Safety Questions To Ask Your Windshield Replacement Provider

5 Safety Questions

Purchasing auto glass for any part of your vehicle is more than just opening the phone book and choosing the first provider with the lowest price. Safety should always be the #1 concern when we’re driving. So you should ask windshield replacement providers four safety questions before picking one.

1. How Qualified are the Technicians Replacing Your Windshield? While windshield replacement service providers, also referred to as auto glass technicians, are not required to be licensed, they should be highly trained, experienced, and knowledgeable of the whole process. With so many makes and models of vehicles around today, all having different types and shapes of auto glass, windshield installation and replacements are complicated. Ask your auto glass technician to provide proof they are certified. Do some research before hiring someone to do the job. Are they reputable? Will they take care of the insurance paperwork?
2. What Type of Glass & Adhesive Do They Use? If your auto glass technician states he can get you a windshield cheaper than average, you should question what type of glass they’re installing. Is it OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) glass? OEM glass is safer, sturdier, and less prone to cracking. If you’ve gone so far as to require OEM glass, you will want to ask if they are also using OEM adhesives. A low-quality adhesive may not work well in wet or cold climates and take longer to dry or cure, which can be a real problem if the car is used too soon after installation. In other words, the windshield may leak with the slightest impact if you start driving around before the urethane has time to dry—more on windshield leaks and wind noise.
3. How Soon Can You Drive Your Car After Installation? We all lead busy lives and have crazy schedules, so we seldom have time to sit at a garage waiting to have a new windshield installed. Auto glass providers often come to our home or place of business and do the work there. It’s highly convenient but can be dangerous if we’re unknowingly driving the car before it’s ready. The urethane needs time to cure with the glass to prevent future problems. It’s known as “safe drive-away time,” and it’s on each bottle of urethane—question your windshield replacement service provider on this safety issue. Also, ask if you should take any precautions a couple of days after the installation.
4. What Type of Warranty Do They Provide? If you’re like many others who have waited almost forever to replace your windshield finally, you’re going to want to make sure it last and, if it doesn’t, that they’ll replace it free. If provided anything less than a 1-year warranty, question the type of glass installed. Some companies may offer a lifetime warranty, but you can almost always assume they’re using high-quality OEM glass.
5. What Cut Method Will You Use During The Windshield Installation? The cut method refers to the auto glass service provider’s type of cut when removing the old urethane. These methods include full-cut and half-cut, which are defined below.
   1. Half-Cut leaves a small amount of the old urethane on the car’s frame after removing the windshield. Most repair services perform the half-cut method, which leaves a small amount of adhesive on the car’s frame. However, the half-cut method is not preferred because it can lead to additional windshield damage over time. 
   2. Full-Cut removes all the old urethane exposing the metal surface of the car. If you’re filing an insurance claim to replace damaged glass, the insurance company will require the service representative to use the full-cut method. There’s no extra cost, and it ensures the new windshield isn’t attached to old urethane that could come loose.