Released on: February 20, 2008, 7:17 am

Press Release Author: Skye Communication, LLC

Industry: Automotive

Press Release Summary: As the winter driving season intensifies with storms and
frigid temperatures, it is time to consider a winter tune-up for your car, and
specifically, your windshield. Auto safety is very important this time of year, but
windshields are another crucial and frequently overlooked potential safety hazard
that affects each and every vehicle.


Press Release Body: Chicago, IL - As the winter driving season intensifies with
storms and frigid temperatures, it is time to consider a winter tune-up for your
car, and specifically, your windshield. The winter driving conditions have already
made their way across the U.S. with snow, ice, freezing rain, and kick-up from snow
plows and other vehicles. This is the season for drivers to stock their cars full
of snow brushes and ice chippers, check their car batteries, put on a set of good
snow tires, and hope for the best. Auto safety is important this time of year, but
windshields are another crucial and frequently overlooked potential safety hazard
that affects each and every vehicle.

Often when drivers get a chip in their windshield during the winter season, they
will say to themselves, "I'll just wait to get this chip repaired. There are still
a few months of bad weather ahead of me, with many more opportunities for rocks to
fly up and hit the windshield. I'll just wait to get it repaired in the spring."
Many drivers do not know that if they repair a chipped windshield right away it can
keep the damage from getting worse. "Many chips in the windshield can be repaired,"
says David Rohlfing, president of Glass America, a national automobile glass
replacement and repair company.

"Windshield repair is a fraction of the cost of replacement and the repair can be
done in about 30 minutes. If you can catch a chipped windshield before it spreads,
then you can actually prevent a tiny chip from expanding and contracting under
freezing conditions and traveling across the windshield into a giant crack. Chips
that are fixed within days of the damage occurring generally repair better and are
less likely to spread. Make sure that the windshield repair company you use
guarantees their work. In case the damage spreads after it is repaired or if you
are not satisfied with the repair, Glass America will credit the cost of the repair
towards the replacement cost of the windshield. Although windshield repair can
usually make the damaged area look better, its real purpose is to structurally
restore the windshield and keep the damage from spreading," Rohlfing adds.

If the chip is too large or cracks and the damage spreads, then the windshield needs
to be replaced. A car's windshield actually provides a significant amount of
structural support to the roof of a vehicle and is a vital part of the vehicle's
occupant crash protection system. The windshield also acts as a backboard when the
passenger side air bag deploys at 200 MPH. It is vital that a windshield is replaced
properly to make sure these critical safety systems perform properly in a crash.

Don't trust your auto glass replacement to just any glass shop. Auto glass
technicians must be properly trained and certified to make sure the glass in your
vehicle is replaced properly. Look for a quality glass shop that has registered and
is compliant with the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standard. AGRSS is an
organization that is committed to quality and safety, so drivers should not trust a
glass shop that is not AGRSS compliant.

Winter Windshield Check-Up Tips

* Check both sides of the windshield for chips or cracks.
* If you find a chip or crack call Glass America @ 1-800-634-5623 to schedule a
repair or replacement.
* Make sure you keep your windshield clean inside and out.
* Inspect your windshield wipers. Make sure they are not worn out or brittle and
replace them if necessary. Don't forget to check and replace the rear wiper too.

Questions To Ask If You Need A Stone Chip Repair:

* Do I have to drive my car to a shop or is mobile service available?
* If I choose to make a claim, are you approved by my insurance company and can you
take care of all of the paperwork for me?
* Do you guarantee your work?
* Do you follow ROLAGS, the Repair of Laminated Auto Glass Standard?
* How long will the repair take and can I drive my car right away?

Questions To Ask If Your Windshield Needs To Be Replaced:

* Are you registered and compliant with the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards?
(AGRSS)
* If I choose to make a claim, are you approved by my insurance company and can you
take care of all of the paperwork for me?
* Do I have to drive my car to a shop or is mobile service available?
* If replacement is required, is the windshield that will be installed manufactured
by an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)? Using OEM quality glass means a perfect
fit which greatly reduces post installation problems like water leaks, air noise and
stress cracks.
* What kind of polyurethane adhesive does the company use and what is the Safe Drive
Away time for that product? This is critical as some low priced sealants require the
vehicle to sit for 10-12 hours (or longer in winter temperatures) before the
windshield can properly deflect the airbag in a collision or support the roof in a
roll over accident. Quality glass shops use more expensive fast curing adhesives
that require only 1-2 hours to fully cure.
* Do you carry liability insurance and provide a written lifetime warranty for
labor, materials and workmanship? (Good companies do.)

If a glass shop does not answer these questions to your satisfaction, and does not
maintain safety standards in accordance to AGRSS, keep looking until you find a shop
that you feel confident in. Remember that quality means safety, and safety means
everything.

About Glass America
Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Glass America is one of the
largest independently-owned automobile glass replacement and repair companies in the
country. Glass America has 94 service centers conducting business under the names
Glass America and Auto Glass Service which are conveniently located in the states of
Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Glass America offers a complete line of auto glass repair and replacement services
for all years, makes and models, foreign and domestic, commercial or passenger
vehicles. In contrast to many auto glass companies in the country, Glass America
buys glass only from OEM (original equipment manufactured) suppliers. This means the
proper windshield with the perfect fit.

As a leader in the auto-glass replacement industry, Glass America upholds the
highest levels of quality craftsmanship, and consistently maintains a proven track
record for excellent customer service. The company is a member of the Independent
Glass Association and the National Glass Association, and all technicians are
certified by Sika Adhesive Systems and LYNX Services. All auto glass installations
and workmanship will meet or exceed the AGRSS Standards, and have a national
lifetime warranty. Glass America's direct billing procedures and pricing structures
meet or exceed the requirements of all insurance companies and glass networks. All
of the company's national service areas offer both drive-in and mobile services, and
always strive to make business as quick and as convenient as possible for their
patrons. For more information on Glass America, or to place an order, please call
1-800-634-5623 to connect to the nearest location.

For more information, please visit www.glassusa.com.

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Web Site: http://www.skyline.com

Contact Details: Media Contact: Skye Communication, LLC
James DeMicco: (203) 879-2258
jd@skyeline.com
http://www.skyline.com
FAX 203-879-2873