The Most Common Mistakes People Make With Auto Glass Replacement

The first 24-48 hours after your auto glass replacement are very crucial. If you have had a broken auto glass replacement done recently, you should keep yourself fully aware of how to give it proper care and attention. If you do not have the right information and advice, you can easily make mistakes that will affect the quality of the installation and the structural integrity of your car or SUV as a result. In order to get the most out of your new windshield, you should first get the replacement performed by an expert and then follow all the post-replacement tips. The technician you hire for the installation will tell you what to do and what to avoid.

At SIR Glass, we specialize in automotive glass repair and auto window replacement as well as educate vehicle owners on new windshield maintenance tips. If you live in Boise, Idaho, feel free to talk to one of our specialists to find out how to take good care of your new windshield in the first 48 hours.

Importance of a Car Windshield Glass

Unlike ordinary glasses, automotive glasses are specially designed for cars, SUVs, trucks and minivans. Manufacturers use advanced technological procedures to produce windshields and other auto glasses.

The auto glass does not just prevent pollution and dust from entering the vehicle, but they provide you safety. In fact, the main purpose of a car window glass is to provide you safety in the event of road accidents and crashes. The windshield is designed and fitted into the vehicle to provide strength to the entire vehicular frame. If you happen to be involved in an accident, the windshield stops the roof of the car or SUV from caving in, thereby protecting your life.

Considering the important role the car windshield glass plays, you should never take any kind of windshield damage lightly and get the damage repaired immediately. If the damage is severe, you should go for a complete car glass replacement to restore structural integrity of the vehicle and thus ensure your safety while driving on the road. A broken windshield simply translates to compromised road safety and risk to life of the driver and other occupants of the car. That is why you should get in touch with a highly experienced and trained technician as soon as you spot a chip or crack on the front windshield, the back windshield or any other automotive glass installed in your car, SUV, truck or minivan.

If you live in Boise, Idaho, do not hesitate to reach out to SIR Glass to ask a question about auto glass replacement or schedule an inspection of your broken auto glass to fix windshield crack in an accurate manner.

Most Common Post-Replacement Mistakes to Avoid

If you want your newly installed auto glass to last as long as possible, you should remain aware of the most common mistakes people make with auto glass replacement and avoid them at any cost.

Driving Immediately Post-Installation

It is a big mistake to get back to the road immediately after the installation of the new windshield glass. While most technicians will remind you of the drive away time, you should also remain careful.

During a replacement, the technician uses urethane adhesive to bond the auto glass to the vehicle frame. The seal has to be hard and strong in order to ensure a successful auto glass installation. So, the technician will tell you to wait for a minimum of one hour before hitting the road again. Driving the car before an hour could disturb the placement of the car window glass. Improper installation will create multiple issues including risking your safety on the road.

Therefore, do not make the mistake of driving your car or SUV immediately after auto windshield replacement. Instead, give the adhesive enough time so that the seal becomes good and strong. Talk to a specialist to find out what type of adhesive is ideal for auto glass replacement.

Removing the Adhesive Tape

After the technician has completed the installation procedure, he will place adhesive tapes on the windshield. The tape helps the windshield to remain in the correct position until the seal has fully dried.

So, you should never be in a hurry to remove the adhesive tape immediately after the installation. Though the tape will interrupt a sleek look, you should leave the tape as it is for the first 48 hours post-replacement. In addition to keeping the windshield in its place, the retention tape also prevents dust particles from entering into the seal while the seal is still drying. Once the seal has become hard and strong, it possesses enough strength to hold the windshield in its position even during a crash or road accident. But till the time the adhesive has cured and the seal has dried, you should always make a point to not touch or remove the retention tape.

Keeping the Car Window Fully Closed

Post-replacement, you should let air pressure build inside the vehicle. Internal air pressure can take a toll on the newly installed windshield glass and pose a threat to the integrity of the windshield. That is why you should not make the mistake of keeping all the car windows closed.

Instead, you should keep the windows of your car or SUV slightly open for air to easily come in and go out. If you leave the car in the open on a sunny day with the windows closed, air pressure can increase inside the vehicle. Air pressure can disorient the newly installed car window glass. For ventilation and keeping the car cooler, you should leave 1-2 inches gap in your windows.

Not Being Careful While Driving

For the first 24-48 hours post-installation, the windshield requires the most amount of care and attention. Since the auto glass remains sensitive to vibration of any kind, you should try to maintain it in a proper manner.

