Spring Construction Season Ahead
After a long harsh winter, there is nothing more satisfying than completing a project that helps get your home in gear for warmer weather and outdoor activities. No matter the spring construction project—from docks to windows—if you are sourcing building materials, Glenbrook Building Supply is here to help.
Docks
Celebrate bringing your boat out of storage this spring with an upgraded dock. At Glenbrook Building Supply, we sell custom insert dock panels in addition to dock hardware. We are your one-stop-shop for your home or cabin’s lakeside needs.
Deck Materials
Possibly the largest display in the Twin Cities, we carry many side-by-side deck boards on display at our showroom in Oakdale, Minnesota. If you are a professional deck builder, or a homeowner thinking about building a deck this season, our professional staff can guide you to the most current trends and decking materials. Did you know your deck railings could be curved? New technology in the industry can make curved rails a possibility for you. Let’s create the deck of your dreams!
Windows
Let the sunshine in this spring with new windows! At Glenbrook Building Supply, we are proud to carry two premier world-wide window manufacturers: Marvin Windows & Doors and Andersen Windows and Doors. If you are sourcing building materials for your latest window project, you can rest assured knowing you are getting the highest quality of products.
No matter your spring construction plans, Glenbrook Lumber is your source for building supplies. Our knowledgeable staff can help you find exactly what you need. Glenbrook Lumber – A good place to find.
It’s All in the Details – Millwork: Doors
A door is a door is a door right? Not so fast. There’s much to say about a home and curb appeal, and a significant portion of the curb appeal clout comes from the home’s front door. In fact, a 2014 report from Therma Tru Doors claims a new front door can add as much as $24,000 to a home’s perceived value. So, no. A door is not just a door and choosing one that is perfect for your home is a decision that should not be made lightly.
Fit and Function – It goes without saying that any exterior door needs to fit well and function to meet the needs of a homeowner. A door that leaks cold air in the winter or warm in the summer is a detriment to a homeowner’s energy bills.
Just like insulation, exterior doors have varying levels of R value that should be considered. Additionally, adding a storm door may cause higher than wanted heat levels that are not conducive to many fiberglass doors.
Style – Home style is a determining factor in the kind of door you choose. Traditional styles include elements such as raised panels or Shaker-style windows while contemporary doors may lack windows completely.
Color – Sometimes a pop of color on a home is what makes it unique. Those colors also say something about the homeowners. A few of the top door colors and their meanings are noted below:
- Red – One of the most popular choices for front doors, red means Welcome!
- Orange – Similar to a red door, orange means the homeowners are social butterflies. Outgoing and ready to welcome visitors.
- Blue – Another very popular choice in door color, blue means peaceful or tranquil.
- Green – This color for a door signifies ambition.
- Wood – Wood front doors signal the homeowners are generous and down to earth.
An expert door consultant can help you choose the right style, fit, and functional door for your home. As a place for DIYers and professional contractors, the consultants at Glenbrook Lumber can help you choose the door that is the best fit for you home.
Glenbrook Building Supply, Inc provides professional contractors and remodelers with doors from some of the finest door manufacturers in the country. Whether you are looking for real wood, fiberglass, or steel, we can supply all of your building and remodeling needs. We also carry a variety of glass light options for your new door.
Come visit us and easily pick out your style and preference of interior and/or exterior doors at our new bigger and better showroom located in Oakdale, MN.
Ready to start? Click the links below for ideas for your new front door.
The Building Season 2021
The home improvement industry took off like a rocket in 2020 due to COVID-19 stay-at-home mandates and boredom. It made finding construction materials and a good contractor harder than finding a needle in a haystack.
For contractors need to source materials and homeowners thinking about adding a deck in 2021, right now is the time to start getting your 2021 projects lined up.
In December 2020, industry experts and bloggers were predicting lumber shortages and higher prices for materials extending into Q2 of 2021. Read more here.
Contractors are reporting non-binding reservation deposits, a precursor to contracts, were up 48% compared to a year earlier.
