The Perfect Time for Windscreen Repairs – COVID-19 Shutdown

The COVID-19 crisis has caused a lot of disruption and concern around Zimbabwe and the world. 

Solana Windscreens would like to assure our customers we will continue to keep your vehicle roadworthy, are open for business, and here to support you. Our team has implemented additional, precautionary, measures in line with advice from the Zimbabwean Government. 

We want to keep our customers, employees, and communities safe during this crisis.

Social distancing and windscreen repairs: Social distancing is more important than ever, to flatten the trajectory of infection. Our mobile repair services can be done with minimal social interaction. Solana Windscreen repair service has always operated with convenience in mind. While you work at home or in the office, our technicians can focus on your much-needed repairs, to get you on the road, sooner. Whether you’re in a driveway or a car park, our team can get your repairs done.

This practice hasn’t changed, with our technicians able to visit your home to make mobile windscreen repairs. Our repairs will be carried out with hygiene and social distancing in mind, to keep you and your family safe. This means minimal contact between you and your technician. When contact is required, our team will be ensuring they are masked, wash their hands, and use sanitiser.

We are constantly monitoring the health and well being of our employees to help prevent virus transmission. In order to comply with social distancing guidelines, we’re encouraging clients and technicians to avoid contact as much as possible and remain 2 meters apart when contact is required. 

This may include prepaying or paying via card or over the phone, rather than using cash or a cheque.

Why repair your windscreen now? With travel rates dropping due to government shutdowns and more Zimbabweans working from home, there is no better time than now for windscreen repairs. While, in general, drive-away time is between 1-2 hours after your repair or replacement, it’s best to leave your windscreen to cure for 24 hours. And with cars sitting idle in general, your windscreen will have plenty of time to cure.

As we all know, a chip can turn into a crack at any time. And the last thing you need is a nasty crack to appear in an emergency. Take advantage of the downtime and ensure your car is safe for you and your family when you need it.

Is your car up to Zimbabwean safety standards? It’s illegal to drive with a cracked, smashed or damaged windscreen, depending on where the crack is and how severe and/or deep the crack is. Zimbabwean police can stop you for having a defective windscreen as it potentially obscures your vision. It’s also an incredible safety issue.

In Zimbabwe, it’s illegal to have a crack or cracks in the windscreen that impedes a driver’s vision. Cracks that penetrate more than one layer of glass are also illegal. Further, discoloured glass, badly scratched, fractured or chipped glass is also illegal.

Drivers with windscreens with an area wiped by windscreen wipers to an extent that can’t be driven safely or laminate with a crack that penetrates more than a single layer of glass can also be illegal.

Furthermore, one or more bullseye cracks over 16mm in diameter in an area wiped by windscreen wipers and/or one or more hairline cracks over 150mm in an area wiped by windscreen wipers are also illegal.

Finally, bullseye cracks or hairline cracks under these sizes can also still be illegal if they’re determined to make the car dangerous to drive.

As the COVID-19 crisis continues to evolve and change, the health and safety of our community is paramount. Solana Windscreens is placing the highest priority on protecting our clients and staff. We want to keep you safe on the road and in your homes during this time, which is why we will continue to look to the Zimbabwean Government for guidance. Our team would like to ensure we’re proactive in minimising the risk of spreading COVID-19.

What we are doing: continuing to increase hygiene practices as required

In accordance with the advice provided by the Zimbabwean Government, we have implemented new policies and hygiene practices to help protect you, and our staff. Some of these include:

1. We are in constant communication with our technicians, to ensure that they are healthy and are following the latest advice from the Zimbabwean Government.

2. We are following social distancing practices and will maintain a 2-meter distance between customers and colleagues – this includes not shaking hands.

3. Our technicians will be wearing disposable gloves throughout your appointment and will dispose of them when finished.

4. Our technicians are wiping down all tools, work areas, and common items like keys, with appropriate cleaning materials whilst completing your job.

5. Our technicians are cleaning their hands before, and after, every appointment.

6. The mandatory use of face masks in locations across Zimbabwe, Harare.

What to expect when making a booking: To keep everyone safe, we are asking you a series of health-related questions to help manage your appointment. This will include:

Have you, or anyone in the household tested positive for COVID-19, or are awaiting test results?
Do you fall into a category where you should be self-isolating for COVID-19? For example, close contact with someone with COVID-19, been told to isolate, recently arrived back in Zimbabwe (last 14 days)?

Do you, or anyone living with you, have any flu-like symptoms, a fever, cough, or shortness of breath?

Depending on your answers provided, we will work with you on the best way forward to support your needs. Before we come to your appointment we will confirm that you have not developed any flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, fever, or shortness of breath, should this happen please call us immediately so we can help manage your appointment on +263 774 124332.

What to expect when a Solana Windscreens employee comes to your home or business

On arrival, our team will be asking the same health questions asked at the time of your booking, to ensure your circumstances have not changed. Plus they will be following our increased hygiene practices and any government regulations.

When undertaking the work, they will tell you exactly what they will do before they enter your vehicle and will clean all surfaces they touch with antibacterial wipes before and after your job. This will include any objects such as car keys in the event that a hand over process occurs.