Most importantly, you should drive the car carefully. As you hit the road after the drive away time is over, you should pay serious attention and avoid driving in a way that might put pressure on the windshield. Avoid driving on bumpy and uneven roads and be careful with potholes. The best idea is to drive on smooth and even paths in order to avoid any kind of pressure or vibration to the newly replaced car auto glass. Though these are all small steps, following these steps will help you avoid post-replacement issues and extend the lifespan of the glass.

Using Your Sunshade

Often, people start to use their sunshade immediately after installation of the new auto glass. This is one of the most common mistakes that you should always avoid in order for the seal to become fully hard.

After completing the windshield glass replacement procedure, the technician will suggest a number of maintenance tips for you to follow. One of these is to avoid using the sunshade, at least for the first 48 hours post-installation. Since the urethane is still drying during the first 24-48 hours, you should not do anything that can put pressure on the windshield. That is the reason you should not use sunshade, so as to give the seal enough time to cure properly.

Washing the Car

You may feel tempted to give your car or SUV a proper wash to restore its pristine look after the auto glass installation. However, you should avoid making this mistake and resist the temptation to wash the car.

In particular, you should not use high-pressure car washes. Pressure of water will put strain on the windshield. As a result of the pressure, the moldings can get displaced and take away the integrity of the auto glass. The adhesive applied during mobile windshield replacement will need adequate time to set and dry. Avoid a high-pressure car wash during the first 72 hours. If a wash is really necessary, you should give your vehicle a hand wash to avoid damage to the seal. Also, remember not to use any kind of harsh chemicals during the manual wash.

Slamming the Car Door

One surefire way of creating air pressure inside the vehicle is to close the door with a bang. The internal pressure will take a toll on the newly installed glass and the seal will not dry and harden properly. Post-installation, always remember to close the doors of your car in a gentle manner.

Covering the Car

After you take your car home, you may want to cover it for protection. However, experts recommend you do not try to put a body cover over the car, as this can threaten the integrity of the auto glass seal.

The fact is that covering a car or SUV involves doing a number of things. While putting the cover, you may do something that will put strain on the new automotive glass. If the cover gets stuck somewhere around the windscreen, it can cause damage to the seal. While the seal is still drying, you should avoid doing anything close to or around the windshield of the vehicle.

Not Taking the Warranty Card

Do not leave your auto glass replacement warranty card behind. In fact, you should always remember to collect the warranty card, as the card will help you in the event of any issues with the installation.

If you hire the right windshield repair services, you will be handed over a warranty card post-installation. It is possible to have problems with your new windshield. In that case, you can use the warranty card for a review of the installation and repair of the damage without paying extra money. At SIR Glass, we offer a Lifetime Warranty on all new car windshield installations. This means you never have to worry about any kind of issues that may arise with the replacement. If you spot any problem, all you need to do is give our company a phone call and our technicians will look into the issues and fix them or re-install the glass for free.

If you live in Boise, Idaho, you should definitely take advantage of our top quality windshield scratch repair and windshield replacement as well as our mobile windshield replacement services. Our lifetime guarantee on new installations is specially designed to give you complete peace of mind.

Not Taking a Closer Look at the Windshield Post-Installation

After the technician has completed the installation procedure, you should take a closer look at the windshield glass.

Provided you hire highly experienced glass technicians, you do not need to worry about the quality of installation. However, there is simply no harm in giving a closer look at the quality of the replacement. In particular, you should watch out for any kind of gaps between the glass and the frame. You should also see if there are any scratches on the new windshield. You will not have any of these issues with a top quality installation performed by experts.

If you spot problems such as leaks or gaps, you should immediately inform the auto glass technician. Even if it is a minor issue, it can have serious consequences once you get back on the road.

Talk to an Auto Glass Replacement Specialist

Car window replacement costs money, which you will either pay out of your pocket or through your auto insurance. Whichever is the case, you should remain fully aware of the most common mistakes that you might make with your auto glass replacement as well as keep an eye out for any kind of problems with the new windshield. If you have a question in regard to auto glass replacement or want to schedule a new auto glass installation, feel free to reach out to one of our specialists at the SIR Glass in Boise, Idaho. We provide high-quality auto window repair and auto windshield replacement as well as free mobile services.

For your free windshield replacement quote, you can give us a phone call.