Glenbrook Building Supply has been at the forefront of planning and reinforcing our supply chain for the past several months. A full-service lumber yard serving contractors and DIYers, our services and product selections are second to none.
Your One-Stop Shop!
- Commercial & residential building supplies
- Composite, PVC, wood, and aluminum decking & railing materials
- Doors and windows (Anderson Windows and Marvin Windows)
- Interior millwork and molding
- Roofing and siding materials
- Docks and dock accessories
- Interior and exterior doors
- EdgeBuilder Panelized Permanent Wood Foundations
- Panelized wall systems
Our expert sales associates have the resources contractors need to find the best and most innovation solutions on the market. One of these tools is DeckToolsR Deck Sales and Design Software. This is just one of the many examples of tools available to help independent contractors with efficiency and navigating building codes.
Another resource for contractors and DIYers alike, is our monthly Closeouts & Bargains list. Find what you are looking for at the most affordable price available. Learn more here.
Glenbrook Building Supply, Inc. A good place to find. Contact us today for a consultation.
2021 Remodeling Trends
If we can say one thing about 2020 and the building supply industry it was unexpected. From the initial pullback reaction across the supply chain when COVID became reality, to the incredible boom in demand from the DIY market, the twists and turns of 2020 have been quite a ride.
In 2021 most expect to see a continuation of home purchasing and DIY remodeling. At the forefront of the remodeling wave are kitchens and baths. Given the use patterns of most families and the rate of return-on-investment for kitchen and bath remodeling, it’s no wonder these rooms are leading the remodeling trends forecast in 2021.
In a November 2020 article from the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), they reference a recent trends study suggesting the COVID-19 pandemic will have a substantial lasting impact on kitchen and bath design.
Some of the key takeaways from this study suggest L-shaped kitchen islands will dominate layouts. Organic/natural styles for both kitchens and baths will be the trend as traditional falls to the wayside. Light color quartz continues to be in style for both kitchen and bath countertops and dedicated areas for device charging are in high demand.
In bathroom design, radiant heated floors (especially in Minnesota) are a welcome and highly sought-after design feature for 2021. Motion sensor lighting and leak detection mobile alerts are other key convenience features many are adding to their bathroom remodeling project wish list.
No matter your style of your plans, Glenbrook Lumber is your source for building supplies. Our knowledgeable staff can help you find exactly what you need. Glenbrook Lumber – A good place to find.
Basement & Lower Level Remodeling Trends
As outdoor construction and remodeling slows down for the winter, interior remodeling is just getting started for many contractors. To stand out among the rest, contractors should be using high-quality materials and designs for their clients. Additionally, they should know the trends so they can become a trusted source to homeowners that ask for recommendations on their remodels. Here are some of the most popular remodeling trends for lower levels and their benefits in the home:
Home Gym
Instead of braving the cold weather, homeowners can stay at home to get their routine exercise. A home gym will also allow them to customize the equipment to their needs, so they won’t have to worry about using the same machines as hundreds of other people.
Wine Cellar
If they’ve always wanted a large wine collection, having a wine cellar will help them safely store and display the bottles. The cellar can also be customized to fit a variety of styles that will match the home whether that includes rustic, Italian, or modern. Additionally, depending on how much wine they plan to store, they can have a dedicated room for the wine or request it be turned into a combined bar area.
Home Bar
They can skip the noisy bars and gather family and friends at their own home bar. These have become a popular addition in homes that love to host—it’s easy to pull up some bar stools and hang out while enjoying homemade cocktails. A custom bar will allow them to choose the size so that even smaller homes can have this luxurious addition.
Extra Bathroom
To add value to your home and ease for the family, an extra bathroom in the lower level can be a welcome addition in the morning or when they’re hosting others. In the long run, it will also add value to the home when they eventually end up selling it. If there’s no tub in the other bathrooms, a custom bathroom is the perfect opportunity to include a soaking tub for relaxation.
Home Theater
Family movie nights get a major upgrade when a home theater is added. These can be as simples or complex as the client wants; however, reclining chairs, surround sound, and a retractable projection screen are always a plus. A snack bar with a popcorn machine will add the finishing touch.
