Merritt Glass Company

AGRSS Third Party Validation Review Complete…We Pass!!!

Chip Merritt — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:57:08 +0000

AGRSS is a big deal in the automobile glass replacement business. On August 4 this year we were reviewed for compliance by a third party validation firm. The validation consisted of a windshield installation while being observed by the validator, a verbal question and answer session between the validator and our auto glass technicians, an examination of our automotive sealant stock to insure proper storage and shelf life, and a review of our paperwork documenting the correct use of sealants and recording of relevant information.

What this really means is that we have passed an independent third party compliance validation for the AGRSS standard. Ir proves that in our daily practice that we do all the things to safely insure that we have done the job right. In these times you can’t always be sure that the job is performed to the proper standard. This validation proves that we do.

Construction Employment Declines by 11,000 Between June and July; Industry’s Unemployment Rate Hits 17.3 Percent

Chip Merritt — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:38:29 +0000

Continued bad news for the construction industry. Read the update here. There is a lot of truth to what is said about our infrastructure and our ability to compete in the world. The world has gotten smaller and I think we are finally figuring out that we can’t spend and consume our way to prosperity. We need to construct, manufacture and produce products that are needed to improve living conditions here in the USA and across the globe.

I have a lot of pride in the construction worker and factory worker. The place you live and the place your work in were provided by these folks. The car you drive and the streets you drive on were provided by these same folks.

In the Meantime…

Chip Merritt — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:39:49 +0000

Many of us have been harmed by the economic recession. We all know friends, family members, and business colleagues that have felt it personally. Add the difficulties of everyday life, along with the oil spill which for us is a regional wide concern, and it is easy to feel discouraged. “Feeling discouraged” describes how we feel now. It doesn’t mean that we have to feel that way tomorrow.

Life throws us curves and circumstances are not always favorable but we have a choice in how we respond. There is no dishonor or personal failing when things that we can not control temporarily overpower us. Our task is to accept that there are good and difficult things that life brings us. It is easy to accept the good things. How we respond to the difficult things is the test. No one has a crystal ball, as my wife reminds me, and so you do the best you can on a day to day basis. Doing so is how we hold on to our honor and strengthens our resolve to not allow the temporary to overpower us forever.

Our world may not be as predictable as we would like it to be these days but it will continue to spin and the economic recovery will come and the oil will be cleaned up. It won’t be perfect and it may take a long time but eventually it will pass.

In the meantime you may need a glass problem solved. We will be here to help.

In Honor of Penny

Chip Merritt — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 02:14:07 +0000

Penny Bushaw passed away on July 4 after a 13 year battle with cancer. She was an employee of Merritt Glass Company but more importantly she was a loving wife and a devoted mother to her fine teenage sons. Penny, like so many others fighting cancer had a quiet strength, enormous courage, and enough optimism for all of us. There is no way to pay tribute to her in words. You had to know her.

This past Saturday a memorial service was held in her honor. It was moving and a fitting tribute to her and hopefully offered comfort to her husband, sons, other family members, and friends. It is important to note that Penny’s parents have lost two daughters to breast cancer. It is a cruel thing for a parent to lose a child. It has to be horrific to lose two.

Cancer is a damnable disease. Significant progress has been made and yet we are still fighting for a cure. You hear about it everywhere and it is easy to become a little numb to all the requests for funds to support research to defeat it. But when it happens in your family, among your friends or in your workplace it is all to real. Families suffer from this disease as well. Cancer doesn’t take its toll just on the person with it but also on their family. It’s as if the whole family has it because they deal with it on a day to day basis. Cancer patients know this and it is from them that the strength and courage that the family needs comes from.

We all know organizations where we can make donations to fight cancer. What we often do not know how to do is to recognize the loss the family is going through. I am not an expert on it but I do know that they feel it and it is okay to acknowledge it. It is there and it will be part of them for a while. Penny understood this. On my last visit with her she was more concerned about her family than she was about her health. She asked that we look after her husband and sons when she was gone. This is what Penny was about.

