West Bend, WI – A semi-truck driver from New Berlin recently traveled to Glass Doctor, 848 S. Main St. in West Bend, Wi, looking for someone who could fix a persistent windshield leak. He found the help he needed with Josh Uelmen, who took on a repair other shops weren’t willing to attempt.
The problem involved replacing the windshield gasket rather than simply installing new glass.
“He couldn’t find anywhere else that would actually do the gasket. They just want to change the glass out,” Uelmen said.
The repair was complicated because the gasket is glued into place. With a two-piece windshield, Uelmen had to carefully stretch the gasket over the glass and position it without flexing it too much.
“There was a ton of corrosion at the body, between the gasket, and these are known for it,” Uelmen said. He explained that moisture can get into the aluminum body over time, causing corrosion that eventually prevents the adhesive from sealing properly.
Uelmen and his team cleaned up the corrosion and applied sealant to help resolve the leak.
Semi owner, Charles Delapena, said he had been looking for a reliable shop to work on his truck but had difficulty finding someone he felt he could trust.
“I talked to Josh on the phone and he sounded like a very trusted individual, and I felt comfortable speaking with him,” Delapena said. “I decided to come all the way over here, and he’s done a pretty good job.”
Delapena said he checked on the work several times and Uelmen’s attention to detail was impressive.
Uelmen said the repair took about four hours, allowing Delapena to quickly get back on the road.
Glass Doctor welcomes unusual auto-glass projects, including work on agricultural and construction equipment, as well as repairs other shops may be reluctant to tackle.
“If you’ve got an oddball project that you need a second opinion on, give us a ring at 262-291-2105 and we’ll see if we can get you moving down the road,” Uelmen said.