Overall, these remodeling projects can be extensive and require high-quality lumber and wall panels depending on the home’s current layout. Glenbrook Lumber specializes in providing excellent building materials for professional contractors, and we serve Oakdale, Maplewood, Woodbury, Stillwater, Western Wisconsin and St. Paul, MN.
The Search for Building Supplies in 2020
Fall is here and with it comes the annual scramble to get projects buttoned up before winter sets in. As par for the course in 2020, this fall may be challenging as material shortages, in all species of lumber and composite deck boards, still loom.
Lumber and sheet good (OSB, plywood) prices rose sharply in 2020 due to a supply and demand shortage. Just when we thought lumber prices could not go any higher, they did and to sometimes astonishing levels. Why is did this happen in the first place? Here is our take on how COVID-19 is affecting the building supply industry.
Early in the year, when the pandemic was new and uncertainly high, many manufacturers made the inaccurate prediction that demand for materials would be low due to nationwide shutdowns. The decision to make and stock less material was the wrong call because manufacturers did not accurately assess what DIY’ers in quarantine would do. With time on their hands and nowhere to go but home, DIY projects exploded.
Examples of this surge were notably seen in the decking market. The price of southern yellow pine treated wood rose to record highs and thus inventory to record lows. Trying to source treated decking, was like looking for a needle in a haystack. The demand for composite and cedar deck boards was equally voracious. All the DIY’ers, in addition to relatively strong single-family construction and remodeling, pushed the limits of what a fully operationally supply chain could produce much less one that was mostly shut down. Yikes!
Unfortunately, for the foreseeable future, we see little relief in sight in terms of product availability. As mills and suppliers struggle to catch up, backorders on decking, siding, and lumber are now commonplace. Additionally, we are seeing extended lead time on trusses, windows, and many other building supply items.
Like many others, you might be dreaming about replacing your deck, swapping out windows, doors, or taking on a winter project by finishing your basement. Whatever building project you may be contemplating, Glenbrook Building Supply is here to help you bring your quarantine induced dream to reality. However, please plan accordingly. It seems many are dreaming similar dreams!
Our thanks to all of you for your patience throughout 2020. Winter always slows things in our industry down a bit. Maybe, with a little luck, it will be enough to get the supply chain back on track. Glenbrook Building Supply, “A Good Place to Find!”
Introducing MoistureShield Composite Decking
Glenbrook Building Supply now carries MoistureShield brand composite decking!
MoistureShield differs from other types of composite decking because it can be not only installed traditionally on a deck frame, but also in the ground, or even underwater. Their innovative products are made of wood fibers that are individually encapsulated in plastic, to protect the decking material from water, insects, and environmental damage. Moistureshield calls this Sold Core technology.
MoistureShield has a variety of uses. Even in our harsh winters, Moistureshield is tough enough to withstand the elements and de-icing salt on your deck is no problem! Installing a pool? Certain Moistureshield styles meet or exceed OSHA’s recommended slip resistance. Slip resistance geared for high-traffic commercial spaces and composite technology designed tough enough for marinas and docks.
If durability doesn’t have you sold, here are some other great features of MoistureShield Composite Decking:
• 95% recycled materials
• 30-year fade and stain warranty
• 50-year transferable structural warranty
• CoolDeck® Technology with 35% less heat absorption than other brands
Visit Glenbrook Building Supply today for samples and pricing. When you work with MoistureShield and Glenbrook, you know that you are working with a winning team!
The Benefits of Permanent Wood Foundations
For those of you contemplating a new home, a new basement, or replacement foundation, you might want to consider a permanent wood foundation as an alternative to concrete. What you will find, is comfort like no other foundation – warmer, dryer, and energy efficient. Ask somebody who has one and they are sure to tell you how comfortable they are (especially in winter).
Permanent wood foundations are constructed from wood that is specifically treated for below ground use. It will not rot or become consumed by insects, as the food value of the wood is removed upon treatment. They are designed to withstand the earth pressures by sizing the studs right, adding shear walls, and proper connection to the main structure with fasteners. Wood foundations include counterforts, blocking, and backfilling AFTER the bottom plates are secure and the foundation is “capped” to ensure their durability.
