LGG Blog

Los Gatos Glass is currently hiring someone to work in our administrative office. We are located on the border of Campbell and Los Gatos.

Responsibilities would include, but are not limited to:

* Communicating with customers, contractors and designers via email, phone and in person
* Ordering glass and hardware from our vendors. Searching out and sourcing products
* Answering phones in a cheery and up-beat tone
* Scheduling and logistics
* Basic data entry
* Helping to keep the showroom and office space clean and tidy
* Supporting sales people by helping them with necessary paperwork, organization, and follow-up
* Organizing hardware for each specific project.

Above all we need someone who is personable and can maintain a positive attitude under pressure. Although we are very task oriented, we keep a light, fun atmosphere in the office and want someone who will mesh well. Since this is a job that centers on a trade-skill industry, we facilitate on-site training that is fast paced but not overwhelming. Great opportunity to work locally!

This is a full time position. Pay DOE, starting rate is $14.00-$15.00
Please email your resume to:

The main causes of ‘Problem Glass’ are MAD!

Moisture, Alkalinity and Dirt (MAD) cause glass, exterior or interior, to become Problem Glass. New glass promises visibility, clarity and cleanliness but, unless protected against MAD, can easily break these promises before, during or after installation - with serious consequences for specifiers, fabricators, contractors, and homeowners! Problem Glass is any glass that has broken, or is likely to break its original promises of visibility, clarity and cleanliness. This causes glass to become increasingly difficult to clean and keep clean, and high in maintenance. Los Gatos Glass’ proven solution is the ClearShield System™ for glass renovation, protection and maintenance. Either in our factory or on-site, this innovative system converts Problem Glass into “non-stick” glass with easy-clean, low-maintenance, stain-resistant performance.

Somebody turned 50 today! Happy Birthday Doug!

Enjoying a great Lunch 'n Learn today. All about integrating audio into designs!

I think the 49ers may have found a new kicker! Sadly, if they have, we have lost a great Los Gatos Glass team member! Every 'boys' dream - a field goal at Levi Stadium! Yup, that's our Anthony!

Upgrade to a Bigger Bath Fan
Switch out to a bigger fan to keep moisture off bathroom walls—without opening a window!

We all know that moisture is our worst enemy in our home, and there is nothing but moisture in a bathroom!

After every shower, you need to ventilate your bathroom for at least an hour.

Most people have the fan running to exhaust the shower steam while they are showering yet the mirror still fogs up? Think about what fogged up before the mirror…. first the ceiling, then the walls, followed by the mirror. We dry off the mirror but never think about the ceiling and the walls. A few minutes later we are off and running turning the lights off and heading out for the day. Oops! That ceiling and those walls are still wet – moisture eating through your paint and causing mold and mildew.

Here’s the way we do it: When you have finished with your shower, leave the shower door open inwards. You never see any mold and mildew at the top of the shower because it gets better ventilation than the warm, wet, petri dish that is your shower floor! Leave your fan on for a minimum of an hour and if there is a window in your bathroom, use it!

Fan on for an hour? But I’m not home for an hour in the morning! That is where the new whisper quiet fans from Panasonic come in. You want one with a cubic-feet-per-minute (cfm) rating that's high enough to pull all the air out of your bathroom in 7½ minutes. To determine the fan's minimum cfm, divide your bathroom's volume by 7.5. Go with a higher cfm if the duct run exceeds 20 feet or has more than one elbow. Also, put the fan on a timer so that it runs for at least 60 minutes after you finish showering and exhausts all the moisture. Finally, compare sone* ratings; the lower the number, the quieter the fan. It has an important job, but nobody wants to hear it working.

Look into the WhisperGreen® 80 CFM Ceiling Mounted Ventilation Fan with DC Motor and Variable Speed Controls Model #: FV-08VKS3

* The sone is a unit of how loud a sound is perceived

Wishing you the joy and good tidings of this beautiful Christmas season and a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year! Looking forward to seeing you all in 2015!

Neither rain nor sleet nor lack of sunshine, Los Gatos Glass delivers on time! Drive safely out there today! It's sure wet! Had to get the surf boards out just to get across our parking lot!

Our shop foreman, Mr. Ramirez, is contemplating his next cool glass project. Or perhaps he is thinking about lunch? The 49er game this weekend?

