceedingly well.
“It?s an exciting time for the town and I hope more people come and have a look at what we have to offer.?
The town hall refurbishment scheme returns the 139-year-old building to its original appearance and includes new and improved public toilets, disabled toilets, babychanging and feeding rooms.
replacement windows (Replacement windows should be distinguished from new-construction windows. New-construction windows have a “nailing fin” along the outer frame. This fin provides a surface so that the window can be nailed in from the outside of the ho and a new staff entrance have also been added.
Coun Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration, said: ?Three shops are currently under offer and we are dealing with expressions of interest for the others.
?These shops are in a prime location in the town centre, linked to the town?s popular market and are sure to be a big attraction for residents and visitors.?
Darwen market hall was built in 1871 to house local council offices.
The original designs included shop fronts opening up on to the town square, but these were replaced at the east end by office space and blocked off compelely at the west side when public toilets
were built there in the 1970s.
The council has contributed ?200,000 to the project and another ?53,000 has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
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