As car owners, we tend to think about protecting our paintwork and the fabric covering the seats, while protecting the windscreen is so far down the list, it tends to fall off. But your windscreen plays an important role in keeping you safe on the road, so it is well worth your care and attention.
There is no secret that the glass used to make your windscreen is different to the glass in the windows at home – it’s much tougher and won’t shatter into a million pieces if it is broken – often it will make a spider web pattern, crack in places or break into small but safe sized pieces. But glass is glass, and all glass can break when force or pressure is applied.
What makes this happen? Today, windscreens are made using two pieces of heavy-duty glass fixed together. In between the two pieces is a thin laminate film. This film has a lot of responsibility – it holds the glass together when you are in an accident or your windscreen is otherwise damaged.
So, with your windscreen playing a role in keeping you and your passengers safe while on the road, how can you mitigate any damage to the windscreen?
5 Ways to Protect Your Windscreen
Minimise Driving on Loose Gravel – And Be Careful When You Do
If you can minimise your day to day driving on loose gravel roads, it will certainly go a long way to protecting your windscreen. But not everyone lives within the city, and it’s often too late to see the gravel coming towards you. The best way to minimise damage from loose gravel is to lower your speed and maintain some added distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
Watch the Temperature
Like any glass, changes in the temperature can cause the glass in your windscreen to expand and contract. If you know you are headed for a really hot or really cold day, where the internal temperature of the car will be different to the external temperature (due to use of air conditioning and heating), there are a few steps you can take to minimise issues. Firstly, don’t park your car in direct sunlight – when you get back into the car in the afternoon and turn that air con up, your windscreen is prone to cracking. Similarly, in winter, don’t put hot water on a frost covered windscreen as the quick temperature change could see a nasty crack appear.
Got Some Chips? Repair Them
Windscreen chips happen – you can’t prevent all of them. Often you won’t even know they have happened until you get in the car one morning and spot it out of the corner of your eye. No matter how small or large the chip in your windscreen is, it is best to get it repaired as soon as possible. Windscreens can crack from chips, which make it more dangerous to drive, more chance of your windscreen cracking completely, and more costly to repair.
Windscreen Wipers Leaving Marks?
This is one area that car owners tend to leave for far too long. If your windscreen wipers are leaving marks and streaks on the glass, it’s time to replace the blades. When the blades on your wipers get old, they will crack and become brittle which means they can’t clean the windscreen effectively, and small rocks and sticks can get caught under the blade, resulting in scratches on your glass. You can even reduce the strength of your windscreen glass if your wiper blades aren’t working correctly.
Keep Your Windscreen Clean
If you are a regular car washer, your windscreen is likely cleaned very regularly, but for those who don’t have the time to clean their car often, you should still be cleaning your windscreen on a regular basis. A clean windscreen will allow you to keep an eye on any damage, tiny scratches or chips that appear in your windscreen. Some of these are almost invisible from certain angles, so taking the time to regularly clean and inspect your windscreen will make it easier to address any issues quickly.
We understand that no matter how much you look after your car windscreen, chips and cracks do appear. Our mobile service allows you to get that damage repaired quickly, without taking a day off work or cancelling appointments. We will get you back on the road with no fuss. Contact Autoscreens now.
Jason Squire started Autoscreens in 2010. With over 35 years of experience gained in both the UK and Australia, the company is well established as a leading provider of windscreen replacement and autoglass repairs in Perth.
His journey to becoming a certified repairer license holder status with DMIRS (and business repair license MRB3703) began many years ago. He was born and brought up in the UK – the country where his long career in the automotive industry began. In common with many of the world’s best tradespeople it all started with an apprenticeship. For Jason, this was in vehicle bodybuilding and a specialisation in vehicle conversions.
He followed that up with several additional professional qualifications, including a Grade A Vehicle Body Building Certificate from the Road Transport Industry, a GQA level 2 in NVQ Automotive Glazing and a Level 2 qualification in Joining Materials by Welding from the UK Engineer Training Authority.
During his studies, Jason was also a part-time volunteer in the Royals signals with the Reserve Territorial Army. Between 1991 and 1995, Jason completed his Phase One Signallers Course with the Royal Armoured Corps and was awarded a Certificate of Trade Proficiency as a Territorial Army Driver Electrician Class 3. Training exercises took him all over Europe. He also represented the Signals in Rugby.
From there, he joined the armed forces on a full-time basis with the Queens Royal Lancers and continued to impress with his leadership skills and willingness to broaden his skillset, during which he lived in Germany. In 1996, he graduated from the Queens Royal Lancer Leadership Academy where he was named best recruit. His time with the Queens Royal Lancers he qualified as Tank Driver, Crew Medic and Gunner.
In 1999, Jason left the armed forces to join RAC Auto Windscreens. His skillset enabled him to fast-track his career to base supervisor and lead technician working with premiere dealerships in Crewe, Cheshire.
He also continued to volunteer in a number of different areas, including as a first responder with the West Midlands Ambulance Service and a scout leader with the Scout Association.
He relocated to Australia in 2008 with his young family and spent his first two years down under as a head technician for a national windscreen company.
However, with all his experience, extensive qualifications and his abiding passion for the automotive industry, it was inevitable that he would start his own company and make his mark as an industry leader.
He started Autoscreens in 2010 and has grown the business into the leading windscreen repair and replacement company in Perth, servicing both domestic and commercial customers. Autoscreens has a certified Motor Vehicle Repairers Licence MRB3703 issued by the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.