Many consumers may not realize that the windows in their cars, home and at work significantly increase their risk of sun damage. In the US, only 10% of automotive glass and less than 30% of architectural glass offers protection from UVA and UVB rays.
How dangerous is sun exposure?
- Globally, more than 66,000 people die from skin cancer each year.
- Between 2 and 3 million non-melanoma skin cancers and 132,000 melanoma skin cancers occur globally each year (World Health Organization)
- The average American worker spends the equivalent of an entire week in their car commuting to work each year - that's over 100 hours of exposure to serious sun damage. (US Census bureau)
- Sun damage causes 90% of all premature skin aging and wrinkles. (Environmental Protection Agency)
- Cumulative exposure is directly linked to skin cancer, premature aging, and even cataracts.
Ultraviolet light from the sun is divided into three main types of UV rays.
- UVA- the "aging" and cancer rays. UVA contributes to aging, and in addition to the wrinkles and sunspots, they can also cause melanoma. Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer.
- UVB- the "burning" rays. Mostly absorbed in the top skin layer causing sunburn, they also contribute to the risk of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma.
- UVC- are the most dangerous of all but are stopped by the ozone layer in the atmosphere.
Most people use the term sun protection factor (SPF) when talking about preventing UV damage. The Lawrence Berkley Labs at the University of California measured our Solar Gard window film's SPF at 285+, and some films offer even higher protection factors. With a single application, we offer you year round peace of mind.
Solar Gard window films are a vital piece of the UGV protection puzzle. Here are some of the benefits
- Block 99% of damagingbroad spectrum UV rays, both UVA and UVB.
- Provide SPF of 285+
- Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation
- Provide year round protection with a one time application
- Window tinting can be installed on cars, homes, and commercial buildings.
Click the link above to enter your vehicle information or cal (619) 279-5690 to speak with a film specialist right now.
You are driving down one of our many southern California highways and BAM! a rock hits your windshield and cracks it. It may be a small chip or it may crack all the way across the windshield. In either case it needs to be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. To start off, windshields are what is called laminated glass. The windshield is actually two layers of glass with a layer of durable vinyl melted in between them. These three layers combine with each other to form and very strong barrier between you and the elements. So don't be worried, the windshield won't fall out or cave in on you. With that being said, what is your next step? What should you do? Well here is what I would do...
First: Head to google and find a few glass shops with some positive reviews.
Second: Call these places and ask some questions.
Questions like:
Do they have a physical location? (This way if you have any problems with your new windshield you have some recourse, I wouldn't use a company if they didn't have a shop.)
Are they replacing the molding(s)? (I see a lot of cars with the old molding just glued back down or a universal molding that does not fit properly.)
How soon can you drive the car after they windshield has been replaced? (most urethanes on the market take between 3-12 hours to cure for safe driving. If they say you can drive right away, call somewhere else! Even top of the line urethanes takes at least 1 hour to cure before driving.)
Any reputable glass shop will take the time to answer your questions and help you to understand the whole process. Use your gut when you are talking to the people on the phone, are they knowledgeable? Are they patient? Do they care? You may have to call several places to find a couple good ones. Once you have found a great shop go ahead and set up an appointment and enjoy your new clear view!
Okay so we have all heard of Safelite glass company right? Well, if not, they are a multi-faceted international glass company that handles glass claims (insurance), glass replacement and manufactures their own glass. To give you some perspective on how large and influential this company is, consider this: Safelite is a subsidiary of Belron and replaces about 12 million pieces of glass per year. They also have their own manufacturing plant so they sell their own glass as well as market their glass to independent shops. They also own a Third Party Administrative firm (TPA) that handles glass claims for certain Insurance carriers such as Allstate and Geico. This is all well and good. A company that is huge and growing is exactly what every businessman wants from their company.
Here is what I have a problem with. Being that Safelite runs their own TPA, they are able to refer or steer the insured to whatever glass company they want. Now take a guess at which company they are steering the insured to? Yep. Themselves. They have the control to get all of the customers insurance information and use that to send themselves the job. A TPA is supposed to be a third party that handles the administrative duties of the transaction and act as a liaison between the glass company and the insurance company.
So let's say your windshield got broken. You call Geico and tell them you want to file a claim to get it replaced. Since it is just a glass claim they send it to Safelite Glass Company (SGC) which handles all of their glass only claims. You give them all of your information and they are supposed to refer you to a trusted glass shop in your area that is in the glass network. What they do is tell you that you need to use Safelite to replace the glass because Geico will warranty all of the work if you do. If you choose a company on your own they tell you it won't be warrantied and that you should go with Safelite.
