A Windshield Replacement Never Forgotten

by Brian Smith

 

 

It was one of those days when we were really busy and it was time to help in the field. I got on the truck to do service work with my brother and put my sales manager hat aside for the installer one. I enjoy getting out with him because I still learn new things every time, but I also get the opportunity to see the story behind many of the calls The Auto Glass Guy receives. David also doesn’t have much time to take pictures when going from call to call. So when I tag along, I’m afforded the opportunity to bring the photos to our readers as I work alongside.

 I guess today I’m bringing a reality check to drivers. The majority of the glass damage we encounter from our clients include rocks or other debris from the roadway. Then there are the instances that include a falling tree branch, hitting a deer, a baseball thrown a little out of bounds, hail storms and even a customer that swung a golf ball that ricocheted off of a tree, hitting his windshield. We’ve heard many stories along the way.

 So when I heard the damage was caused by an accident involving a child, I didn’t quite know how to participate in the windshield replacement. The young one was hit while on a bicycle.

 

 

Damage when I walked into the body shop

 

 

Another angle of damage

 

Yes, I was in slight shock. The first thing that came to mind was whether the child was ok or not. I also wondered what the driver was going through. So with mixed emotions, I started helping with the install, but I also asked a few questions. Yes, the child is ok.

 That part soothing your minds, the driver was shook up as well. These accidents are difficult to avoid, and we all know why. We got started, and all the elements of a proper install still applied. Since I felt a little better about the child being ok, I got to work assisting David.

 

 

David begins cutting windshield away from vehicle

 

I got busy cleaning, priming and prepping the glass

 

David uses high-pressured air to get the glass loose

 

The interior of the car was littered with chips of glass, so we vacuumed very well. David worked on getting the glass out of the defrost-vents and began the usual steps of cutting the old adhesive bead away and priming the surface around the pinch weld to prevent rust.

 

The polurethane adhesive is applied

 

A closeup illustrating the height of the new bead of adhesive

 

Wipers reattached after windshield is set in place

 

Job finished and good as new

 

The professional crew of the body shop took it from there. There was a little fender damage they’ll work wonders on. Keep in mind that The Auto Glass Guy knows who to recommend just as body shops know a great auto glass professional to point you to. Always feel free to contact our office when in need of a service provider that’s not only fair, but also excellent at what they do.

 Seeing the car with a new windshield made me feel a little better about this service call. Yes, it started out a little uneasy for me, but seeing progress took the edge off. I guess this is a great time to tell everybody to take their time, use caution and definitely watch out for the kids!

Serene Butler, Georgia

by Brian Smith

There’s not much to Butler, Georgia, a small town of about 2,000 residents, but the experience is at ease and a breath of fresh air. Just west of Fort Valley, Georgia, Butler is a quiet town that was known as the fifty mile station on the railroad due to being in the middle of Taylor county. Butler was incorporated in 1854, but the charter was not recieved until 1870.

 General William Orlando Butler inspired this small towns name, an American hero in the Mexican War and once a Vice-Presidential candidate. The town square is kept neat and is consistent with southern architecture. Everything is basically local in this clean town of friendly folks. It’s a great place to stop for a relaxing rest from the bustling city or take in the southern cooking of a small local diner. Enjoy the pictures.

A look at the Taylor County Courthouse

Historic architecture

Tina’s was a great place for lunch!

A look at the eastern side of the town square

The “other side” of town, a block over

The Butler Herald building

I always love these small towns and the southern charm that one senses when visiting. As a matter of fact, I envy the residents, who live a quiet life, knowing their neighbors very well. I always have to remind readers that the best feature of small towns like Butler are the people that live there. Nowhere else is courtesy and friendliness better.

 A big thanks to the service providers, insurance agents and the great people of Butler for having me as their guest! To take a closer look at Butler, click HERE.

Wind, Hail, Flying Debris, Oh My!

by Brian Smith

 I thought today would be an appropriate day to do bit on the weather that affects the residents of Middle Georgia. Today, many of us were reminded that mother nature has us where she wants us, not the other way around. The lightening struck, the hail came down, tornado’s threatened and the winds were racing at over 50 mph. I don’t know about many of you, but I was worried for a spell.

