Deep scratches in rear glass can disrupt the circuits that make up the defrosting grid. These should be repaired professionally since open electrical wires are dangerous.
Around 1924, Lincoln began producing Police Flyers, a touring sedan outfitted with an early form of bulletproof glass. Created using traditional glass formulas combined with polycarbonate, the front and rear windshields were nearly one inch thick.
While many salvage yards offer windshields in good condition at a good price, we do not recommend installing one. There may be microscopic cracks that will become major problems later, or an incorrect installation can bring a failed vehicle inspection, forcing you to install a new windshield anyway.
Typically, there are two primary goals in glass restoration endeavors. The first goal is to restore overall clarity, sparkle and shine, and the second one is to remove any scratches or mars that affect the appearance.
Not sure whether your windshield needs to be repaired or replaced? Typically, this will depend on the size, location, and severity of the damage. In general, rock chips the size of a quarter and cracks up to three inches long can be repaired.
Did you know? Early windshields were unsafe not only due to non-laminated glass, but also because of a lack of windshield wipers. Windshields were made of two interlinking pieces, and when one became unclean it had to be folded down so that the other half was used until it could be cleaned.
One of the most frequent questions we are asked concerns inspection and registration stickers. Whenever possible, we will remove the stickers and place them on the new windshield; however, each state has its own regulations regarding this, so check with your state agency first.
Did you know? Using hot water on your windshields to melt ice in extremely cold weather can damage your windshields. Why? The rapid, radical change in the windshield’s surface temperature causes quick expansion, which can create stress cracks in the glass.
One type of auto glass is aftermarket auto glass, which is made by companies that do not contract with any car manufacturers. In most cases, most dealers do not accept aftermarket glass if you return a leased vehicle with it.
Did you know that many types of windshield and window repair can be completed in a little as 30 minutes? Many repairs are minor, if caught early on, and this results in a quick fix!
Auto glass restoration and repair resins come in a range of specialized formulations. Each resin is designed to handle specific types of damage and repair conditions, such as standard chips, specialized breaks, long-crack repairs, and cold-weather repairs.
If your broken windshield has important stickers related to parking to area access, let us know. In some cases, the stickers can be successfully removed from the old glass and adhered to your new windshield.
As auto glass restoration and repair experts, we see combination breaks regularly. What are combination breaks? They’re damaged areas that contain more than one type of injury, such as a chip that extends into radiating cracks.
In the rare case that a chip is on the inside of the glass, the windshield may need to be replaced. Cracks in the driver’s line of sight are also harder to repair.
Fun fact: Windshields were made out of normal glass until laminated shatterproof glass began to be used in the 1920’s.
Many restorers use a specially formulated clay resin that so thoroughly cleans glass, it can remove deeply embedded dirt and grime found in the microscopic pores found on the surface of all glass.
Even when you can't always see them, your windshield is assaulted by a variety of bugs and natural particles as you drive. To keep it from breaking under the pressure, windshields are made from a special durable glass.
Henry Ford began using laminated glass for windshields in 1919 and required its use in all Ford cars in the 1920s. Ford’s River Rouge Plant created this glass using the glass factory that was on-site.
Studebaker’s Starlight coupe, introduced in 1947, had a curved windshield. In 1948, the Tucker car was introduced with a pop-out windshield manufactured by Libbey-Owens-Ford.
Some things to help you determine if your car window crack or chip is repairable is if it’s smaller than the size of a dollar bill, there are three or less chips, the damage is not on the edge of the window or windshield, and the damage is not in the driver’s sight line.
Did you know that in its natural state, glass is a byproduct of volcanic activity? Manufactured glass, on the other hand, is comprised of ceramic materials.
Glass was first made in Egypt more than 7,000 years ago, as early as 3,000 B.C. Glass can be found in its natural state as a by-product of volcanic activity.
Your side and rear windows are made out of tempered glass. After being formed, the glass is hardened in an oven. The hardening makes it able to withstand much more force, and when it does break, it does so into small beads instead of shards.
While damage to your auto glass can certainly result from an impact, there are other factors that can cause damage as well. These include mechanical stress, temperature deviation, and even tension pressure from the interior of the vehicle.
In the 1920s, when windshield production saw multiple changes, some car makers began to use windshield glass in creative ways. Rickenbacker made a car in 1926 that made safety glass a standard feature around the whole car.
If your car has a passenger airbag, additional glass strength is necessary to support the airbag deployment, which means we use a faster-acting glass adhesive.
We recognize that your windshield isn’t the only important piece of glass on your vehicle. Whether you’re having trouble with the glass on your headlights or your passenger windows, we’re always here to help you restore visibility.
