PGW has promised to provide 260 jobs once the Elkin plant is fully operational in 2014, and at an average wage 17% higher than the current Surry County average.  The glass producer also agreed to invest $85 million in machinery, equipment and personal property at the new NC plant.   All of this comes with heavy local incentives for the glass manufacturing company, including a $1-per -year lease on the the county owned building.

Brett Willis covered Governor Bev Perdue’s visit to the new facility for the Mt Airy News and describes PGW’s reasons for chosing this region for it’s new operations:

In her announcement, (NC Gov.) Perdue said that PGW was initially attracted to Surry County because of its existing high-skilled workforce, quality of life and well-maintained infrastructure.

Pittsburgh Glass Works Chairman and Chief Executive Officer James D. Wiggins said that his company chose Elkin as the location of its new branch after considering 88 properties in four states.

PPG  (later PGW), has been known as provider of top quality glass products since it’s founding in the late 19th century – and has producing automobile glass since the beginning of automobiles.  As a PGW Prostar glass installer, Deals Glass Services couldn’t be more proud to see this longstanding maker of premium glass products expand their workforce in the lovely state of North Carolina!

But like so many fashion trends that mutate and return, mirrored walls are shedding a new light on interior home design, literally.   While changes to the color and furnishings in the room may lighten the feel, there are only two methods to creating more natural light – cutting a hole in your house for a new window, or adding a mirror to reflect the existing natural light.  While it’s obvious which is the less expensive of the two, many people still have a hard time getting past the stigma of outdated home designs to see the benefits of wall mirrors.

But we looked around and found a few examples of new and classic decor ideas:

While these photos aren’t our own work, they show some of the diverse designs and modern ideas for using mirrors as part of your home design.  And we found an interior design blogger who shared some more photos of wall mirrors that really demonstrate how they can brighten and beautify your home.

No matter what the size or shape, we can help you create a custom mirror that fits your own design specifications.  So bring your creative mirror ideas to Deals Glass Service – and we can help make them come to life!

But remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t true – a saying that often applies to these situations.  These bold auto glass sales tactics vary from approaching drivers at car washes and gas stations, to aggressive telemarketing to actually damaging windshields, then approaching owners at home or work about replacement.  Their work practices also range from the completely above board to down and dirty – some lie to insurance companies about everything from the quality of glass to the location where the repair was done.  (They have even been known to spam perfectly good auto glass blogs!)

The worst of the worst work in teams: one repairman does the work, then another comes by and approaches the same driver, stating that the work is of inferior quality and needs to be re-replaced.   When these charlatans convince drivers to sign off on this work they are securing one’s complicity in defrauding their own insurance company.  And usually the car owners still find themselves with cheap glass and bad installation – and maybe slightly higher insurance premiums.

So drivers beware!  If you weren’t seeking out a service for you car, don’t trust a stranger who approaches you to tell you what they can do for your automobile.  An auto glass replacement company with a good reputation doesn’t need to be aggressive to make it in this business!

For more recent news about the problem with windshield bullies check out these articles at MSNBC’s Red Tape Chronicles and The Consumerist.

For over 50 years Deals has been dedicated to providing excellent service to the Piedmont area, and we anticipate that our new website will further advance our goal.  With the hopes of making windshield replacement and auto glass repair more easily accessible, we have straightforward contact buttons on each page as well as phone contact information for those who want to speak with a knowledgeable professional immediately.

At Deals’ new site, you can also access information that explains the value of OEM glass and trained, certified auto glass technicians, and why a PGW ProStars shop is best for you and your automobile.  We hope this information can enlighten people to the distinct differences between glass made by the Original Equipment Manufacturer and installed by a certified technician and having aftermarket auto glass installed by an un-certified mobile-only service.

Home owners can also find out more about our residential window repair service and how Deals can remove fog that has developed inside the insulated glass unit.  With the technology of our dual valve moisture prevention system, you’ll be seeing clearly through your affected windows for years to come – guaranteed!

You may need some info about windshield repair and auto glass replacement or you want to find out if you can save with residential window repair.  Come visit the new DealsGlassService.com, find out how we can help you, and get a free quote in minutes!

This is also the time of year that State Farm releases it’s annual report on deer-vehicle collisions.  While our service area states, North Carolina and South Carolina, have stayed out of the top ten since 2006, we are still well above the national average risk level.  Statistics given by State Farm indicate that the likelihood of hitting a deer is about 1 in 150 for North Carolina and only slightly less in South Carolina at 1 in 153.

But the more shocking statistic places North Carolina near the top of the list in states with an increase in deer on vehicle collisions – a 33% increase over 5 years.  While much of this is due to populating previously forested area, it also might indicate that drivers aren’t as aware of the risks of those rural roads.  The insurance company offered a few tips that we would like to share – this advice could save your windshield or your life:

Be aware of posted deer crossing signs.  These are placed in active deer crossing areas.

Remember that deer are most active between 6 and 9 p.m.

Use high beam headlamps as much as possible at night to illuminate the areas from which deer will enter roadways.

