FAQ's

So, why should I get my cracked windshield repaired or replaced?
Driving with a cracked windshield compromises your safety. In recent years, windshields have been playing a greater role as a safety factor for the structural integrity of cars and trucks since they must pass a variety of rollover tests.

As an example, think of a simple chicken egg. If you hold the egg in the palm of your hand and squeeze (without using the tips of your fingers), you may notice that it is quite difficult to break. Now, take a needle and poke it through the egg. Squeeze the egg again in the palm of your hand and you’ll notice that it is incredibly easy to break. You compromised the integrity of the egg by poking it with a needle in the same way that a cracked or chipped windshield compromises the rollover safety of your automobile.

What kind of glue is used to install windshields?
The glue, or urethane as it is called, is a very important safety feature for your windshield. The urethane must be strong enough to keep you inside the car in the event of an accident without a seatbelt. Many of the urethanes used for windshields in recent years have a pressure rating of 500 PSI or more. Many years ago, the urethane used for this process was made from butyl, which has a pressure rating of 50 PSI, at best.

How long should I let the glue of my newly installed windshield dry?
The dry-time or cure-time of urethane can take anywhere from 2 to 48 hours before it’s safe for you to drive the automobile. This largely depends on the product, temperature, and humidity. Be sure to ask your glass installer how long you should wait before driving your automobile or running it through a car wash.

What causes long cracks to develop on my windshield?
Glass is very susceptible to quick changes in temperature. A small crack or a bruise caused by a pebble on your windshield will grow, particularly if you live in an area with extreme temperatures. On a hot day, as you drive with your air conditioner on, the windshield temperature is probably around 70°. When you leave your car in a parking lot, the windshield may increase to around 200° in less than an hour. Someone else may live in a snowy area where temperatures fall well below freezing at night. When they drive their car to work in the morning, the defroster and heater will cause the temperature of the windshield to jump to nearly 100° in the matter of minutes.

Is it bad to break the factory-original seal of the windshield?
If possible, it is usually best to repair small chips rather than replacing your glass. However, if glass must be replaced, glass installers must properly cut the damaged factory windshield out of the car. It is important to use OEM-approved urethane and primers, and must have the pinchweld free of dirt and solvents. Lots of factors determine the quality of the aftermarket installation, but a well-trained technician performing the job properly can provide nearly as good of an installation as one done at the factory.

What makes a windshield so special?
Windshields are made with two pieces of float glass with a plastic laminate sheet sandwiched between them. Windshields are made in such a way for safety. Windshields that hold an ASA-1 rating can and must withstand certain impact ratings. So, if a pebble were to hit your windshield, even at high speeds, it won’t penetrate through the glass. That’s not to say that the glass is not damaged, but the sheet of plastic laminate is protecting the inside piece of float glass from becoming damaged. So, all you’re left with is an unsightly crack on the outside piece of glass.

Are the other pieces of glass on my car or truck made in the same way as my windshield?
Not necessarily. Since the 1950s, door glass and glass in your back window has usually been made as a tempered plate. It’s simply one piece of glass that has been sent into an atmospheric oven, heating and quenching the glass to harden it. This type of glass can have a pressure rating more than 100 PSI (pounds per square inch). This process makes this type of glass break in a much different way. Rather than holding together like a windshield would, this type of glass will break into hundreds of small glass beads. In fact, a well-tempered glass will not cut you when it breaks. On the other hand, glass that does not go through a good tempering process will break in shards and will likely cut you. In recent years, car manufacturers have been moving to produce laminated glass doors for security and safety reasons, as well as to provide an acoustic interlayer for soundproofing.

What’s the point in tempering door and back window glass?
Because of the way tempered glass breaks, it’s easy for emergency crews to gain access to a passenger involved in an accident that has made it impossible to open doors.