How Good are your Repairs?

When I look at customer websites I often see great before and after windshield repair photos but when I visit customers I sometimes see repairs that look nothing like those photos. Understandably we want website photos to represent our best work and realistically every rock chip is somewhat unique so not every repair is going to come out looking perfect. However, I often find that windshield repair technicians have not always had proper training and have low expectations for the quality of their own repairs.

Will every repair be invisible? Of course not but every repair should look significantly better and more importantly, the damage should be completely filled with resin every time. If resin does not reach the ends of every crack in a star, combination or long crack, it is not a good repair. I can’t tell you how many completed star breaks I have seen that are not properly filled, not because the equipment being used isn’t capable of doing so but because the technician either did not know how to use the equipment properly, or worse yet, because the technician did not actually believe it is possible to fill certain types of damage.

I have been an advocate for hands-on training for decades but in the past few years have seen a decline in the number of new technicians willing to invest in a quality training class, in part due to the rising cost of airfare and lodging. While I understand the budgetary concerns each of us faces when we start a new business, I cannot stress enough the importance learning how to get the most out of the tools we use to earn a living. Our long term success depends on it and your repair quality is not only a reflection on your company but on the windshield repair industry as a whole!

A Delta Kits training class includes a full day of hands-on training that includes but is not limited to:

1. Damage identification
2. Hydrophobic coating identification
3. Moisture identification and removal
4. Air removal
5. Proper heating and cooling techniques
6. Realistic completed repair expectations
7. Drilling to open damage and terminate long cracks (most damage does not need to be drilled!)
8. Filling tight star breaks
9. Filling bullseyes
10. Filling combination breaks
11. Stopping and filling long cracks
12. The importance of using a pit filler and pit polish

In addition to every technician completing a variety of repairs, Delta Kits instructors also provide an overview of ROLAGS, insurance billing options, marketing techniques, etc. While originally developed to help new technicians get their business started off on the right foot, seasoned veterans who attended Delta Kits training classes continually tell us how much they learn and how much their improved skills help their business. How good are your repairs? Would any of the above help your business?

In 2017, Delta Kits has changed our training schedule in Eugene from a monthly class to a quarterly class so we can bring more on-the-road training classes to your area. We hope this change will help save you money and help improve your skills. As always we encourage you to tell us what Delta Kits can do to help you be successful, so don’t be shy, call or email us your comments.