The employees of Merritt Glass Company will return to work in the morning but it will be a little different. We have acknowledged her death and memorialized her as best as we could. The little difference will be in how we go about our day and undoubtedly think of her throughout the day. In the end memories are what we have and it is the memories that keep people alive for us.

Zero-Energy Buildings

Chip Merritt — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:08:52 +0000

The Department of Energy has recently finished the largest zero-energy building in the United States in their Colorado research facility. The building is 22,000 square feet and uses 50% less energy than a conventionally constructed building of its size. It saves and generates enough power to produce a net zero energy pull from the grid. It is good to see that the often hyped technology being used in real buildings and that it is not all hype. Read more about it here.

Fun & Design with Glass

Chip Merritt — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:05:38 +0000

Glass is a very versatile product judging from the many uses our customers ask us about. Back painted glass is now used as a wall covering and for furniture finishes. Take a look at what GlassKote has to offer. Curved glass is now being used for glass shelving. Check out these shelving options from the people at SPANCraft Glass.

Mirror Cleaning Tips

Chip Merritt — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:02:25 +0000

Being in the glass business we are asked to recommend spray type glass cleaners. We always recommend what we use, an automotive glass cleaner, and carry it for purchase by customers. Besides the ever annoying streaks you can’t really harm glass by using any glass spray. Mirrors, on the other hand, can be harmed by using harsh cleaners and improper cleaning methods. Care should always be taken to avoid getting the edges of the mirror wet with any liquid or substance. This can result in damage to the mirror edges, commonly called “back edge”. Should mirrors become wet, they should be dried off immediately.

These recommendations are published by the Glass Association of North America.

The very best and safest cleaner for a mirror is clean, warm water used with a soft, lint-free cloth. Wring all water from the cloth before wiping the mirror. dry the mirror immediately with a dry lint-free cloth.
Don’t spray cleaners directly on the mirror. Always apply cleaner directly to a soft, lint-fee cloth and then wipe the mirror. This will help prevent the cleaner from contacting the edges of the mirror and damaging them.
Don’t clean across the face of multiple mirrors at the same time. When cleaning several mirrors installed on a wall, wipe the joints in the same direction as the joints. This will keep the cleaner from collecting in the area where the mirrors join.
Don’t use commercial mirror cleaners that contain ammonia or vinegar.

No Short Cut To Safety

Chip Merritt — Fri, 21 May 2010 20:12:54 +0000

Windshield replacement is not understood as a safety issue by most drivers. The choice of an auto glass replacement company would not seem important if you didn’t realize just how important that choice is. Merritt Glass Company understands the safety aspect and just how important it is to follow the highest standards and by using the very best products. We use Sika brand automotive adhesives and follow the AGRSS professional standards for windshield replacement. Sika has produced a short video here that makes it easy for you to understand how important your choice is.

No More Water Spots

Chip Merritt — Thu, 20 May 2010 20:47:09 +0000

The trend in bath enclosures and shower doors is the use of large expanses of clear glass with a minimal amount of framing. The design possibilities are almost endless and the large glass area enliven and brighten any bathroom. With the increased use of large glass one problem has has become painfully to the surface…water spots. Over time your shiny clear glass will start to spot as part of the natural affect water has on glass. Mineral deposits from water, and even some cleaning solutions will cause your glass to spot.

There is a solution and it is a product called ShowerGuard. ShowerGuard is a factory applied product that is placed on your glass at the time it is manufactured. It essentially protects your glass from water spots. It comes with a limited 1o year warranty.With just a minimal amount of cleaning, ShowerGuard glass will stay beautiful for years to come. Be sure to ask about it. It costs a little extra but is well worth it! Click here to see more.

Merrit Glass Company and Sacred Heart Cancer Center featured in national trade publication

Chip Merritt — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:59:02 +0000

A partnership project between the owner, architect, general contractor, suppliers, and us that we are truly proud to have been involved in.