Windscreen fitting...

[carreauchompeur]

Excuse the poor picture but you can see the snow on the roof of the van. It's barely above freezing here.

This isn't best practice for windscreen fitting, surely???

[falkster]

Might not be best practise but only cos the fitter will get cold.

[carreauchompeur]

What, with snow all over the roof and up to the join, as well as the whole bonnet? Not a very dry/clean environment for bonding!

[paintman]

If its your vehicle that's being done & you're not happy - or have concerns re his competence which is really what this comes down to - just tell him not to proceed & you'll either wait until the weather improves or if they have a premises take it to them to be done.
Unless they do a collect & deliver service.

Edited by paintman on Monday 21st January 11:48

[HustleRussell]

I imagine they dry, de-grease and 'prime' the contact area for the adhesive. The main disadvantage to doing it in the cold is that I imagine the adhesive will take longer to go off.

[carreauchompeur]

No, not mine, just surprised me as other companies have done work vehicles for me and insisted on them being inside/warm if possible. Seems appalling conditions to do it in.

[paintman]

I'd just amended my post, whilst I wouldn't want to be working on a vehicle outside I hope that if he considered it to be too cold/wet to proceed he would have said so to the vehicle owner. After all, if it leaks subsequently it'll have to be done FOC under warranty.

[Glassman]

Modern Polyurethane adhesives work in a much wider temperature range, I personally use one which is tested at -10 but I think there are a couple which (the manufacturer/suppliers claim) work at -40.

While it's cold out there, the ice won't be melting. The issue I have with such weather is that moisture in the air will settle on flat surfaces, especially on a new windscreen out of his warm van.

There is a 'cold weather procedure' which, if needs must, will help and this is to warm up both contact surfaces with a hot air gun. There's no telling how much moisture settles on the substrate to which you are bonding, so yes, ideally: inside/under suitable cover is always best.