 It’s also times like these that The Auto Glass Guy gets busier. Yes, business is always welcome, but we’d prefer to repair or replace a windshield that had a rock hit it than a dangerous storm. We hope everyone is ok as authorities assess the damage. Nevertheless, if you need us, please contact the office right away for prompt service in order to avoid the lines that inevitably form when we encounter weather like this.

 Naturally, I have a prime example. The Middle Georgia area experienced heavy winds last week and the phones lit up a bit. One of the calls was from a building contractor that sustained damage from a fallen tree. Luckily, only a few branches hit the vehicles’ front side, taking the windshield out. It’s scenes like this one that keeps The Auto Glass Guy on their toes after a major storm.

Arriving to find a mess

Damaged just a little bit, huh?

An inside view of the damage

The culprit

Not a small tree by any means

The pro gets started, removing cowling to expose glass edge

The big guns come out. It’s called an Equalizer

A tool, called the Equalizer, comes into play on this job. It makes cutting the glass away much easier than with the traditional tools because the glass is flimsy from being cracked so extensively. Only the laminate is holding this glass together at this point.

Zoom-in view of the Equalizer in action

Cutting away the windshield from the inside

The rest is done with a “long knife”

As always, David The Auto Glass Guy prevails

Pinch weld is cleaned up to prepare for install

After cleaning, the primer is applied to prevent rust

Top-quality polyurethane adhesive is applied

Glass cleaned and primed, ready to go

Windshield married to the vehicle

Pieced back together and finished

This is what The Auto Glass Guy does at a higher number after storms. Having done thousands of them in the area of experience, trust the best to get you and your family back on the road. Or, in this case, back to work! The building contractor was back to the job site in no time at all.

 We can’t control what mother nature throws at us, but there’s reputable professionals out there willing to help in every way possible. If it’s not glass, The Auto Glass Guy can help you find a reputable service provider. Whether it be a restoration service for water damage, body shop, mechanic, yard debris that need to be removed or a roofer, please contact us for a referral. We recommend only the best!

Sound Too Good To Be True? It Probably Isn’t!

by Brian Smith

 I know you’ve all probably heard the verbiage, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Well, depending upon you’re understanding of the English language, there could be a couple different meanings. So let’s save the frills. I prefer, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t!“

 Enter the age of failing corporations and small businesses alike. One thing I’ve found consistent with these failing businesses is a lack of integrity and customer service. I’m not one to preach what I can do for you and not deliver, so I’ll leave that for the well-financed pros that think customers are, sadly, plain dumb.

 But consumers are not dumb! It’s the furthest thing from the truth. Now more than ever, especially in a delicate economy, shoppers are becoming experts at their craft of locating the best product for the best price, and are particularly looking for superb customer service. As I’ve eluded to, consumers are finding customer service that only money can buy, but this shouldn’t be, people! Treating customers fairly and with respect (not insulting their intelligence) is not unreasonable at all.

 I did my own leg-work in locating such examples. It didn’t take long at all to be smacked in the face with it. I was approached recently by a customer of ours that said there was a company advertising free windshield repairs. Although he was rather skeptical about this he wanted to know, as a consumer, if we did the same. The answer?

 NO.

 If anyone out there is standing in the hot Georgia sun offering these great freebies, I’d like to know what the catch is right away. And that’s just it, there’s always a catch. Even advertising ‘sometimes at no cost’ is deceptive and untrue. Then there’s the glass company stating in commercials that goes, “At times, no cost to you.” It shows an installer putting his hand up not accepting a payment when the customer asked what he owed, thereafter closing his wallet.

 They are insulting the intelligence of our valued customers!

 So I went in for my free windshield repair and immediately was asked if I had comprehensive auto insurance. Although I really do, I told them I did not, but would like to take advantage of their free windshield repair. I was then told it was free to policy holders that had glass coverage built in to their insurance, or with certain insurance companies that waive the deductibles on windshield repairs (in lieu of not replacing a more expensive windshield altogether). The same goes for the glass companies I mentioned on TV and radio.

 Integrity and customer service was not included in these advertising and sales practices. My best interest was not kept in mind, only a sales tactic to bill my insurance company. I immediately became second rate when I was told what the conditions were, so I went on my way.

