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HOW AUTO GLASS BREAKS
PRIMARY CAUSE FOR AUTO GLASS TO BREAK
All auto glass damage requires attention to prevent more damage. It is important to know why your auto glass is broken or cracked. By knowing "why" Clear-Vu Glass technicians will be able to maintain your vehicle's integrity as well as safety.
The two normal causes of glass breakage are:
- IMPACT
The most common type of breakage comes from impacts to the glass from flying objects like rocks when your car is moving, or dings which generally occur when your car is stationary. Either of these can result in sufficient force striking your auto glass to cause failure, which means your glass will sustain a break, crack or shatter. This is what happens when auto glass loses its strength. Even though is often possible to see through your auto glass; the break, crack or chip creates a weak point which decreases the integrity of your vehicle increasing the likelihood of compromise of your safety/protection systems. - STRESS CRACKS OR FRACTURES
Stress cracks or fractures occur when auto glass twists or experiences torque. This typically occurs when the body or frame moves sufficiently to cause your auto glass to fail. This can occur when your windshield was improperly mounted or the vehicle sustains sufficient impact to cause pressure on the glass.
TYPES OF AUTO GLASS DAMAGE
Knowing how your glass was broken will allow Clear-Vu technicians to properly diagnose and perform the correct replacement option for your vehicle. Types of breaks include:
- Bullseye Break: The bullseye break appears to be a small hole surrounded by a dark colored circle and it is usually a good candidate for windshield repair. Following the repair the only remaining item seen is this initial impact.
- Half-Moon Break Or Partial Bullseye Break: Differs from the bullseye break because it is only half a circle. The Half-Moon Break is more difficult to repair because the impact occurred at a steep angle. Fortunately, it is a candidate for repair. Once it is repaired the point of initial contact is the only remaining visible portion.
- Star Break: This break looks like a star with two or more cracks radiating from the original point of impact. After repair, the star break may be slightly visible particularly the radial cracks.
- Combination Break: Is a single break with radial and bullseye features. This is the most difficult type of auto glass break to repair and it is still often visible after it has been repaired.
- Crack: A crack is a line in a layer (usually the top) of laminated glass. Crack repair results vary by the type shape and length of the crack. Even though cracks may appear nearly invisible after repair only small cracks are candidates for repaired. Most cracks require windshield replacement.
- Tempered Auto Glass
- Most vehicles use tempered glass in all window and glass applications with the exception of the windshield. Tempered glass tends to break into very small cubes which is called "dicing" or "crazing" and tends to prevent serious injuries.
- Laminated Auto Glass
- Most cars and light trucks use laminated glass. To laminate glass two pieces are pressured together with a plastic sheet known as PVB between them. This provides a system of integrity which prevents broken windshield glass from entering the passenger compartment. Flying objects are also prevented from penetrating your vehicle by your windshields laminated glass.
