Understanding The Process Of Replacing The Windshield In Your Vehicle
When you have a windshield that is damaged, getting it replaced is essential. Working with an auto glass replacement service to remove the old windshield and install a new one for you is the best option for ensuring the new glass is installed correctly.
Get An Estimate
When you damage your vehicle's windshield, you need first to determine if an auto glass service can repair the glass or if you need a windshield replacement. Taking your vehicle to an auto glass replacement service and getting an estimate for the work is an excellent first step.
The glass technician will look at the damage to the glass to determine if they can fix it or if you need to replace the glass entirely. The tech will look at a couple of things, including the size of the break, the location on the windshield, and the depth of damage to the glass. The combination of these will help the auto glass technician determine which course of action to take.
Ordering The Glass
If you need a windshield replacement, the auto glass replacement service can order the proper replacement glass for you. It is essential that they check the glass for shading along the top and defrosters or antennas embedded in the glass.
If you have these items in the original glass, they should use a replacement that matches, or you could end up with accessories that don't work correctly. The glass company can typically get a new windshield in two or three days if they don't already have it on hand, unless the glass is rare or uncommon, but you can ask how long it will take when they place the order for you.
Windshield Installation
Once the windshield has arrived, the shop will call you to set up a time for your windshield replacement. You can drop the car off or wait for it, but the work should take an hour to an hour and a half in most cases.
The technician will remove the old glass from the car and clean the old urethane gasket material off the sheet metal around the windshield opening. Once the surface is clean, the new gasket material is put in place, and the new windshield can be installed.
The tech will also check the area around the glass for any signs of damage that may allow water to get under the seal or spots that have rust starting on them before putting the glass in place. The rust needs to be sanded off, and a rust-prohibitive coating has to be applied to the metal before the glass is installed to ensure the new glass does leak down the road.
Once the glass is in, you can drive home, but the new seal will not cure fully for about 24 hours, so you'll want to minimize using your car until then.
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