 One more thing about customer service, middle Georgia. If someone makes a mistake servicing the glass on your windshield, it’s not unfair to expect it to be corrected immediately. The national companies, as previous customers of ours have attested, will schedule days or even weeks-out to correct an error. However, these same companies jump right on an insurance claim and come out the next day to get the job done. Too bad they don’t do it right consistently the first time, right? Take a number, please!

 The Auto Glass Guy has the influence of integrity and customer service in the auto glass industry, but we really feel bad that we cannot have a bigger effect in other industries. Across the board, no matter what service you’re searching for, bad business practices and the lack of integrity plagues this country! Call me a little obsessed with this subject, but I just happen to be a consumer too, and have had many years to develope a bad taste in my mouth as well.

 If it sounds too good to be true, it usually isn’t! Memorize it, consumers!

 Save yourself the disgust and frustrations if you’re looking for quality in auto glass services. We can do something about that! Click HERE to meet the team of The Auto Glass Guy intimately. We want to know your name, not just your insurance company!

We Come to You!

by Brian Smith

 The emphasis today is about the flexibility any good glass company should have. Since every customer is different and has an array of needs, there has to be many choices and ways to reach our customers in an effective way.

 Busy schedule? Not a problem!

 The Auto Glass Guy understands the need for this flexibility for those that have to pay the bills, or otherwise get things done in life. Many put off repairing or replacing their auto glass because somewhere in their minds, they feel there’s just not enough time to stop what they’re doing to get it done. Wait a second, people. The Auto Glass Guy comes to you!

 A busy nurse called on us to get a windshield replaced in the parking garage in downtown Macon. Her Mitsubishi is the lifeline she depends upon for so much. She said she put it off long enough, as after work she had errands to run and 2 children at home. She couldn’t be without her car! But when we said we could come to where the car would be sitting while she worked, she set the appointment right away. So, I’ll save the rest for the illustrations below. Our work speaks for itself!

Tools of the trade are laid out

David removes the pillar post cover

“Surgery” is about to begin

Cutting of the windshield begins

Windshield completely removed

Windshield cleaned and activator applied

Old bead is cut away with precision to proper depth

After a windshield is cut away there are spots that must be treated with primer. This step is never optional, as failing to do so would result in rust forming. So below is an example.

After cutting and before priming

Primer used in this task. Messy stuff!

Primer is applied to affected areas

After the area is cleaned well and primer is allowed to dry, the polyurethane adhesive is carefully applied evenly.

Adhesive applied with special applicator

Glass is set in place. Dead on!

Piecing everything back together

Good as new!

We made great friends with a nurse that day. When she got off of a grueling, 12 hour shift, she road home with a smile on her face. Her busy life didn’t miss a beat! She said she will tell others about us. Often, we’re asked, “How can I thank you?” We always tell our customers that the best way they can thank us is by telling others about The Auto Glass Guy and their pleasant experience!

Getting Dirty

by Brian Smith

 You’ve read our blogs before when we lay out jobs for you, and this is much of the same. The only difference this time around is the type of vehicle. We like to bring a variety to our readers who may be in the respective industry we feature.

 It’s another hot day, but the focus stays sharp. Today it’s a vehicle used by PSI, Inc. here in middle Georgia. These guys get dirty for a living, and so naturally they pass along glances of how hard they must work. But getting dirty is never a problem.

Sizing up the project.

New glass is prepped.

Surface prepared after old windshield is removed.

Moulding is attached.

Adhesive is applied to clean, treated surface.

New windshield set in place.

Actually, this was one of the easy ones, as there was no hood to reach over. After putting it all back together, there was only one thing left to do. Wash it!

I think we’ll stick to just glass!

Small Car, Big Windshield

by Brian Smith

 Whether the vehicle be big or small, likewise the windshield could be well, big or small. It was a busy day for installs yesterday, so I found myself out in the field with David, pitching in where I could. But you know me, I always know when to have the camera handy!

 A local dealership had us come out to replace the windshield on a Honda Civic. I was surprised to learn that despite my vision of a smaller car being easier to tackle, the details get smaller, uhmm, bigger with it. To further my amazement, the windshield on this little ride was longer than the typical luxury sedan. As such, Honda’s new design (I figured it was due to aerodynamics), was much longer than usual.

