If you drive, sooner or later the glass in your vehicle is going to be damaged, usually by some kind of flying debris. At that point, the question is, can the damage be repaired, or do you need to replace the glass?
Part of the answer lies in which glass has been damaged. Has the windshield been damaged or is it the side windows or the rear window? The type of glass used for each of these is different, so let’s take some time to explore both.
Windshield Glass
Your vehicle’s windshield is made of laminated glass. That means it’s composed of two layers of glass, with a layer of plastic in between, designed to prevent the windshield from shattering on impact. Because of this built-in feature, it’s often referred to as safety glass.
As a rule of thumb, if the damage is a chip or a crack less than five inches in length, it can probably be repaired by injecting a clear and curable resin into the outer layer of glass. This process restores the integrity of the glass and improves its appearance. On the other hand, if longer than five inches, and in particular, if the damage is in the driver’s line of sight, you should seriously consider replacement.
Side and Rear Glass
Tempered glass is the type most commonly used for side and rear windows. This type of glass is extremely strong and resistant to breakage. But when it does break it tends to shatter into small pieces.
In addition, unlike laminated glass, tempered glass does not contain any resin, making it difficult to repair. In all probability, you will need the window replaced.
Frank’s Auto Glass is Ready to Help You
Whether it’s repair or replacement that you need, the expert glass technicians at Frank’s Auto Glass are ready to assist you. And if you can’t come to us, we can come to you with the very best mobile windshield repair service in Chicago. Mobile auto glass repair is one of our specialties at Frank’s.
Also, if your budget happens to be a bit strained at the moment, that’s no great problem. At Frank’s we always maintain a large inventory of high-quality used glass that will not break your budget.
For auto glass services, both glass repair and replacement , Frank’s Auto Glass is the name to remember in the Chicago area.
