Minimize Risk of Falls from Ladders

Warning - Falls from ladders can cause serious injury or fatalities.  Follow these safety tips to minimize the associated risks.

1.  Ladders come in many different designs.  Always read labels and markings on the ladder.
2.  Avoid electrocution.  Be mindful of what is overhead.  Never use metal ladders when power lines are overhead or near energized equipment for that matter.
3.  Inspect the ladder before you climb on it.  If it is damaged, then mark it clearly with a tag and fix it right away or dispose of it.  Do not leave it around trying to make up your mind whether to keep it.
4.  Three point contact with the ladder is a must.  That means always have two hands and one foot on the ladder or two feet and one hand on the ladder.
5.  Only use the ladder and any accessories for their intended purpose.
6.  Make sure there is nothing slippery on the ladder steps or rungs.
7.  Do not use a step ladder in the closed position.
8.  Never use the top step of the ladder.
9.  Only climb a ladder on a flat surface unless it is secured in a safe manner.
10.  Do not put a ladder up on anything to get more height, like a barrel or box or anything shaky.
11.  Do not attempt to move a ladder if equipment or a person is on the ladder.
12.  A straight ladder or extension ladder must extend three feet over the point where the ladder is leaning.  Do not climb on the top three steps of this type of ladder.
13.  The proper angle for placing a ladder is achieved by putting the foot of the ladder a distance away from the vertical line bisecting the resting point of the ladder equal to 25% of the height of the resting point of the ladder.
14.  Take the precaution of securing any ladder used in a place where it can be hit or bumped by other workers.  Barricades may also be used to keep people away.
15.  Check that extension ladder locks are correctly working and latched before climbing.
16.  Do not overload the ladder.  All ladders are rated.  That rating includes equipment.

Do not be careless!  Your family depends on you to stay alive and healthy.  You are responsible to care for them, which means taking care and protecting yourself.  Never take a chance on getting hurt. 

The best way to avoid a fall is to stay off of ladders.  Instead call Ace Discount Glass and Doors for insulated window, door glass, french door glass, atrium door, and patio door repair or replacement.  Ace also can install framed showers or frameless showers, mirrors, lead glass, or commercial store fronts and board ups.  We are open 24 hours for emergency service, and for your convenience we are open Saturdays and Sundays.

Frameless Shower Installation

could not have asked for more!!

by clevehghts at Citysearch

From start to finish our experience with Ace Discount Glass was exceptional. We wanted a frameless glass shower door and RJ was precise with measurements, recommendations and answered all of our questions. The price was also very competitive. The installation was flawless and we are more than pleased with the results! This was a wonderful addition to our bathroom. Will contact Ace for as further needs arise.


Thank you to this customer for writing a great review.  We are glad you were pleased with the service we provided.  Contact RJ at 512-786-8534 if you are interested in frameless showers or framed showers for your bathroom.

Replaced Window Regulator on Car

Replaced Window Regulator on Car

by Austin Resident at Citysearch

Brought my car in to replace an old window regulator. Roy was helpful and gave me an estimate. I also got 2 other estimates from other places, but ACE Discount Glass & Door on Spicewood Springs was by far the least expensive. The part was ordered and the next day I brought my car back at a time I suggested...they were ready for me as soon as I drove in. My car was ready in an hour. It was fast service at a reasonable price. I would definitely go back to ACE!
Also, you can go to their website and Roy made a video on how a window regulator works! Very interesting.
Thanks!


Thank you to this customer for a great review.  If you need a window regulator replaced, then please contact Ace Discount Glass and Door.

Emergency Glass Service

On 4/20/12 at 1:30 in the morning, we received a call from a Valero gas station and convenience store requesting emergency service.  We responded within the hour and found four commercial door glasses were broken out plus two large plate glass windows.  Our technician called in a second technician for help because this was a two-man job.  They met at our shop at 6308 Spicewood Springs Road and proceeded to cut the two plate glass windows from a larger piece of glass taken out of a case.  We stock thousands of dollars worth of glass so that we can handle emergency service jobs on the weekends or at night.  We also had the tempered glass door lites in stock and had more than the four we needed.  We put up the capital and buy in bulk so we can handle big jobs when our customers need them.  Of course we also have the manpower ready to make emergency repairs.  The manager was astounded that we could fix six large windows in less than three hours, but that is how we do business! Call Ace Discount Glass and Door for any glass repair, glass replacement, or board up service anytime you need it.