Keep in mind that deer generally travel in herds – if you see one, there is a strong possibility others are nearby.

Do not rely on car-mounted deer whistles.

If a deer collision seems inevitable, attempting to swerve out of the way could cause you to lose control of your vehicle or place you in the path of an oncoming vehicle.

We want to encourage all of our readers everywhere to be watchful for deer in the roadways and pay attention to marked signs and speed limits.   With a car on deer accident occurring every 26 seconds in this country, we have to learn to be more aware – the deer never will!

Deals Glass Services can now provide residential window repair as well as replacement of just the glass window pane.  Contact us as soon as you notice the ruptured seal and the telltale “perma-fog”, and we can actually remove the air and moisture from between the two glass panels and give you a good as new appearance.   When you repair  or replace the foggy glass rather than replacing the entire window unit, you save yourself time, money and the hassle of having a hole in your home.

Deals has a new commercial explaining the benefits of repairing or replacing just the fogged glass window pane.

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You can contact us online or by phone to set up an appointment for Deals to come to your home and clear up your foggy windows.

Since the foggy window repair process is a fairly new idea, many people facing thermopane seal failure don’t even consider this solution.  At a price of about $90 it is the most cost effective, can be completed in about an hour and since we aren’t disposing of the old glass, it’s also the most environmentally friendly method.   But if you wait too long  after the seal fails, the moisture will permanently stain the inside of the glass giving it an opaque or mottled look – then the foggy appearance cannot be repaired.

Even if the glass has been permanently fogged you can replace the glass in the window at a cost of about $150 – $170.  It it cheaper and easier than full window replacement – but we still have to create waste, making it not nearly as green as repair.  If you have a qualified glass technician come look at the damage as soon as you notice the fog, this can be avoided.

For most people with vinyl windows there is no need to replace the entire window, which not only costs about $300 but also can be quite hassle to the homeowner.  As long as your windows were installed after 1975 and you don’t have any serious problems with them then the expense of this project can be prohibitive.

Check out our site for more info about repair or replacement of fogged resiential window glass in the Charlotte, NC area or to get an online quote.

The shop is trying to talk you into OEM auto glass, which of course, costs a little more than an aftermarket windshield.  Why should you pay more for a piece of glass than you absolutely have to?  There are a couple of very legitimate reasons that OEM glass is a better choice, and when considered, often overshadow the small difference in price.

From the shop’s point of view, the main difference between OEM and aftermarket glass is quality.  While all windshield manufacturers are required to follow the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards,  OEM glass is made with the same tooling and has identical fit and form as the factory installed windshield.  Consumers often notice a difference as well, in the clarity or coloration of the aftermarket glass as opposed to their original auto glass.

And for those hoping to someday trade in their car – dealerships know the difference.  They often refuse to accept cars with aftermarket glass, or subtract the cost of re-replacing the glass from the trade in value.

But the number one reason to choose OEM glass, and paramount to all the others is – Safety.  The windshield is critical in supporting the roof of the automobile in rollover accidents as well as being a component in the personal safety restraint system.  Airbags are meant be be used in conjunction with seat belts and are built to be supported by the windshield, which keeps the airbag in front of the passenger An ill fitting windshield can actually dislodge upon impact, leaving the roof unsupported and the passenger cabin open in those crucial seconds immediately afterwards.

So while it’s up to the customer to decide what is best for them, we think the difference in the value of an OEM windshield greatly outweighs the difference in cost.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Earlier this week the Today Show featured this segment about injuries to children and the elderly caused by glass tabletops and other glass furniture.  They also discussed how tempered safety glass, the same type used in auto side windows, can be used in your home to reduce the risk of injury or even death.  The clip demostrates the difference between the way a traditional piece of glass furniture would break as opposed to a tempered glass tabletop.

The razor sharp shards created by shattering a piece of traditional untempered glass can be incredibly dangerous, especially when the glass is broken with considerable force and they go flying.  Many people beleive that padding around the edges will protect their small children, but that doesn’t prevent the glass from shattering and padding can’t protect them if it does.

For people who want a safer home but love their glass table, the simple solution is to replace the existing glass with tempered glass.  Contact us information about replacing your glass tabletop in the Charlotte Area

If the windshield is repaired or replaced improperly, or not fully cured, it compromises the safety and structural integrity of the vehicle.  This is why is is essential that shops adhere strictly to Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards (AGRSS) and have technicians certified by the National Glass Association (NGA).  These associations provide the standards for auto glass shops and ensure that shops and technicians keep safety and proper procedure their first priorities in every job.

When a windshield repair technician isn’t certified the consumer can’t even be sure that he or she is up to date on safety standards, or trained in the proper auto glass procedures.  Ensuring safety in windshield replacement requires an experienced and certified technician in a clean and safe environment.

Check out this Q & A page for more information about selecting an auto glass professional.

Deals Glass Services would like to congratulate Brian Hagee who recently acheived his NGA certification and John Webb who recently renewed his own NGA certification.