I had two windows repaired at Suncoast Designers Inc.
I would recommend them for value, work done on the window itself, but I believe they stumbled in the same area the original poster commented on.
We arrived Wednesday night for our Thursday appointment. While checking on a spot to park the rod that attaches the door handle to the latch separated locking us out (pervious RV service center repair did not tighten the allen nut that held the rod in place) Couldn't have happened at a better place though. We had to break one of the windows to be fixed to get back in.
Be prepared to rise early. We were warned last night by others. There was a gentleman at our door at 6:30 with a clip board for check in and work started at 7:00.
They had some difficulty with this window as a RV service center last winter had replaced the lights in the valance and when the shade was reinstalled the installation was not the best, cardboard had been used to hold things in place and screws were driven so far in that the upholstery hide the screw head.
This is the same window that had to be broken to get back into the coach because the repair on the door latch by the same RV service center cause the outside latch to cease to function.
This is the passenger window coming out and both windows were out in about 45 minutes, the second one only took 10 minutes.
This is what you are left with. It is quite dark on the inside, and for the coaches having all the windows replaced it must be like a cave.
I have now seen the valances removed so when it comes time to replace the broken blinds (done by the same RV service center) I know how to do it.
There are many coaches here having windows replaced, and a lot of them seem to be having all their windows replaced. The gathering seems to start on Monday and they say they are all done by Friday to clear the parking lot out for the next batch the next Monday. We got the last parking spot with power and water. They also have a dump site.
Here are some pictures of the coaches waiting for window replacement.
Here are the newly refurbished windows to be installed.
The window holes as mentioned above had been covered with plastic and cardboard.
This was taped into place with "painter's" tape. When the tape was pulled off some paint came with it. Not a large amount, but certainly noticeable.
I did not take a picture (I was quite upset) of the area but will in the future. I was directed to talk to the manager about the problem. His input was they use "painter's" tape and that it does not pull paint off of drywall walls so any paint pulled of the coach was due to improper preparation of the surface when the coach was painted.
In all fairness he is correct, this coach has been repainted and I can tell that it was not the greatest of jobs. My input would be the response from the management was more to cover themselves than one of concern. It would have been appropriated to offer to obtain the correct touch up paint. It kind of set the tone for the rest of the install.
The area where the window rests against the coach is cleaned and then a small bead of silicone is applied
The windows sandwich the side of coach between the outside window frame and the inside window frame. This is done by small screws installed from the inside of the window all the way around the window. The attitude of the employee installing these screws was it was Friday afternoon and he wanted the job done. He was in a hurry. When the screws were not seating all the way in he switched of the clutch on the screw driver and promptly snapped off two screws.
The window then had to be removed. They said they did not have the right drill to drill out the snapped off screws and hammered them out with a flat bladed screwdriver and a hammer.
They then preformed a leak test which consisted of spraying water lightly on the side of the coach for several seconds and called it a done job.
It has been raining here today all day and you guessed it I have a small leak on the right window. I will have to run a bead of caulk around the frame of that window.
So... an experience that started out on a good foot has not turned out as well as I would hope.
The price is great, the clear glass is great, the enthusiasm of the employees on the removal was great. The install did not go as well.
Below is shot of the damage to the paint when the tape was pulled off. Also note the poor job done on cleaning up the excess of silicone around the window. It is my intention to write a letter of my feelings on the install process. Again I have to say it started out great, the value for the dollar is great, the experience was ruined by the "Friday Afternoon" attitude.
Ok, my heart was not in this tour after the problems on the install.
The person that gave the tour was informative and personable.
Here he is explaining what is done with the old glass.
It is brought in and stacked here and then the once the process is started the two pieces of glass are separated from the seal.
The glass is then cleaned and if it is pitted to the point that it cannot be cleaned it is either replaced from their inventory or they have a local supplier that can cut and supply the needed glass within a day
The secrete to the process is the seal that goes between the two pieces of glass. There is a corrugated piece of metal between two permanently flexible seals.
The seal and glass is heated to three hundred degrees with inferred lights in this machine as it exits the clean room where the window is assembled. A small area of the seal is left open so the glass is not stressed by the expansion of the air between the two pieces of glass. No special gasses are used. Only clean dry air is used. Once the seal has been cured the small opening is sealed.
The window is them placed into the frame.
The completed window is then taken to the coach for the install.
Sorry for the poor presentation of the tour, but my heart was just not into it.
I have several more window that I now want to have repaired. What I will do not is remove the window myself, ship it to them to repair and reinstall the window myself.