by Steve | Jan 24, 2019 | Mobile Windshield Replacement
This post is the eighth in a series on the basics of auto glass, auto glass repair, and mobile windshield replacement. If you haven’t read parts 1-7 yet, I recommend you do before continuing.
Using the right techniques in mobile windshield replacement (continued)
One example of the dire consequences of a sub-par windshield replacement is the unfortunate case of one Wisconsin woman, who was killed after her improperly replaced windshield gave way and she was ejected from the vehicle. In the investigation that ensued after the accident, one industry expert, Debra Levy of the auto glass safety council, said that, “…as many as 85 percent of so-called replacement windows are installed wrong.” (1) While it’s difficult to find exact numbers on how common sloppy or improper practices are in the auto glass replacement industry, it seems safe to say that there are millions of vehicles in the US that will not perform up to factory standards in a crash due to improper windshield replacements.
Vetting an auto glass shop
So, with all the sub par mobile windshield repair companies out there, how can you be sure the company you choose is doing it right? Well, there are a few questions you can ask that will give you a good idea.
What is the Safe Drive Away Time (SDAT) or Minimum Drive Away Time (MDAT)?
Curing time is important. Under ideal conditions, like a dry, hot, New Mexico day, and given the right adhesives, SDAT can be as little as an hour. However, if it’s cold and humid out, SDAT can be significantly longer – as much as several hours in certain situations and cases.
Check back soon for Welcome to the Chapman Auto Glass Blog, Part 9! In the meantime, check out our page on mobile windshield replacement.
Source cited:
1 – https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/11/13/cbs-2-investigation-an-improper-windshield-installation-can-be-deadly/
by Steve | Jan 10, 2019 | Mobile Windshield Replacement
This post is the seventh in a series on the basics of auto glass, auto glass repair, and mobile windshield replacement. If you haven’t read parts 1-6 yet, I recommend you do before continuing.
Using top quality materials in mobile windshield replacement (continued)
Another important material choice is in the adhesives used to attach the windshield to the car. At Chapman Auto Glass, we use Dow chemical adhesives – the same brand as is used by around 80% of modern vehicle manufacturers.
Using the right techniques in mobile windshield replacement
Once you’ve got the right materials lined up, the next step is to use the proper techniques in installation. Perhaps the most important caveat here is proper drying time. Each specific adhesive has a rated drying time that depends on humidity, elevation, weather, and other factors. If the installer moves the car or allows you to take the car before the adhesive has properly set, it will never set properly, the structural integrity of the windshield will be compromised, and it could pop out in a crash.
Drying time is crucial, but there are plenty of other places where a cut-rate shop can botch a windshield replacement. Barbara Walters and 20/20 did an investigation of improper windshield replacement that has been passed around on the internet quite a bit in the years since. In addition to improper drying times, they observed technicians installing windshields without gloves, which allows human skin oils to contaminate the adhesive that holds the windshield in and compromises its structural integrity. They also observed windshield being installed without primer, and windshields being installed without being cleaned. While these oversights and improper procedures are often done with the intention of saving a few minutes or a few dollars, the results can be tragic.
Check back soon for Welcome to the Chapman Auto Glass Blog, Part 8! In the meantime, check out our page on mobile windshield replacement.
by Steve | Dec 21, 2018 | Mobile Windshield Replacement
This post is the sixth in a series on the basics of auto glass, auto glass repair, and mobile windshield replacement. If you haven’t read parts 1-5 yet, I recommend you do before continuing.
What makes a good windshield repair or mobile windshield replacement? (continued)
The right way to do windshield replacement
Your vehicle’s windshield is critical to your safety in an accident. It keeps you inside the vehicle, and keeps debris from getting into the passenger compartment. According to a study by the National Institute for Health, crash victims who are ejected from their vehicles are 1.5-8 times more likely to be killed. (1) When vehicle windshields are installed in the factory, manufacturers use a specific and extensively tested methodology to ensure they have the strength to stay in place. Unfortunately, either by carelessness or intentional cost cutting, many mobile windshield replacement companies do not follow this same rigorous process.
Car windshields are installed by robots in factories using automated processes. The goal of a windshield replacement is to replicate these processes as closely as possible.
What makes a good windshield replacement?
At its most basic level, there are two things you need for a good windshield replacement – top quality materials and top quality techniques and practices.
Top quality materials
Whenever possible, factory equivalent replacement parts are the way to go for a windshield replacement. At Chapman Auto Glass, we use products from top quality auto glass manufacturers like PPG, Pilkington, Carlite, Mopar, Safeguard, Guardian, Sekurit and others – the same top brand manufacturers use. In cases of very new or exotic cars, sometimes the only place that will stock OEM auto glass is the dealership, but for the vast majority of cars out there, factory-equivalent auto glass can be sourced.
Check back soon for Welcome to the Chapman Auto Glass Blog, Part 7! In the meantime, check out our page on mobile windshield replacement.
Source cited:
1 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2619855
by Steve | Dec 7, 2018 | Mobile Windshield Replacement
This post is the fifth in a series on the basics of auto glass, auto glass repair, and mobile windshield replacement. If you haven’t read parts 1-4 yet, I recommend you do before continuing.
