Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does a windshield actually do?
A: Apart from the obvious, like keeping the wind out of your face and filling a hole in the vehicle, a correctly installed windshield - and other vehicle glass will:
* Form part of the structural strength of the vehicle.
* Prevent you from being ejected from the vehicle in the event of an impact.
* Act as a deflector for passenger air-bags;
* Contain radio and satellite navigation antenna and heating elements.
* House moisture sensing technology.
* Act as a sound insulator against road and outside noise.
* All of the above functions are achieved through the use of high performance, specialist adhesives and approved glass.
Q:
What's the difference between my windshield and the other glass
in my car? Isn't glass just glass?
A:
No - there's a very important difference between your
windshield and the rest of the glass in your car.
***Your windshield is made of LAMINATED SAFETY GLASS. What makes it
unique is its special construction, designed to offer optimum safety
in the event of a crash. LAMINATED SAFETY GLASS is made up of two
pieces of glass, with a thin layer of vinyl sandwiched between them.
The three pieces are laminated together by applying heat and
pressure in a special oven called an autoclave.
When a small object strikes a piece of safety glass, often only the
outer layer
structure breaks. This is what makes windshield rock
chip repair possible.
In a more severe impact, the glass "shatters" but usually does not
fly apart - the broken pieces of glass generally adhere to the vinyl
inner lining. LAMINATED SAFETY GLASS also acts as a barrier to
objects moving inside the vehicle.
The side and rear windows are made of TEMPERED GLASS. As the name
implies, the glass has been "tempered", i.e., put through a special
process where it is heated, then rapidly cooled. This "tempering"
process makes the glass many times stronger than un-tempered glass
of the same thickness.
Upon impact, TEMPERED GLASS is designed to disintegrate into small
pieces of glass about the size of rock salt. There should be no
large, jagged pieces of glass to injure the driver or passengers.
However, the force necessary to break a piece of tempered glass is
considerably more than an un-tempered piece.
Q:
Does my windshield really protect me?
A:
Yes.
***Your windshield plays an integral part in roof crush protection in a roll-over accident. It also provides the brace for your passenger-side airbag. If your windshield loses adhesion on a collision or rollover, your safety is in jeopardy. This is why it is important that your auto glass work be done by trained professionals from the L A G Q database of local auto glass shops.
Q:
I have a crack or a ding in my windshield - is it really
important that I fix it right away?
A:
Yes! It's important for two reasons:
***If
the ding is small, it may be repairable. That means the trained
professionals from the L A G Q database of local auto glass shops can "mend" the break without
replacing your entire windshield. Repairing your windshield
typically takes less than 30 minutes, and is fully guaranteed by by
the auto glass shop of your choice. If for any reason it fails, or
you are not satisfied, the cost of the repair will be applied toward
the cost of a replacement windshield.
Best of all, in most cases, your insurance company will waive the
deductible on repair service, so it's free to you! But the longer
you let the damage remain without having it fixed, the more dirt and
debris will collect in the break - and the more the break will
spread. If it gets too big, it's very likely that a replacement will
be necessary.
***The second reason to have a damaged windshield fixed is for your own safety. The windshield is more than just a "shield" from wind and road dirt, it's an important structural element of your car. It helps keep you and your passengers in the car in a front impact accident, and keeps your car's airbags in the optimum positions so they can function as designed. If your windshield is weakened due to damage, it could be dangerous to you and your passengers in the event of an accident. Also, damaged glass may cause optical impediments when driving, particularly at night, which is a significant safety hazard. As a L A G Q service provider, the auto glass shop of your choice will ensure that their products and their technicians meet the very highest standards. Because, after all, they are not just repairing your windshield, they could be saving your life!!
Q:
What is OEM glass?
A:
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacture. This means that the
glass meets the original specifications for safety and quality as
the glass that came in your vehicle from the factory.
Windshields may look simple, but they are actually made from two
pieces of glass that are bent in a very precise way. If a windshield
does not meet the exact specifications of the manufacturer, it will
not fit precisely in your vehicle.
The best way to assure exact fit is to use a windshield produced
from a fixture engineered to manufacturers specifications.