Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you offer a warranty on the new windshields / auto glass you install?
A: Yes! We provide a lifetime warranty on workmanship for all windshields and other glasswork we install on your vehicle. As long as you own it, our warranty will be honored whenever you have a claim on your vehicle glass.
Q: Which insurers do you work with?
A: We can help you make the repairs you need no matter who your insurer is. In over 25 years of work as expert auto glaziers, we’ve worked with hundreds of different companies on behalf of our clients. In the case of the major nationwide insurance companies (e.g. Geico, USAA, Allstate, Progressive, Hartford, etc.), we’ve successfully handled thousands of glass replacement jobs. We’re also very familiar working with regional insurers.
Q: Can you help me with my insurance paperwork?
A: Yes. Xpress Auto Glass has a great deal of experience in dealing directly with auto insurers. In many cases (depending on your company and your situation) we can actually file a claim on your behalf. Your assistance is sometimes required to initiate the claims process, though. When this happens, we’ll be there every step of the way to minimize the hassles involved and ensure you get a favorable outcome.
Q: Do your technicians have professional certification?
A: Xpress Auto Glass is a proud (and early) member of the Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standards Council (AGRSS). The Council is a non-profit body dedicated to codifying and improving professional standards in our industry; its operations are accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). A major part of maintaining our AGRSS registration is seeing that all of our technicians are fully trained according to AGRSS standards and therefore capable of properly replacing your auto glass. While AGRSS was founded by a coalition of auto glass replacement companies, it is as noted above a non-profit organization dedicated to consumer safety above all else.
Q: Can you come do my auto glass replacement on-site?
A: Yes. Xpress Auto Glass offers mobile installation to our customers, in most cases without costing any extra. We can send our technicians to your home or office in order to make the necessary repairs; replacing a windshield or other piece of auto glass doesn’t need to occupy your whole day or inconvenience you.
Q: How long do windshield replacements take?
The replacement process itself is usually completed in an hour or less. The adhesive used to affix auto glass requires additional time to cure, though, so we strongly recommend leaving your vehicle parked for a while after your replacement is complete. The length of time required before your car is safe to drive ranges from 45 minutes to two hours. Our auto glass expert will advise you after he has completed the glass replacement for you. The weather is the determining factor on wait time.
Q: What’s OEM quality glass, and why does it matter?
The term “OEM” stands for “original equipment manufacturer,” and it means that the glass in question was manufactured to the same standards (often by the same companies) as the original glass installed by a vehicle’s manufacturer. The majority of the glass we use is purchased from AGD, PPG, and Pilkington. These three providers are major local OEM suppliers, and their products conform to all of the same strict requirements as the glass which was installed in your vehicle at the factory.
Q: What sort of adhesives are used to attach new auto glass?
Our adhesive of choice is the Essex 428 line. Essex is a leading manufacturer of automobile glass adhesives, and their systems are known and praised for their high reliability and the speed with which they can be applied. Our two main adhesive products right now are Essex’s “High Viscosity” and “Primerless” lines. These products deliver excellent results, ensuring that your new auto glass meets the safety requirements laid down in FMVSS 208/212 within two hours. Note that these adhesives do require favorable environmental conditions – temperatures between 32 and 119 degrees Fahrenheit and normal humidity levels.
Q: Can you do a replacement on a rainy day?
If at all possible, we recommend that you avoid scheduling mobile installations on days when wet weather is in the forecast. We want to deliver the highest possible quality when we install your new glass, and precipitation and high humidity can make that job a lot harder. On rainy days, please contact us and schedule an appointment in our shop where we can keep your vehicle dry during the glass installation.
Q: Does Xpress Auto Glass just handle windshields?
A: No, we handle a wide range of auto glass. In virtually every case, we can provide a suitable replacement for any piece of glass installed on your vehicle. We make sure to match the replacement glass to the original material, installing laminated glass windshields and using tempered glass for most other automotive applications. We have the supplies – and our technicians have the training – to handle glass replacements on every part of your vehicle.
Q: What do the terms “tempered” and “laminated” mean?
A: As noted above, laminated glass is the de facto standard for windshield manufacture. A laminated windshield is actually a “sandwich” composed of a synthetic laminate pressed between two sheets of glass. Laminated glass offers superior penetration resistance from both the exterior and the interior. Even when severely damaged, laminated glass tends to stay in a single piece thanks to the laminate layer in the middle.
Tempered glass is heat treated to modify its physical characteristics. When a piece of tempered glass is broken, it shatters into a huge number of tiny, rough fragments instead of long shards with sharp edges. This reduces the risk posed by broken glass and makes tempered glass ideal for use in non-windshield applications on vehicles.
Q: Why are windshields important from a safety standpoint?
A: As you can probably imagine, windshields have always been important to keeping you safe in your vehicle, and their importance has only increased over time. New innovations like lightweight construction materials and passenger-side airbags have forced windshields to continue developing and evolving. (Passenger airbags deploy by rebounding off the windshield; this demands a very strong installation.) In general, windshields have been getting larger while auto roofs get smaller. The net result is that your windshield needs to play a reliable role in protecting you in a wider range of potential accidents, like rollovers. Using substandard glass or installing it improperly can rob you of the vital safety protection you deserve.