Types of windshield damage (continued)
Crack ships
Now that we’ve covered several types of chips and cracks, you might think the so-called “crack chip” is confusingly named, and for good reason. While a crack chip is a crack (no material is missing from the windshield in this type of damage) it’s a small crack – one that can be covered by a quarter. Chip cracks can typically be repaired rather than replacing the windshield, as long as they don’t touch the edge and there aren’t too many of them in the windshield.
Long cracks vs. short cracks
Generally speaking, short cracks are those less than 6 inches long and long cracks are longer than 6 inches. In the past, repairing long cracks was impossible – a long crack meant it was time to replace the windshield. However, with improvements in windshield repair technology, there are now some cases where long cracks can be repaired. However, if road debris gets stuck in the crack, if the crack includes chip damage, or if the crack reaches the edge of the windshield, the windshield will need to be replaced.
Getting your windshield repair or mobile windshield replacement done the right way
We’ve covered the importance of a strong windshield, and we’ve covered various types of windshield damage. So, when windshield damage happens, what’s the next step? Unfortunately, not all windshield repairs and replacements are created equal. Windshield repair and replacement are complex processes, and there are plenty of areas where an unscrupulous repair shop can cut corners. At Chapman Auto Glass, we use the best materials and techniques currently available in the industry.
Check back soon for Welcome to the Chapman Auto Glass Blog, Part 6! In the meantime, check out our page on mobile windshield replacement.
by Steve | Oct 22, 2018 | Mobile Windshield Replacement
This post is the fourth in a series on the basics of auto glass, auto glass repair, and mobile windshield replacement. If you haven’t read parts 1-3 yet, I recommend you do before continuing.
Chips, bulls-eyes, stars, and half moons (continued)
There are two main considerations in deciding whether or not these chips can be repaired: size and depth. If the chip is too deep, or if the impact was so hard that it broke through the layers of the laminate, then the windshield will likely need to be replaced rather than repaired.
Likewise, if cracks have spread too far from the area of the chip in what’s known as a combination break (chips and cracks together) then the windshield will need replacing. Finally, if a chip contains road debris or dirt that cannot be removed by cleaning, or if it will obstruct the driver’s view, then the windshield must be replaced rather than repaired.
Floater cracks and edge cracks
A crack is damage without missing glass. If the crack is more than two inches from the edge of the windshield, it is a floater crack, and can be repaired as long as it’s not too large. An edge crack (one within two inches of the edge of the windshield) on the other hand will require windshield replacement since it compromises the structural integrity of the windshield.
Stress cracks
A stress crack occurs without anything actually hitting the windshield. The most common cause of stress cracks is extreme temperature changes, and for this reason they’re not all that common in New Mexico. However, if you were to come out in the morning and see your windshield frozen over, and decided to throw a pot of boiling water on the windshield to melt the ice, you could very easily cause a stress crack. Stress cracks typically start at the edge of the windshield, and generally cannot be repaired. Windshield replacement will be necessary. Of course, Chapman Auto Glass offers mobile windshield replacement so you don’t have to interrupt your busy schedule to get that windshield repaired!
Check back soon for Welcome to the Chapman Auto Glass Blog, Part 5! In the meantime, check out our page on mobile windshield replacement.
by Steve | Oct 11, 2018 | Mobile Windshield Replacement
This post is the third in a series on the basics of auto glass, auto glass repair, and mobile windshield replacement. If you haven’t read parts 1 and 2 yet, I recommend you do before continuing.
How does mobile windshield replacement work?
So, you were stuck driving behind a dump truck, and wouldn’t you know it, a tiny rock came flying your way and put a crack in your windshield. What comes next? Well, it depends. We’ve already discussed the crucial role your windshield plays in vehicle safety, so we know it needs fixing. But windshield repair and mobile windshield replacement gets complicated pretty quickly, and is governed by many laws and regulations. Let’s take a look at some of the basics pertaining to auto glass repair and mobile windshield replacement.
To repair or to replace?
A windshield repair can be a great way to save money over a replacement. However, given the critical importance of windshield strength, there are strict guidelines for when a windshield must be replaced rather than repaired. The general policy for windshield repairs used to be that if the damage can be covered by a dollar bill, then it could be repaired rather than replaced. However, in recent years, windshield repair technology has come a long way. Nowadays, it may be possible to repair a crack as long as fourteen inches, but it depends on a few other factors. The National Windshield Repair Association publishes a set of rules for windshield repair under the Repair of Laminated Automotive Glass Standard (ROLAGS) guide. To better understand what kind of windshield damage can be repaired, let’s go over a few different types of windshield damage.
Chips, bulls-eyes, stars, and half moons
When a rock hits your windshield and a piece of glass is missing, you’re dealing with a chip. Bulls eyes, stars, and half moons are all types of chips, named for what the chip looks like.
Check back soon for Welcome to the Chapman Auto Glass Blog, Part 4! In the meantime, check out our page on mobile windshield replacement.
