Problems occur at any business (or home for that matter), but the real indication of quality leadership and effective teamwork is how those problems are addressed.  We believe that having the owner (someone whose personal reputation is closely associated with the performance of their company),  present in the everyday operation of each individual aspect of the shop makes all the difference.  When the business owner knows each employee, and that employee’s history with the company and role in daily proceedings, problems can be solved more quickly and efficiently.

We would hate for a customer to leave our shop and tell others about a bad experience with glass repair or windshield replacement.   But that is exactly what will happen if customer satisfaction issues aren’t addressed before they walk out the door – angry customers voice their opinions more loudly than the happy ones.  We recently heard of such an incident at a Raleigh location of a national auto glass chain that was featured on a local news “Troubleshooter” segment.   While no one wants their company’s troubles broadcast on the news,  the unfortunate consequence of sub-standard service is dissatisfied customers with strong opinions about your business.

We strive to make the customer experience not just satisfactory, but pleasant.  Some of the most common complaints in the industry are related to either bad customer relations by employees and management or inattentive, improperly trained technicians.  And while these issues are easily resolved by hiring the right people and giving them the proper training, those simple solutions can be out of reach to the people in charge who are thousands of miles away.

At Deals Glass Services we hope our family atmosphere and friendly, well trained staff will prove to customers that what we lack in quantity gives us the time to focus on the quality of each job we perform.

With mobile repair available and insurance footing most of the bills, we hope to see more Charlotte area drivers coming in for replacement immediately.   Since the windshield is essential to the structural integrity of the vehicle, driving around with a severely damaged auto glass is equivalent to ignoring frame damage.

Not only does the windshield hold up the roof of the car, preventing collapse, it is also integral to the Safety Restraint System.  In the event of a collision, the airbag deflects off the windshield in order to hold it’s proper position in front of the driver or front passenger.  When the windshield is weakened by a crack, the glass can fold like a hinge upon impact, displacing the airbags and further weakening the surface that supports the roof and provides a barrier that keeps people inside the vehicle.

Once drivers resolve to get immediate attention for their damaged windshield, their safety is still determined by the quality of the replacement products and the procedure of the glass technicians.   When a shop is using inferior products, it can compromise the safety of the work they are doing.  Aftermarket (non-OEM) windshields don’t always have the proper fit or proportion and cheap urethane doesn’t dry properly – when these factors are paired with improper training in procedure it can spell disaster for the car owner.

We want anyone who has a severe crack in their windshield to remember that the windshield is essentially a safety component.  So please, get your OEM replacement at a qualified shop as soon as the damage pops up – before your windshield pops out!

While laminated side windows were at first a new technology reserved for foreign luxury cars, they now appear in other automobiles, including some American SUVs.  With laminated side windows becoming more prevalent, many drivers are becoming more familiar with the benefits that laminated glass can provide.  One of the most notable advantages of laminated side windows, and probably the biggest draw to luxury car makers, is the quieter ride provided by layered glass.   The plastic laminate material provides an additional sound barrier, helping to suppress outside noise in the passenger cabin.

Another benefit that the owner of a car with laminated side windows might hope to never appreciate personally, is the prevention of a “smash and grab” type car burglary.   Since tempered glass is not used on laminated glass side windows, the glass doesn’t shatter into a million pieces, as side windows traditionally do.  The middle laminate material holds the pieces together, so even if the glass is destroyed, the barrier stays in place, preventing entry to the vehicle.

The problem the owner would face after the attempt of this type of crime would be the significant difference in price between laminate and tempered glass side windows.  Since tempered glass is five times harder than the glass used in laminate windows, it’s actually easier to damage laminated windows.  And since stress to windows can be caused by everyday events – elbow bumps and fender benders – it doesn’t necessarily take a common criminal for one to incur the considerable cost of replacing laminated glass side windows.

While providing protection from theft, laminated glass can pose a safety hazard; in the event that the car is submerged in water, the side windows cannot be kicked out.  While this may seem like a minimal risk, it’s a good incentive for car owner to know what type of glass their own car has, and all the benefits and disadvantages.   So if you don’t know exactly what is standing between you and the world at 65 mph, look it up or ask around!

One common method that is available in modern insulated glass windows is filling the windows with Argon or Krypton gas. The problem with this method is that gases can leak out over time.  But amount of time this takes is hotly debated, some saying it is almost impossible for the gas to leak out, while others state that the gas could be gone before the window is installed.  Since the equipment required to test the level of argon in the window (or if there is any) is very cost prohibitive, few people can tell you if your gas has withstood the test of time.

But in the Charlotte area, gas filled windows are not the most effective way to improve energy efficiency, whether or not the gas can last.  There is another alternative which is more appropriate for the warm Carolina climate, called a Low-E coating, which is more effective at reducing solar gain, but the coatings have their own faults.

There are two basic types of Low-E coatings: soft coat and hard coat.  Soft coat can be used only on the inside of the thermopane unit and are much more easily damaged than hard coat.  This means that a window repair process is impossible should the seal ever fail.  Hard coat are more durable but slightly less effective than soft coat, and while they can be retrofitted to existing windows, often the cost of getting a retrofit Low-E hard coat is not worth the energy savings.

While these modifications can slightly improve energy efficiency, we don’t believe it would be wise to replace functional residential windows to gain marginal energy savings.  Even Consumer Reports Blog declares that “It is generally not a good investment to replace windows just for energy-efficiency purposes.”  We are of the opinion that as long as your window seal is intact, one of the most energy saving things Carolinians can do is to close their shades on those hot summer days.

