Arctic conditions open ideal window for some workers

By Jon Moffett

AUSTINTOWN — Several inches of snow on the ground and subfreezing temperatures made for a perfect day for some Valley workers.

While some people stayed indoors Thursday, Brian Groover and a crew were outside, enjoying the ability to work.

“Once you get moving it doesn’t bother you too much,” Groover said. “As long as you stay moving, you stay warm.”

Groover, who owns Groover Roofing & Siding in Girard, and his crew were replacing windows at the Wickliffe Presbyterian Church.

A large hydraulic machine was required because of the height of the windows. Groover said the temperature, which was about 10 degrees, needed to be cold enough to freeze the ground completely.

“Why today? Because the temperature had to get down below freezing in order to get the lift on the yard so there was no damage,” Groover said. “And we couldn’t do it in the fall because it was too wet. So we had to come in and schedule a day ... when the ground was frozen.”

The large cathedral windows at the front of the church were replaced. Kathy Harrison, a secretary at the church, said the building had needed to replace the windows for a long time.

“I’m just surprised someone is out here today,” she said.

Groover said the temperature doesn’t stop his crew from doing its job.

“We’ve been out in some bad weather,” he said. “We’ve shoveled 2 feet of snow off of roofs just to get the roof done. The guys are really accustomed to working in this weather; they don’t mind it at all.”

Ken McFall, the foreman on the Wickliffe job, said the conditions don’t really affect the work.

“It’s OK; I mean, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” he said. “As soon as you start working you don’t really pay much attention to the weather.”

He added weather conditions can be extreme, but it doesn’t change the fact the work needs to be done.

“You work when it’s cold, you work when it’s wet, and you work when it’s hot — or you don’t work.”

Because of the ideal conditions, Groover and the crew began work on the church project. The first step was to replace the three windows in the front of the church, behind the choir area. Groover said choir members had noticed drafts.

“We’re replacing the windows with more energy-efficient windows,” he said. “They were losing a lot of heat out of the [church] and they just wanted more energy-efficient windows.”

Groover said the company has worked with windows in its 15-year history. He said the best way to combat the elements is to plan.

“You should dress accordingly and layer up,” he said. “That’s the key.”

jmoffett@vindy.com