Like poured concrete or concrete block foundations, permanent wood foundations need a rock or concrete footing.
Insulating a wood foundation is much easier than concrete, as all the insulating is done from the interior, with insulation in the stud cavities. A minimum 2”x8” stud, provides enough depth to achieve more than the required basement “R -value” here in Minnesota.
What else does a permanent wood foundation offer?
- Faster construction as it can be panelized in a factory
- Flexibility in architectural design
- More basement square footage as no basement furring walls are needed
- Easier basement finishing with wiring run right through the exterior wall studs
- Siding the exterior of your home close to ground level
If your interest has been peaked on an energy efficient foundation alternative to concrete, then let us answer any additional questions you might have. We can even put together an estimate for the cost of your foundation and since we are a one stop shop, all your other construction needs (windows, doors, millwork, etc.) can be quoted at the same time. Just go to info@glenbrooklumber.com. Glenbrook Building Supply is the sister company to Edgebuilder, which specializes in panelized walls (including foundation panels).
Featured Window Manufacturer: Marvin Windows
As the industry moves full steam ahead into peak construction season, we wanted to highlight one of our top-selling window manufacturers: Marvin. Marvin is the largest made-to-order wood window and door manufacturer in the world, and their Signature Series is the largest made-to-order wood window manufacturer in the country. Some benefits of Marvin products include:
- A full line of replacement windows for homeowners looking to update and create a more energy efficient home.
- Custom work that will be built with the customer’s specific requirements in mind. They do not have a stockpile of inventory completed projects.
- Because of that high-quality custom services, they have an extensive variety of shapes, style, colors, and overall options.
- A family-run business dedicated to quality products and customer service. Marvin began in 1912, and the Marvin family is still actively involved in the day-to-day operation to ensure it sticks to their high standards. This has earned them an outstanding reputation in the industry, which is why we are proud to have their products.
In terms of window installation, Marvin has several product lines to serve the many needs of the industry. The Essential Series features interior and exteriors made of fiberglass, which makes them a versatile and durable choice. The Elevate Series has exteriors made of fiberglass and interiors made with high-quality wood, which add warmth and aesthetic to your home. The Signature Ultimate line has aluminum cladding and wood interiors. Additionally, the fiberglass they use is Ultrex®, a highly durable fiberglass material that’s Energy Star qualified and practically maintenance free.
Here’s a visual look at the amazing variety contractors can offer their clients through the Marvin collections.
Marvin Essential Collection
Marvin Elevate Collection
Marvin Signature Ultimate Collection
We’re proud to carry Marvin products and would love to help you pick out the perfect window for your clients’ needs. Glenbrook Building Supply has been serving pro contractors since 1988. Contact us to learn how we can be your one-stop shop for building materials.
Conventional wood framing using component wall panels from EdgeBuilder
Residential home builders, it’s time to consider a new way to frame. Wall panels from EdgeBuilder take traditional “stick built” framing to a faster and more reliable level. Built in a controlled environment and delivered preassembled to your jobsite, our walls panels are custom made to your exact specifications, so they are ready to install immediately. This leaves your builds with less exposure to the elements and helps you move from build to build in a more efficient way.
Whether Glenbrook Lumber designs your home for you, or you provide us with architectural drawings by others, our wall panel designers break your project into bundles of pre-framed wall panels. We then ship the bundles to site according to your framing sequence, with drawings that detail and match the numbers on the wall panels.
Our designers use specialized software that gives us a 3-D view of your home, with the ability to see HVAC runs, blocking needs, bearing for trusses, rough openings, and any other project specific framing considerations. Essentially, we try to make your build easier by putting the thought on the front end.
The results:
• Faster builds
• Less waste
• More time to move on to other projects
We can even do the basement. Our wood foundation division has been creating warm, dry lower levels for local homeowners for years.
Contact us to today for a wall panel quote on your next project!
info@glenbrooklumber.com or 651-770-9071
Brands We Carry