Argon Gas-Filled Insulated Window Units

Why Use Argon?

When insulated windows were first produced, the air space between the panes was filled with air or was flushed with dry nitrogen just prior to sealing.  In a sealed unit, as the temperature varies, the hotter air moves to the top and the cooler air to the bottom.  It was found that if the air space was filled with argon gas, which is less conductive, more viscous, or in other words a slower moving gas, that the overall transfer of the heat between the inside and out was reduced.  They become more energy efficient, which means lower energy bills.

 
Does Your Home Need Updating?
Ace Discount Glass and Door can come to your home and measure the insulated windows in your home that have become fogged and replace them with new, clear, insulated, double-pane windows that are more energy efficient as well.  We can also offer you patio door repair if your rollers are sticking.  We can replace those worn rollers.  We also can install a new shower enclosure if your old enclosure has become corroded or water stained over time.  We install both frameless showers and framed showers.

Door Closers

Why Do Door Closers Go Bad?

The most common door closers are mounted to the top frame of a commercial door on the inside of the door.  The commercial doors referred to are the ones you enter at strip malls typically.  Over time, or in the event of a strong wind, the door closer can become damaged beyond repair.  Extended use causes the seals to fail and the door closer will begin to leak oil, and it will cease to close the door.  In this case, you will need to replace the closer.

Sometimes rare and extremely strong winds will rip the mounting bolts out of the frame above the door.  New bolts and steel plates mounted above the door as reinforcement can fix this problem and avoid costly replacement of the store front doors and/or frames.

We Provide Emergency Service!

Ace Discount Glass and Door stocks closers and supplies to repair doors on an emergency basis.  We have six glass service trucks with experienced technicians ready to offer emergency service, including board ups, door glass repair, closer replacements, hinge or pivot replacement, or even complete door replacement.  When you have an emergency or need a quick fix on your door, then call Ace Discount Glass and Door at 512-345-3105.

Don't Get Cut

The average cost of a hand laceration in 2007 was determined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to be $6000.  That included medical costs and administration.  As a home owner or business owner, this potential cost should be evaluated when you decide whether to do it yourself or hire a professional glass company for your glass repairs.  Ironically, the simplest jobs with the thinnest glass can cut you the worst.  Sharp, pointed edges can puncture your skin with the slightest touch.  When you start using force, a slip can easily cut a flap of skin off your hand or worse.  Gloves can help a lot but they cannot guarantee your safety.  Glass can cut through any glove under the right circumstances.

Benefits of Going to a Professional Glass Company

If you choose not to take the risk of a cut or a fall, please call Ace Discount Glass and Doors at 512-345-3105.  We have experienced people with the right safety gear.  We also have full insurance with very high levels of protection for you and for our employees, including Worker’s Compensation coverage.  Many small one-man glass companies do not carry insurance at all, so be careful.

Emergency Repairs

Ace Discount Glass and Doors is ready with emergency service to repair or replace single or double pane insulated windows.  We also can repair tempered patio glass doors, French tempered glass doors, and atrium tempered glass doors.  Mirrors and frameless shower doors can also be quickly repaired or replaced by our shower division.

Tempered Safety Glass

There are two common types of safety glass.  One is called tempered glass and the other is laminated glass.  Tempered glass is 4 to 5 times tougher than regular glass.  To break it you must hit it with a very hard object.  For example, a shoe probably would not break it.  A small piece of ceramic material, which is very, very hard, will break it easily.  Car burglars use this trick often because it is quiet.  When it does break, it breaks or shatters completely into small pieces, which could cause very small cuts but would seldom or never cause a life threatening cut to an artery.