A fun night at the LG Food Fest. Our Commercial Salesman, Joel Nettie took the stage as a guest vocalist with the band Dutch Uncles! What a great night to live, work and play in Los Gatos!

What dog lover wouldn't appreciate a little spot for Fido? Gets them out from under your feet while cooking!

For you dog lovers out there! I am ready to remodel my kitchen just to install this!

Many of you have asked about frameless doors over a tub. This is a great solution to a shower curtain, and a much better plan than the old by-pass framed doors we grew up with in the '70's! These doors happen to be in one of my bathrooms at home! The right door swings over the toilet seat, but hits the toilet tank, however it does allow you ample room to open the door, reach in and turn the water on. After the water is warm, you step in on the left. Great for bathing dogs, kids, and a lot easier for cleaning!

Mike Ryan Construction designed this Master Bedroom en suite for clients in the Santa Cruz mountains. He called Los Gatos Glass to help design a shower that would disappear into the rest of the bathroom so no view would be obstructed.

A local Interior Designer, Michelle Miner created these amazing glass backsplashes for a client's kitchen.

Almost every shower you see has a 4"-6"-inch step at the entrance. Most people never think about it. But if you're looking to create a streamlined bathroom, that curb will stand out. And if you're a wheelchair user, that small obstacle may just as well be a "Do Not Enter" sign.

Not all bathrooms can accommodate a curbless shower, but when you're looking over a bath to be renovated it's one of the first options to explore. A curbless shower is a subtle touch that creates a seamless look and broadcasts the amount of thought that went into a bath design.

Things to think about: Curbless showers have to be larger than a typical shower to make them large enough to contain the entire splash zone. Shower head placement is an important aspect to containing the splash zone. A smaller bathroom with an unenclosed, curbless shower requires that the entire floor be pitched toward the drain in the shower. Done properly, a bathroom such as this will drain itself dry shortly after it's used. Though curbless showers tend to show up in modern baths, there's no rule that says a traditional bath can't go curbless. Their unbroken appearance and importance when it comes to aging in place and universal access make them an important consideration, regardless of a bath's design style.

We just completed this project in Atherton. Beautifully arched, beveled mirrors, custom cut glass through out this beautiful home, and another wine cellar!

This selection of photos can give you some food for thought!

Glass railings are a great way to really enjoy the view! Loads of options to hold the glass, something for everyone!

Glass railings are a great way to enjoy your view without ruining your view! They serve as a windbreak as well! Safety glass is used with many options for holding the glass in place!

We're Hiring! Los Gatos Glass is looking for an experienced glazier/installer. If you have a few years of experience installing custom glass shower enclosures, railings, and perhaps commercial installations, can lead by example, and work hard, this could be the spot for you! Please call Doug Ferrante at (408) 354-1523, or drop off a resume! We'd love to hear from you!

Care and Cleaning of Your Enclosure

Your enclosure can provide years of service and beauty with a minimum of care and maintenance. Cleaning your enclosure safely and effectively takes the right cleaner. With minimum maintenance and the right cleaner your bath enclosure should provide you with years of beautiful service.

The key is to understand what types of cleaners to use and to avoid. Many cleaners labeled for use in bathrooms can damage the metal finish or scratch the glass of an enclosure.

A short list of cleaning agents that should be avoided because they either damage the metal or scratch the enclosure surface includes:

Vinegar or vinegar based products
Abrasive or soft abrasive powders and liquids
Bleach or bleach based cleaners
Steel or Teflon pads

Cleaning and Maintaining Your Stainless Steel Posts, Balustrades, Handrails and Hardware

Stainless steel is widely in use for decks, balconies and handrails. Many homes now have a interior and exterior stainless steel railings and handrails. Stainless steel is known for its ability to be a clean surface that resists corrosion and rust. Dirt, dust, grime, rain, and pollution however, put stainless steel at risk for corrosion, contamination and rust. Luckily, stainless steel responds well to cleaning, never wearing out from excessive cleaning, as long as certain rules are followed.

Cleaning

Water and a cloth. Routine cleaning can be accomplished by using warm water and a cloth. This is the least risky option for cleaning stainless steel handrails. Dry with a towel or cloth to prevent water spots. Wipe in the direction of the polish lines.

