Auto Glass: Laminated Versus Tempered
The right windshield can truly add extra safety to your vehicle and also streamline the look of it. For the last 70 years, laminated glass has been the preferred choice generally in most vehicles. Invented at the turn of the final century, laminated glass is actually several layers. It has several layers of glass surrounding an inner plastic or resin layer which serves as a binding interlayer. This interlayer keeps the glass from breaking into smaller, more dangerous pieces in case of an accident. Instead, the glass breaks into the common “spider web” pattern seen in almost every crash. Addititionally there is tempered glass. Tempered safety glass is really a single piece of glass that has been heated then cooled quickly to harden it. Tempering glass strengthens the glass to about 5-10 times the original strength. This enables it to break into small, pebble like pieces without sharp edges. Tempered glass is normally found in side windows on vehicles to allow for emergency escape. Since it doesn't permit the glass to completely shatter, laminated glass is ideal for vehicles of all sizes and shapes. Check over here has also benefited the consumer by being largely repairable; chips and cracks could be easily repaired with resin. While its safety features are innumerable, it actually has more features that make it the number one choice for auto glass manufacturers and auto glass repair services. Laminated glass is a lot more challenging to shatter than glass that has been tempered. Which means that theft is greatly reduced simply because of the quantity of time that it would take for the thief to effectively shatter it. Also, the extra layer in laminated glass is perfect to reduce exterior noise. It creates the car more comfortable without blocking out emergency sounds such as ambulance and police sirens. Most laminated glass comes with your options for UV protection and temperature control. This can help to protect you as well as your passengers from Ultra violet rays and keeps your car at a more comfortable temperature through the warmer months. Tempered glass, although it has its advantages, should never be used in windshields. It simply is too easy to shatter. And while this can be beneficial in side windows for safety reasons, it usually is extremely hazardous in a windshield. A rock that would only chip laminated glass could potentially shatter tempered glass; which could be incredibly dangerous if you are traveling at high speed on the freeway. It's important to keep your glass, regardless of the material, in good shape. Letting chips on a windshield become long cracks can present safety hazards as well as affect the functionality of your windshield. Auto glass repair services are available to repair your auto glass with a minimal cost to you. Depending on the circumstance, the repair may even be included in your insurance company. Speak to your insurance professional or perhaps a certified auto glass repair technician today to go over your options and how much it could cost. Older vehicles must be inspected to make sure that they have the correct type of safety glass installed.