Did you know there are different types of Seattle auto glass breakage? At Glass Doctor® of Seattle & Tacoma, we make knowing Seattle auto glass our business. In order to best determine how to handle your Seattle auto glass needs, whether it is a windshield or a back window or vent glass, we need to determine what the cause of the problem is.
Most of the time, the problem is a broken or cracked window, windshield or back glass. Understanding the why the Seattle auto glass is broken or cracked is as important as the repair itself – to ensure that the repair or replacement actually corrects the problem and maintains your vehicle’s safety system.
There are two general causes of glass breakage:
Impact Breakage
Most breaks, rock chips, dings and cracks are caused by an impact to the glass window itself. The force of an object hitting the window causes the integrity of the glass to fail, and the glass cracks, breaks or shatters. When that happens, the window loses strength – and even though you may still be able to see out of it – the weakness at the break, crack or chip point creates a weak point in the window and may compromise your vehicle’s safety systems.
Stress Cracks and Fractures
A stress crack or fracture occurs when the window breaks or cracks due to a twisting of the glass itself. This can happen because the frame of the car twists and bends to the point where the glass fails, or because the windshield was improperly mounted. It is caused directly by too much pressure on the glass itself.