Mild detergent (we recommend BLUE Dawn dishwashing soap) and a soft cloth. If the stainless steel handrail exhibits corrosion marks or contamination marks, if it has been a long time since last cleaned and for leaning that needs more power, mild detergent and warm water can do a great job without damaging the stainless steel. Make sure you rinse the surface thoroughly to prevent staining and spotting. Dry using a soft towel to prevent water spots which can be caused by minerals such as calcium in water (hard water).

Glass cleaner for fingerprints. Fingerprints are one of the biggest complaints about stainless steel handrails and parts, but can be taken care by using specific products depending on whether your stainless is ‘polished’ or ‘brushed’. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and towel dry.

Stainless Steel Cleaner. If the handrails have had staining or scratching, or if you need to polish your stainless steel, a stainless steel cleaner may be a good option. Some of these cleaners and polishes can help minimize scratching and remove stains. They also can polish stainless steel surfaces nicely. Read the directions on the stainless steel cleaner and test in an inconspicuous spot.

Mirror Polished Stainless Steel: Mirror polished stainless steel finishes should be cleaned with a foam spray cleaner, such as:

CRL Sprayway - Stainless Steel Polish & Cleaner SW841 cleans, polishes and protects stainless steel without hard rubbing and polishing. Resists finger prints, grease and water splatter. Helps preserve the factory finish.

For periodic maintenance, mirror stainless can be polished with:

CRL Autosol® Shine 1188AS cleans, restores and polishes all metal surfaces and will protect against corrosion and tarnishing. Mild abrasives help to remove built-up tarnish, oxidation and even rust, leaving behind a protective coating, which helps to condition the metal and protect against corrosion while providing a longer lasting shine. Do not use circular motions when cleaning Mirror polished Stainless Steel.

Satin polished (brushed) stainless steel finishes should be cleaned like Mirror polished Stainless Steel, just with circular motions in the same direction as the grain texture.

Maintenance

For periodic maintenance, satin (brushed) Stainless Steel can be rubbed with an abrasive pad such as:

Scotch-Brite General Purpose Hand Pad 7447 by 3M, or
Scotch-Brite Ultra Fine Hand Pad 7448 by 3M, or
Scotch-Brite General Purpose Scrubbing Pad 9650 by 3M.

The finish should always be rubbed in the same direction as the grain. Always follow this procedure using one of the above products which will leave behind a thin protective coating and a longer lasting shine.

Using the guide above, you should be able to keep the look of your stainless steel hardware clean and looking new for years and years!

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,217076,00.html

Double glazed unit failure


It is a well-known fact that double glazed units are of significant value in reducing energy loss and offers other benefits such as lower energy consumption, perfect transparency through the reduction of the condensation on the warm air side and the possibility of using larger glazed areas without increasing energy consumption. However, when this type of unit breaks down, most of its characteristics are compromised.


In addition to holding the unit together, the function of the sealant is also to hermetically close the IG unit while preventing the transferral of moisture. Condensation forming between the glass panes is usually the first sign that the edge seal is losing its integrity. There are several other signs of IG unit failure, such as a foggy appearance, the appearance of the scum on the window, etc. A seal failure also leads to the loss of gas fill (if the window contains an argon or krypton gas fill) and the deterioration of low-e coating.

There are number of reasons why the seal might break down. This failure can occur both during manufacturing or when the unit is fitted into the frame. The most common causes are failure of the structural seal due to aging, incompatibility of glazing materials with the insulating glass sealants, extreme environmental conditions, window washing with cleaning products that are chemically incompatible with the sealing material, etc.

If your 'dual pane' windows are looking less than perfect these days, give us a call. Los Gatos Glass can replace them giving you that view you deserve to see!

Care & Cleaning of your shower doors:
Do not use bristle brushes, abrasive sponges or abrasive cleaners. They will scratch some glass surfaces.
Do not let cleaners soak on surfaces.
Use a shower squeegee to clean glass doors after showering.
Rinse and wipe glass after cleaning to prevent soap buildup.

To avoid lime buildup in hard water areas, make a point to wipe the product dry after each use, just as you would towel dry your hands with a soft cloth. To prevent scratching while cleaning, save old T-shirts or flannel nightgowns for great cleaning cloths.

A 5% solution of BLUE Dawn dishwashing soap with 95% water, sprayed on your glass, tile and/or stone will keep things clean and sparkling! Do not use anything with acid in them (Orange, Green and Yellow Dawn have citric acid!), tile cleaners like CLR are acid and will get your porcelain tile clean but will also etch your stone and glass!