The possibility to save business owners from this plight is what makes Deal Glass Services so thrilled to be providing commercial glass repair to Charlotte and Lancaster area proprietors.   Commercial window and storefront repair can save these businesses from all the issues that make replacement such a painful procedure – including the cost.  After considering the options when faced with fogged commercial glass, repair makes the replacement process seem archaic.

Thermopane repair can be performed in half the time and completely from the inside -  no scaffolding, no crane, no eyesore.  The procedure is largely the same as that used for residential window repair.   The technician drills two small holes in the window and introduces a cleaning agent that eliminates the moisture and any detritus that has made it’s way into the area between the layers of glass.  Once this product is vacuumed out, the technician installs two small valves: a sieve valve and a traditional one way valve.  Not only does this fix the problem, it prevents the issue from recurring and saves a large, expensive piece of glass from a landfill.

With this option now available to Charlotte area property owners, we hope this can help some of those businesses who are struggling to survive, by cutting the cost of dealing with fogged commercial storefronts.  If you are interested in this service, you can contact us in Charlotte/Kannapolis, NC at (704).933.9341 or in Lancaster, SC (803).286.7611 to find out more about how commercial window repair can help your business save without cutting corners.

We like to think that the good reputation we have developed is, in part, due to our dedication to top quality products and service.  We want our customers to know, when they choose Deals, that they can be confident they will get the best possible result.   We don’t mean just the top of the line products or the proficient technicians, but the friendly attitude of a team that enjoys working together to serve the community we love.

A service technician that takes a bad disposition on the job can ruin the day of a customer and ruin the reputation of a business.  We understand that a big part of the customer experience is their interaction with the person providing the service.   Customers can trust that Deals technicians will be knowledgeable and courteous, no technician will be sent on any job without six months on the job experience and NGA certification.

This commitment has earned us a 5-star rating from one of the nations top insurance establishments, as well as preferred provider status for most insurance companies.  None of the advancements we have made as a company would be possible without our dedicated staff and loyal customers.  So next time you need a glass repair or replacement remember that Deals Glass Services would be pleased to make sure you have all the answers you need and the best service in town!

Deals Glass Services can now provide residential window repair as well as replacement of just the glass window pane.  Contact us as soon as you notice the ruptured seal and the telltale “perma-fog”, and we can actually remove the air and moisture from between the two glass panels and give you a good as new appearance.   When you repair  or replace the foggy glass rather than replacing the entire window unit, you save yourself time, money and the hassle of having a hole in your home.

Deals has a new commercial explaining the benefits of repairing or replacing just the fogged glass window pane.

You can contact us online or by phone to set up an appointment for Deals to come to your home and clear up your foggy windows.

Auto Insurance is an extremely competitive market with so many companies marketing their customer’s annual savings over other companies.  But often you have shopped around and annual savings aren’t making a big difference in your monthly payment.  Then how can you tell the difference in what you get from an insurance provider when you really need them?

As an auto glass shop that works with many different insurance providers every day, we have a clear perception of how each company treats it’s customers and the standards they require of the shops that do the repairs.  We are glad to know that Allstate carefully researched how repair shops that provide excellent customer service and superior repair work can save them frustration in the long run.

With this knowledge, recent internal policies have shifted preference to shops providing the highest quality service over the lowest possible price.  Deals and other shops that provide exceptional service and excellent  repair work have to appreciate the changes.  But the insured should also welcome the fact that an insurance company has taken into account their personal satisfaction with the entire claims experience.  Thanks Allstate!

Chip repair won’t cost as much or take as much time as replacement, but it should still be repaired as soon as possible.  Over just a short period of time moisture and dirt tend to accumulate in the damaged area, making it harder to repair without any visible evidence of the damage.   And without the proper attention things can quickly go from bad to worse.

Even after the initial impact the chip can quickly turn to a crack with the strain of every day driving, especially if there is more than one point of damage. Not only do road bumps and wind pressure act upon the glass while driving, air temperature can destroy a windshield just as easily.   Many times we have had customers come in to replace and windshield that had been chipped and cracked overnight.   Once a chip has spread to a crack longer than an inch or so, it can’t be safely repaired.

One must also remember that the windshield is critical to the structural integrity of the car.   Most of us wouldn’t want to drive ourselves and our families around in a car with frame damage.   So why do we drive around with damaged windshields?

Since the foggy window repair process is a fairly new idea, many people facing thermopane seal failure don’t even consider this solution.  At a price of about $90 it is the most cost effective, can be completed in about an hour and since we aren’t disposing of the old glass, it’s also the most environmentally friendly method.   But if you wait too long  after the seal fails, the moisture will permanently stain the inside of the glass giving it an opaque or mottled look – then the foggy appearance cannot be repaired.

Even if the glass has been permanently fogged you can replace the glass in the window at a cost of about $150 – $170.  It it cheaper and easier than full window replacement – but we still have to create waste, making it not nearly as green as repair.  If you have a qualified glass technician come look at the damage as soon as you notice the fog, this can be avoided.

For most people with vinyl windows there is no need to replace the entire window, which not only costs about $300 but also can be quite hassle to the homeowner.  As long as your windows were installed after 1975 and you don’t have any serious problems with them then the expense of this project can be prohibitive.

Check out our site for more info about repair or replacement of fogged resiential window glass in the Charlotte, NC area or to get an online quote.