I must point out that such conflicts of interest are illegal under the same scenario in medical coverage. So, what is the difference? None.
In February of 2007 Nationwide Insurance testified that approximately 80 percent of all its glass repair and replacement work in South Carolina is performed by it's TPA's (Safelite's) retail arm. Safelite did not deny this testimony. There were 200 glass shops in the state and Safelite got 80 percent of the work! What? How could they have possibly gotten 80 percent of the work without directing claimants to itself? How is this possible when carriers do not contract any one auto glass company to repair or replace glass? The answer is obvious.
Feel free to leave a comment on this one...
Most of us would conclude that
our windshield is a very useful piece of equipment. It
keeps cold and heat; wind and rain; and untold numbers of bugs and
other airborne road debris out of our faces.
The problem is that consumers have different and more limited
expectations from the windshield than the automotive engineer. In
other words, we worry about water leaks or ugly "dings" and cracks
affecting our car's value, while the engineer understands how such
damage can affect the vehicle's structural integrity and passenger
safety.
The fact is that the modern automobile and truck, windshield is
part of the vehicle's safety restraint system (SRS) that also
includes air bags and seat belts. If any of these safety components
are damaged, or are inoperable for any reason, the effectiveness of
the entire SRS could be compromised.
The SRS is designed to keep vehicle occupants within the relative
safety of the passenger compartment during accidents, head-on
collisions and roll-overs. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration reports over 40,000 Americans are killed and over 5
million injured every year in highway crashes. Over 30
percent of the fatalities occur when vehicle occupants are
either ejected from the vehicle, or, injured during rollovers.
Windshields are intended to keep occupants inside the vehicle.
The windshield also supports the roof thereby preserving the
structural integrity of the passenger compartment and keeping it
from collapsing and crushing driver and passengers.
Seen from this perspective of personal safety, consumers have a
vested interest in making sure any damaged windshield they replace
is replaced properly and safely. For these reasons every vehicle
owner should be aware of the five most important safety functions
performed by their windshield.
- The most obvious windshield function is,
of course, visibility. Unlike drivers of old, we do not wear
goggles that keep bugs out of our eyes or highway debris from
hitting our face. Even so, the modern windshield can become pitted
and scratched from minute dirt and sand particles. Pebbles and
stones can fracture the glass causing dings that, if left
unattended, can affect vision.
- The second windshield function is not as
obvious. In many cars and trucks, the windshield supports the
passenger side airbag during deployment. If a windshield is
replaced improperly, the windshield could become detached from the
vehicle in an accident. If this happens the passenger side airbag
will not deploy properly.
- Thirdly, windshields cushion the blow if
a vehicle occupant is thrown forward in a crash. Windshields are
made of two layers of glass sandwiched around a layer of polyvinyl
material. The glass may break but the polyvinyl layer is flexible
and cushions the impact. This feature explains why windshields are
made of glass not plastic. Plastic is rigid and unforgiving to a
persons head and neck.
- The fourth windshield safety attribute is
closely related to the third. When the windshield cushions the
occupants impact, it also keeps the occupants within the relative
safety of the passenger compartment. If the windshield becomes
separated from the vehicle, the occupants could be ejected through
the windshield opening and onto the roadway.
Outside the vehicle,
the danger of being crushed by the vehicle is greatly enhanced.
- Finally, there is the integrity of the passenger compartment.
Years ago, most vehicles had steel A-pillars to support the roof.
Today, it is the windshield that provides much of the support that
prevents the roofs collapse during vehicle roll-overs.
There are a few common sense tips people can follow to ensure
their windshield performs as intended. The ideal scenario calls for
saving the original windshield installed by the factory. The
conditions inside the factory for installing a windshield are
perfect, so the confidence level in the factory seal between
windshield and vehicle is highest. If the original windshield is
damaged, there are two choices. Either repair the original
windshield, or replace it. The advantage of repair is the factorys
safety seal is not broken. The windshield is not removed from the
car. That saves both the very expensive windshield and the safety
seal.
Many people are unsure if their windshield can or cannot be
repaired, so it is extremely important to consult a competent auto
glass service provider for advice. If you are not sure, it is always
a good idea to ask local service providers if their technicians are
certified by the National Glass Association.
If the damage is beyond repair, then windshield replacement is
the only other alternative. If replacement is indicated, ask if the
auto glass shop endorses the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standard
(AGRSS) and trains their technicians to that standard.