I own a Sprinter work van, and the Sprinter is notorious for getting windshield cracks because of…read morethe Sprinter's height. I have had many windshields replaced on the van over the many years driving it. Recently, I was reluctant to get the windshield replaced from a large crack because whenever I have had the glass repaired in prior instances, it was done poorly or something odd happened during the install. I've had windshields come loose immediately after install, I've had leaks after install, and I've had all sorts of bodywork scratches and after-effects of rust that occurred. I was definitely gun-shy from prior travesties. It seems like most glass guys are an oddball group that are the "low man on the totem pole" of the auto service community.
I figured I would give Envision a try with my latest problem. I was originally planning to take the van to Safelite, but looking at the Yelp reviews for the two nearby locations, I saw tons of negative reviews on Safelite. While on Yelp, I saw the photographs of Envision, and it looked clean and professional, so I took the gamble on Envision.
Envision ended up doing the windshield replacement, and they did an excellent job. First of all, their shop is very clean and well-lighted with clean work stations. Second, the staff is very knowledgeable and willing to help. Third, I could tell from the start that the technicians treat their jobs seriously.
Before taking the van in to Envision, I had a lingering rust problem on the van's A-pillar that the previous windshield guy pointed out (and advised he was unwilling to repair). The rust was caused from a prior windshield replacement, and for whatever odd reason, the next guy was unwilling to fix the prior guy's mistake, even though the problem was immediately accessible and fixable.
I mentioned the rust problem to Envision's manager, Kendrick, and Kendrick said that the rust fix should not be a problem, as long as I was willing to accept any required paint removal, if needed. He also mentioned that I could do a self-repair paint touch-up onsite or take the van to a nearby paint shop, if required. Upon arrival at the Envision shop, Kendrick was already waiting for me, and he took a look. "No problem," Kendrick said, and that's pretty much how the whole process went. The technicians removed all of the old leftover windshield sealant, then ground-down the rust areas, applying the naval gel I had brought, plus adding their own gel equivalent after the naval gel had cured. They then ran a brand-new layer of rust preventative around the entire van body jamb area where the windshield mates to the top, bottom, and sides for the windshield. They then let this preventative paint cure for about an hour, then after completely dry, they applied the windshield sealant and set the new windshield in place.
All the while, Kendrick would have me come out to the van for a quick second to show me the status as they completed each phase. This kind of professionalism doesn't exist in most places. These guys are serious about their work, and the they care about doing things correctly. Now, I can drive another rainy season knowing my van's windshield framework is rust-free and safer from the elements. The van glass is now clean and clear. I'm a stickler on how my van looks, and the glass is perfect.
Take my advice - don't subject yourself to the hassles of doing business with other glass people - these guys are the pros. The price was the same as Safelite, they took care of my claim very easily through my insurance, and the experience was professional from start to finish. I'm bringing my van and all my other vehicles to Envision from this point forward, and so should you.
