The Appanoose Economic Development Corporation would like to introduce a new small business to the community: BK Glass, owned and operated by Brad Kirkland, of Centerville. 

BK Glass offers the unique service of on-site glass replacement.  Windows and doors, residential or commercial, BK Glass will bring the equipment and the experience right to the customer’s location and make the replacement on-site.  Usually, the customer needs to remove the window or door and bring it in to a shop to be fixed, but BK Glass saves them the time and trouble. This is a great opportunity for a person who doesn’t consider themself to be a handyman; they can just call BK Glass to come to their home to do the work.

The owner of BK Glass, Brad Kirkland, has more than 30 years of glass replacement experience. He was first introduced to glass work while still in high school in North Bend, Ore. Right after high school, he had an apprenticeship at a company called Area Glass, in North Bend, where he worked for quite some time. The owners of the company had been through apprentice after apprentice, but not everyone can do this type of work.

“You’re a natural,” they told Kirkland, and he agreed that this type of work comes easy to him, and he really enjoys doing it. “When it comes to glass replacement, it’s mostly on-the-job training,” Kirkland said, “but I have attended specialty training at the Kawneer Company, a company that makes aluminum doors.”

For the past six years, Kirkland worked for Yates and Yates Glass in Ottumwa, performing much of the residential glass replacement for the company. Often, if the glass to be replaced is in a Pella window, people give it to Kirkland.

“Pella windows are really well made, so it is a little tougher and messier to replace the glass. But I can do it, it’s not that bad,” Kirkland said.

In April of 2008, Kirkland decided to step out on his own and start his own glass replacement business.

“There seemed to be a need for this type of service in Centerville,” Kirkland said, noting that there aren’t other services of this type in the area. 

To help BK Glass get off the ground, Kirkland was preparing an application to the Small Business Administration for help in purchasing equipment and advertising. That’s when AEDC stepped in and suggested that Kirkland take advantage of the Revolving Loan Fund. The RLF is administered by AEDC, and is designed for, and offered to, individuals who want to start or expand a small business in Appanoose County. Kirkland is now only a couple of payments away from paying off his RLF loan, and was really thrilled with the support he received from AEDC Executive Director Tod Faris.

“Tod has really worked with me throughout the startup of my business, and the RLF loan process was easy. It’s been a great experience,” Kirkland said.

Kirkland works out of his garage, rather than renting a shop that would tie him down to the location. He does much of his work in the afternoons, evenings and weekends, to fit his client’s schedules. His rates are reasonable, and will charge a flat rate if it is single replacement job, or by the hour if it is a multiple replacement project. He only charges mileage if the distance warrants it.

BK Glass keeps window glass in stock that can be custom cut, and can get tempered or laminated glass cut to order from his distributor within a week. He will even work with plexiglass if a customer requests it. Not everyone is aware that there are laws that dictate where safety glass is required. Kirkland is up-to-date with all of the laws regarding glass, and will make sure that the correct type of glass is installed in every situation.

Kirkland’s biggest challenge so far has been getting his name out there, so potential customers will know that BK Glass can help them with their project. He has been passing out business cards and has done some advertising in the Iowegian, but so far, satisfied customers have been the best advertisement. So far, BK Glass has had several satisfied customers, and he gets good word-of-mouth references to new clients from those customers.

Who is a potential BK Glass customer? Anyone with windows or doors that need glass replacement, but it is especially gratifying to Kirkland to help those customers who would have a hard time removing their own windows and doors, and hauling them to a shop to be repaired. “I even helped one fellow replace his screen as well, because he wasn’t able to do it himself — it’s that kind of thing that really makes you feel like you’re providing a good service,” Kirkland said.

If you would like to visit with Kirkland at BK Glass, call (641) 895-7116, and he will be happy to talk to you about your glass replacement needs. If you are interested in a RLF loan from AEDC, call Faris at (641) 856-3388.