Frequently Asked Questions on Glass Repair and Installation

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 breaks. This is what makes windshield rock chip repair possible. In a more severe impact, the glass “shatters” but does not fly apart–the broken pieces of glass adhere to the vinyl inner lining, preventing shards of glass from flying into the passenger area.

The side and rear windows are made of TEMPERED GLASS. As the name implies, the glass has been “tempered,” put through a special process where it is heated, then rapidly cooled. This process makes the glass up to 10 times stronger than untempered glass of the same thickness. Tempered glass does not shatter on impact. Rather, it disintegrates into glass pieces about the size of rock salt. There are no large, jagged pieces of glass to injure the driver or passengers. However, the force necessary to shatter a piece of tempered glass is considerably greater than an untempered piece.

Yes! It’s important for two reasons:

1. If the ding is small, it may be repairable. That means your Mr. Glass technician can “mend” the break without replacing your entire windshield. Repairing your windshield typically takes less than 30 minutes, and is fully guaranteed by your Mr. Glass technician. If for any reason it fails, the cost of the repair will be applied toward 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 replacement will be necessary.

2. 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 from flying out of the car in a front impact accident, and keeps your car’s airbag in the optimum position to guarantee your safety. If your windshield is weakened due to damage, it could be dangerous to you and your passengers in an accident. Also, damaged glass may cause optical impediments when driving, particularly at night, which is a significant safety hazard.

Yes. Your windshield provides up to 60 percent of the roof crush protection in a roll-over accident. It also provides the brace for your passenger-side airbag. If your windshield pops out on a collision or rollover, your safety is in jeopardy. This is why it is important that your auto glass work be done by a trained professional.