Honda’s newer, longer windshield design

Interestingly though, prepping the windshield was the same. We cleaned it well and primed the edges that would come in contact with the adhesive. This particular windshield came pre-equipped with a moulding already attached. So just when I felt relief that there was one less thing to do, David says, “Not so fast!”

David removes part of the cowl-moulding to expose glass edge

It was time to remove the small parts that come along with this new design. Honda’s are well-built machines, but don’t bring an amateur to break down and piece back together these vehicles to get to the job done. These parts are not cheap, and inconveniencing the customer with mistakes could be costlier when they quit calling for services.

David removes trim to gain access to glass on sides

Upper moulding is gently cut away

We have the windshield prepped, and the outer edges of the glass are exposed to begin “cutting” the windshield out. The hood is covered to protect the paint finish, and safety really kicks in at this point. David puts on his cut-resistent gloves and safety glasses, getting right to it.

A special cutting tool used to seperate adhesive

A special cutting tool (called a cold knife), is used all the way around the glass. There are two of them with different sized blades; the smaller being used first to strike the adhesive and a longer one behind it to complete the cut of the windshield away from the pinch weld of the vehicle.

Close-up of a cold knife

Cutting along the bottom

David completes cutting on the sides

More times than not, a long knife is brought into play to complete the cutting, but to my relief, the cold knives did it without a hitch. It cut free easily and David removes the windshield to be replaced.

Removal is complete

Today I’m adding more details for a couple reasons. First, I want to feature more of what we do, but I also want to point out some of the important things in more depth, and the vital need to do it right, step by step. So the next task is a very little-known one by those outside the industry, but nonetheless as important as any other step in a windshield replacement process. The step I’m speaking of entails removing the old bead of polyurethane adhesive. I can’t tell you how many times we have removed a windshield that has been replaced before, only to find that this step was not followed. By not removing the old adhesive bead, the structural integrity in which the windshield plays in the safety of the vehicle is compromised, not to mention the possibility of water leaks and air noise.

David removes the old band of adhesive with a long knife

Another example of cutting the adhesive bead away

Any good glass installer, especially one that’s certified, will tell you the exact standard in which the height of the bead should be upon cutting the adhesive away. Below is a before and after to give you a better idea.

Before bead is cut away

After bead is cut away

So, we have the adhesive bead cut away, and like all other steps, the next one is just as important as the last. The area is cleaned very well then primed where scratches occured during the cutting process on the pinch weld. Don’t be alarmed, it’s common to get these scratches when removing the glass. Not doing so will cause costly rust to form.

David covers any and all scratches in pinch weld with primer

Now for the next step, applying the polyurethane adhesive. This will be the bond between the windshield and vehicle itself. This step requires a very steady hand to apply the adhesive exactly where it has to be to marry the two surfaces correctly.

Professional-grade polyurethane adhesive

Legitimate professionals in the glass business know their products. No shortcuts or cheap materials will suffice when The Auto Glass Guy installs all glass into an automobile. Can you believe this small tube of adhesive costs up to $28? I believe there may be cheaper adhesives out there somewhere, but David knows this is some of the best money can buy. It not only cures quickly (typical dry-time is about an hour), but also exceeds safety standards for which the product is used.

Polyurethane is applied to vehicle with special applicator

Over-head view of adhesive application

Adhesive is smoothed together where the new bead meets

It’s imperative to smooth the bead where the adhesive meets to assure full coverage and continuity of the adhesive bead iself. To not do so could be to gamble with possible leaks in the future. A small bead of adhesive is added to the windshield moulding itself to safeguard against leaks and a tight fit that keeps air noise at bay.

David runs a small bead along the moulding on the glass

Now, for the moment of truth, and also why it’s vital that all previous steps are to be followed. It’s time to set the windshield into place. I was happy to join in on this task to make it go smoother. Below is the glass immediately after setting it into place and piecing the car back together. It’s as if nothing ever happened to the windshield.

A Honda Civic ready for the road again!

I know I went into much more detail as I mentioned before, and plan to do so in the future from time to time. Keep an eye out for the next article The Auto Glass Guy publishes, as knowing what goes on behind the scenes makes you the expert in choosing The Auto Glass Guy for your auto glass needs!