About 13 to 14 million windshields are replaced every year in the United States. Why? The most common reasons are damage caused by debris flying into windshields, vandalism, and collisions. Windshield replacement is a skill that requires extensive training and proficient knowledge of proper installation materials and their use. Many facilities that offer windshield repair also offer windshield replacement, but both repair and replacement carry with them certain risks that every consumer should be aware of.

All new motor vehicle manufacturers are required to comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) on auto glass before offering vehicles for sale in the United States. Unfortunately, comparable safety standards specifically for windshield replacement have never been formally drafted. However, it is recommended that customers familiarize themselves with the FMVSS standards and/or the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standard (AGRSS.com) and insist that their replacement windshield be installed in congruity with those standards. Though there is no legal requirement to adhere to these standards, in so doing you are essentially getting a replacement windshield that is “good as new.” When it comes to the safety of yourself and your passengers, this should be a very high priority indeed.

If you find that you absolutely must get your car windshield replaced, make sure your windshield installer:

* Removes the old urethane to approximately a 1/16″ depth

* Cleans and primes the windshield glass and the vehicle pinchweld

* Wears gloves to prevent any possible contamination of the materials used in the windshield replacement

* Uses new urethane adhesive (not butyl tape or silicone)

* Checks for the presence of a passenger side airbag and uses urethane that is adequately rated for the job

* Discusses with you how long you will need to wait before the vehicle can be driven

* Reviews the “do’s and don’ts” of your vehicle’s operation during the adhesive curing period

Auto glass work of this nature is very specialized work, and is not something just anyone can do. Automotive windshield repair should be performed only by someone you trust, and who stands behind every aspect of their work. Don’t make light of the fact that your car’s windshield is an integral feature of the safety of your vehicle. Don’t leave something as important as auto glass replacement [http://lasertargeted.com/glassrepair/auto-glass-repair-replacement.html] to anyone who has not been trained in what is required to conform to the FMVSS.

One company in particular has developed quite a reputation for excellent auto glass repair and replacement work. In fact they pretty much pioneered the entire industry. NOVUS will replace your car windshield glass or if you prefer, they will repair it as well. The company offers a complete line of glass installation and car care products that include the highest quality urethane adhesives, glass and paint primers/preps and cleaners for vehicles and technicians. NOVUS has been awarded more U.S. patents for windshield repair than all the rest of the windshield repair industry combined. The company has been for over 30 years, and remains to this day, the auto glass repair industry’s leading research and development pioneer.

Kathy Hildebrand is a professional writer who is easily bored with her “day job” assignments. So, she researches anything and everything of interest and starts writing. Writing about an extremely wide variety of subjects keeps her skills sharp, and gives her food for thought on future paid writing assignments.

More of her research and articles can be found at www.lasertargeted.com/glassrepair [http://lasertargeted.com/glassrepair] and other sites around the internet.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathy_Hildebrand

“Temporary” Windshield “Repair”?

I have a crack in my windshield (rock from a truck on the highway) that is beginning to “walk” (pretty much straight down). It's too close to the edge (top) to be repaired, but someone told if I took a glass-cutter, and gently scored it perpendicular to the direction that it is moving, that I could possibly stop it from spreading (so fast) down across the windshield…in other words, slow the progression of the crack.

With the onset of cold weather looming, I'm afraid the crack will progress quickly now if I don't do something about it – soon.

Any thoughts?

Repairing a broken windshield – I have comprehensive coverage on my car…?

which covers the cracked glass, but I have a $500 deductible. My insurance company estimated the cost to repair it at $275, so they told me it would be an out of pocket expense. My mechanic told me there is a glass shop he works with who will waive your deductible if your insurance covers the repair. Does anyone know how this would work? And since i already contacted my insurance company and they made a claim but said it would be an out of pocket expense, did I screw myself on getting it fixed for free?

What costs a new car windshield?

Can anyone tell me roughly how much a new windshield would be for a 2008 Kia Sorento without calling 20 places?

Driver’s Ed classes have long been famous for images of windshields with passenger and driver sticking out of them at wrong angles. In those cases, windshield repair is fairly irrelevant, but just as it is important to practice defensive driving – and wear a seatbelt to keep yourself intact – making sure that you do the best to avoid repeated auto glass repairs is vital too.

Repairs Should Be Done As Soon As Possible

The exact items covered before they let us take our driving tests vary between states and organizations, and of course, no one has the time or budget to teach everything, but far too many important things get left behind in the rush to drill in rules and regulations. Proper vehicle maintenance often gets short shrift, and care of your car glass even less.

Any time you drive, you probably see several cars with plastic or cardboard where a piece of car glass should be. It’s true that even the best auto glass specialist can’t always get to you immediately – if your vehicle is old or specialized or both, there may be cross-country shipping involved – but so many things are at risk when you put off repairs.

Consider It See-Through Security

Not only is a car with a broken window that much more tempting to a thief, but wind, weather, insects, and noise get in too. You never really appreciate how important your auto glass is until it isn’t there.

This applies even more directly to windshield repair. For starters, this is the one piece of glass you can’t cover with plastic and keep driving – at least not without getting into an accident or arrested while having an accident. It is your most important piece of glass as far as visibility, security, and structural integrity.

The windshield keeps you in the car. It’s not fun to whack your face against the glass in an accident, but when you consider the physics of even a fairly slow speed crash, without your windshield, it would be far worse.

Little Problems Get Bigger

Just because it’s easy to ignore chips in your windshield doesn’t mean you should. Chips grow into cracks. Believe it or not, the same thing applies to scratches; they may start out small, but with time and pressure, they will grow into a much bigger problem.

While not a lot of car windshields last long enough without getting broken to be sufficiently scratched to impair vision, it can happen. We all know how annoying the reflections of sunlight off the road or the dash can be and how they impact safe driving. Imagine that compounded by dozens of tiny scores all over. That is an accident waiting to happen.

Most car insurance allows for replacing your auto glass simply because you’re having a hard time seeing out of it, meaning that your windshield repair shouldn’t cost you that much out of pocket.

Furthermore, any good auto glass repair company offers mobile windshield replacement, meaning that they will come to you. So, whether the little chip is now a crack across your field of vision, or scratches are ganging up on you, the cost is minimal compared to the risk of not getting it done.

First Class Auto Glass is a directory of auto glass replacement and repair companies nationwide. These companies are committed to providing first class customer service and quality replacements. Find an auto glass repair company near you or get your company listed by visiting http://www.firstclassautoglass.com now.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charisa_Pruitt

How much will a windshield replacement for a Toyota Corolla cost?

The whole windshield needs to be replaced. There's been a crack that's taken half of the windshield up..it just happened when I went outside to my car one day. Anyway, my deductible on my insurance is $250…is windshield replacement more expensive or less expensive? Should I call the Toyota dealership?

What is the average cost to replace a windshield?

I have a 1996 chevy cavalier, and i just recently shattered my windshield (dont ask how, haha i just did). so i cant really drive it, but how much would it cost (on average, an estimate would work fine with me) to replace it.
and im talking whole windshield needs replacement.

it kinda looks like this one :
http://www.kingcityglass.com/gallery/thumbs/lrg-14-windshield_1.JPG
but its off to the passenger's side of the windshield.