The Importance of Proper Windshield Repair for Your Vehicle
Proper windshield repair is very important for any vehicle to ensure the integrity of the car glass and to prevent untimely and costly windshield replacement.
The car glass used for windshields is laminated glass. Two sheets of special composite car glass are fused together by a laminate of vinyl plastic between them. The laminate is very strong and not only holds the two sheets of car glass together while they are intact but also keeps them stuck even upon shattering. The fragments of car glass remain held together like a web instead of dangerously flying toward the car driver and passengers.
The windshield is held in place by the urethane molding, which glues it to the car, and the frit, which is the black frame that protects the urethane molding from being melted by ultraviolet rays.
The most obvious role of the windshield is to protect the car's occupants from the wind, rain and airborne debris, thereby allowing a clear and unencumbered view of the road. Less obvious is the role of the windshield in providing safety during accidents. In head on collisions, the windshield ensures that the airbag works properly by preventing it being inflated outwards. In case the car rolls over, the windshield provides the necessary support to prevent the roof from collapsing.
The car glass of the windshield is subject to a lot of stress, though, even in normal driving conditions. Changes in temperature especially heat during the day and cold during the night, vibration on the road, car frame shearing and flying debris on the road all contribute to windshield damage.
Car glass and metal both expand and shrink according to temperature but at different rates. When the temperature is high, the car's metal frame pushes in around the car glass. When the temperature is low, the metal frame pulls the car glass outwards on all sides. This push and pull is aggravated by road vibration. The car glass is able to withstand this stress until a piece of rock hits the windshield.
Proper windshield repair is very important because windshields with chips and cracks left without repair no longer have the integrity of intact windshields and will not provide the same safety for car occupants. Even with only a small rock chip, the car glass is weakened enough to shatter on impact. Even windshields that have been repaired, if done improperly, may also lose integrity.
Even without accidents, the smallest chip on the car glass could grow into large cracks that could no longer be repaired and will need windshield replacement. Windshield repair can only be done for chips with center holes that are three eights of an inch or less, or for cracks that are three inches long or less.
In windshield repair, the car glass has to be completely clean. Any debris or even dust on the car glass can be trapped and can cause scarring afterwards. Moisture can also be trapped to later cause cracks when cooled or heated. A special clear adhesive resin is injected into the cleaned damaged area and then cured with ultraviolet light. When properly done, windshield repair erases damage and restores car glass strength and clarity, eliminating optical distractions and providing a smooth area for the windshield wiper to operate on.
When the time comes that you do need complete windshield replacement, make sure you get a reputable service provider, whether the windshield replacement be done in the service center or even if you opt for mobile windshield replacement. Ask only for original equipment manufactured distributor car glass such as Pilkington. Make sure that the auto glass installation is done by professional technicians. Whether for windshield repair or windshield replacement, you should always place quality and safety as your priority.