Where Is Tempered Glass Found?

Tempered glass is required by building codes to be used in doors, next to doors, and windows close to the ground, including insulated window units.  You also find tempered glass in frameless shower doors and framed shower doors.  Homes and businesses use tempered glass in all these applications.  Glass shops have the option to have an insignia emblazoned into the glass indicating the glass is tempered.  Building inspectors always inspect for this “bug.”

Tempering of glass involves heating the glass to a very high temperature and cooling it quickly.  This also makes it heat resistant to an extent.  You find tempered glass in coffee carafes, ovens, skylights, and computer screens.

Automobiles use both laminated glass and tempered safety glass.  The windshields are laminated and the windows, back glasses, and sunroofs for the most part are tempered.

How We Can Help You 

Here at Ace Discount Glass and Doors, we stock hundreds of commercial door glasses, called “lites” in the trade, that fit 95% of the commercial doors you will encounter.  We carry them in clear, bronze, and grey tint.  We also carry the popular sizes of patio doors and French doors with frames.  We can quickly fix most tempered glass that needs replacement or temporarily board it up until a custom piece can be fabricated.  If a customer breaks the glass in a storm door, then we can measure it and order the custom size.  Often we can get it in one or two days.  

 
We have maybe the largest inventory of any auto glass retailer in Texas.  That means we can quickly repair your auto glass when you come to our business, even on Saturdays and Sundays.  Please call us at 512-345-3105 for quick service on any glass repair.

Glass Costs and Fracking

How are glass costs and fracking related? Actually, a great deal.  Fracking is the new method for extracting more oil and gas from old wells.  New shafts are drilled horizontally below ground from old well shafts.  Then, water and sand are pumped at very high pressure into these shafts.  This causes fracturing in the formations below and trapped oil and gas are then released.  The glass industry uses the same sand that the oil companies use.  There have been five price increases in the cost of sand in the past three years.  These price increases have been passed along to us.  All of the glass we purchase for frameless and framed showers has increased proportionally.  Fortunately for our customers, we can keep our prices low like we always have because we buy in bulk whenever possible, and we buy more inventory due to our increased sales, which entitles us to a lower cost per square foot.  We have also grown in the past three years and that has allowed us to achieve economies of scales.  These savings have allowed us to keep our prices for all glass products low.  Anytime you need frameless showers, framed showers, mirrors or insulated windows repaired or replaced, please call Ace Discount Glass and Door at 512-345-3105!

To read the article from US Glass, Metal & Glazing Magazine, click the link and go to the article titled "Fractured Fairy Tale: How Hydraulic Fracking Could Lead to Higher Glass Prices"
http://www.usglassmag.com/digital/2012/Mar2012.pdf

Thanks Emily D for the great review.

Emily D posted this on Yelp on 2/28/12.  Thank you to Emily!
So last night my 72lb Boxer proceeded to bust through a window of my house. He must have seen a cat outside. He really wants to eat cats and managed to only get a paper-cut. Anyway, I called Ace Discount Glass around 11:30am today and two guys showed up to fix my window 2 hours later. Jeremy and Ryan finished the job in 15 minutes and and their price was $60 less than another quote I got from a larger company. I'd highly recommend Jeremy and Ace Discount Glass! I believe they do emergency work as well.

Ace does emergency jobs.  Our phones are answered 24 hours a day! Give Ace a call for your auto, home, or business glass needs.

Going Green with New Windows

You lose money if you wait to go green with the windows on your home.  Older homes have single pane windows that are not energy efficient.  They let the cold into your home in winter and they let the heat in all summer.  You benefit three ways when you replace your old windows with new insulated double pane energy efficient windows.  Your electric bill can drop 30% or more, your home will look much better, and the value of your home will increase substantially as well.

We have factory trained window installers, which assures you that we are qualified to retrofit your home with new windows.  The windows we stock and recommend are of much higher quality than you will find at the big box store.  Call us now at 512-345-3105 and watch your electric bill become more affordable.