Windscreen fitting

[catswhiskers]

Me again,

Does anybody know of a windscreen fitting outfit that they would reccommend or suggest to fit my screen. Obviously, location has to have a bearing on things, unless there is a national company thats up to the job. Any idea what would be the going rate for the job ?
Corse Chris, your guys did a very good job, were they local to you ?

Thanks.

Mick. :confused:

[chris.richard]

What about Auto glass or one of the big nationals? They turn up at the roadside and replace your screen there 7 than, so I would think they could do it chez vous. I presume you don't want to do it yourself?

[CorseChris]

Hi Mick,

I think I fell lucky to be honest, but I Googled for windscreen fitters in my area and picked an independant guy rather than a 'chain'. Turns out he had done lots of 'unusual' cars and he was really careful. Cost me £82 IIRC. Not bad considering it took him the best part of 2 hours, including making up the T section trim to fit. Only a very slight cock up in one corner that I'll do my best to hide at some point! I was certainly glad I'd spent a good while getting it to fit as well as I could before paint though.

Last time I had an odd one done was the Marcos. That time I was obliged to use Autoglass as it was an insurance job. The screen was probably the best-fitting item on that car as it happens so they had an easy time of it. I used a silicone bead as trim in the end as well, so they didn't have to fit the trim either. Cost me £40 that time.

[catswhiskers]

[QUOTE I presume you don't want to do it yourself?[/QUOTE]

Well I hadn't considered it. Isn't it a specialised job? or do you just gob lots of Sikkaflex on and hope :D :D :D

Mick.

[Sando]

Hi Mick
The quotes I got from Autoglass et al were all £100 or more and most didn't want to do fitting only. Have you had the same lack of interest?

I found a local guy at Trowell (Nottm) A B Screens 0115 9321311, the list of cars he had fitted glass to was very impressive and he did a good job on mine, only Charged £45 cash too. He had to go off to get some foam damming tape to go around the internal edge as well. Worth mentioning that you need this if you speak to him.

What are you doing for the external trim? If that is all ready to go on, he'll stick that on too at the same time.


Not long now then if you're thinking of the Screen :)
cheers
Rob

[chris.richard]

or do you just gob lots of Sikkaflex on and hope

I thought that was pretty much it. Depends on the fit, I suppose. Arthur had a bit of a struggle getting his on.

[catswhiskers]

Sounds like a good contact Rob. Local to us too. I haven't thought about the external trim yet do I'm looking for suggestions prior to needing it. I haven't had any quotes for the job yet. I thought I'd tap the resources of you guys first.
Thanks for the input. Now, about the external trim?????
Any pictures and suggestions?????


Mick

[CorseChris]

Mick, I used T section PVC for mine. It was something I had left over from the Marcos oddly enough. You saw the result yourself, although I don't know if you had the chance to look closely at it, generally, it's pretty good. It needed slight cutting in the bottom corners to make it round, and a mitre in the top corners. Right-hand bottom corner was darn near perfect, left-hand bottom he took a sliver too much out so there is a small gap I need to fill.

FWIW, Sikaflex isn't really up to it, you need something with a higher modulus, and to be honest, the experience these guys bring to the job is worth the cost I think. My bloke didn't do anything I couldn't have....with practice! The bead of adhesive needed to be of different thicknesses in different places - he worked this out on a trial fit and then applied the goo. Once the screen had settled in, he then applied the trim, but using black silicone, not windscreen bond or Sikaflex. His reason was to allow it to be removed easily if needed. Only down-side to this was that it has lifted ever so slightly in a couple of places. Only a fraction, but it does show if you look for it. Another of those wee jobs is to run a fine bead of black silicone to fill these tiny gaps.

The barrier foam sounds interesting. I reckon we could have used some along the top edge of my screen as there is a bit of a 'lump' inside that needs trimming off some time. I'll leave it a good while to cure before I try.

[catswhiskers]

Thanks for the info Chris. To be honest, I would never try fitting it myself. Its far too important an element of the car to risk. Regarding your PVC trim, I did take a good look at it during your SVA test and thought it was very neat.
I think I'll be talking to Sando's contact very shortly. Its just that I wanted to know what trims are suitable and where they can be bought from.

Mick.

[CorseChris]

I think I got the trim from Woolies, but it was a while back! If you'r not in too much of a rush, I can pop a small sample of it in the post if you like.

[catswhiskers]

That would be great Chris if you dont mind. I plan to go down to Woolies in the next week or so. Fortunately, I have to visit a client in Peterborough so I can call in while I'm down there.

Mick

[chris.richard]

To be honest, I would never try fitting it myself. Its far too important an element of the car to risk.

Says the man who's just assembled his brakes,suspension, steering, harness mountings, seat mountings and all the other safety neutral parts of the car.... :p

[BAS]

Try Graham Bates he makes a surround to fit the Hawk.

[catswhiskers]

thanks Brent, I have his number somewhere in my diary.

Chris, I know what you mean but I dont want to have a bollox moment by breaking the glass now do I. Especially as the replacement would not be cheap. ;)
Mick

[CorseChris]

The thing that put me off fitting mine was the fact you only get one stab at it. I can't being to imagine just how much of a mess you'd get into if you had to take it off again while the goo was still soft.

[Chris J]

I had to take one out last year.

I'm still shaking.

[chris.richard]

I had to take one out this year.

I'm still (s)weeping. :rolleyes:

[guy mayers]

I had to take one out this year.

Insurance man is still crying......

But I know a man who had three in a week...........

[catswhiskers]

Members of the jury, I rest my case. :D :D

Mick

[CorseChris]

Mick,

Sample of PVC 'T' section trim in the post.....