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Common Causes of Rear Glass Damage

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Common Causes of Rear Glass Damage

Your car’s windscreens and glass play a crucial role in the overall safety and integrity of the vehicle. A broken or smashed window can seriously compromise the overall safety of your entire vehicle, making it a hazard for everyone on the roads. 

While it’s fairly obvious when a vehicle’s front windscreen has received damage, back windscreen damage can often be neglected. However, it’s just as important to get a rear windscreen fixed. A damaged rear windscreen can impact visibility, prevent wipers from working correctly and make the entire vehicle more vulnerable.

Rear Windscreen with a hat showing

It’s important to understand the common causes of rear glass damage, and in this article, the team here at The Windscreen Company has put together a list outlining some of these reasons.            

Damage due to hot water defrosting

We’ve all been there. When the colder months have drawn in and we’re running late for work the last thing you want to see is your car covered in frost that needs to be scrapped off. With this in mind, there’s often a temptation to boil a kettle, and use the scolding water to melt the ice away to speed up the process. 

However, this technique should be avoided at all costs. The sudden and dramatic change in temperature can weaken the glass, making it more likely to crack. Any minor chips or scratches can also be made much worse when hot water is applied. 

Common Causes of Rear Windscreen Damage-01

Stones and debris hitting the windscreen 

Another extremely common way that rear glass damage is sustained is when it’s struck by stones and debris when out on the roads. Just like with your front windscreen, rocks, stones and debris flying up from the road can clip your rear windscreen causing chips and damage that needs to be addressed.

If you’re driving on country roads or near construction sites, it’s always worth decreasing your speed slightly to try to avoid stones from flicking up onto your windscreen. 

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Sudden temperature changes 

As everyone who lives in Britain knows, our weather can be somewhat unpredictable. And a fluctuation in temperature and conditions can also have an impact on our car’s glass. Glass expands in hot weather and contracts when it gets colder, and sudden fluctuations can cause damage. For example, if your car has been out in the cold all day and you blast the central heating system it can cause harm to the glass. 

Parking your car in a place with a stable temperature, such as a garage, can mitigate this. 

Common Causes of Rear Windscreen Damage-03   

Collisions and accidents 

Car accidents, crashes and collisions can happen to anyone and are often out of our control. In the unfortunate event that this happens to you, it could leave you with a damaged rear windscreen. As well as accidents involving other motorists, while rare, birds colliding with a window can cause damage, as can rogue golf or cricket balls if you’re parked at a sporting venue.

The best way to try and avoid collisions and accidents is to drive safely and vigilantly, and always take care where you’re parking your vehicle. 

Improper installation 

Sometimes, once you’ve had a windscreen replaced, you may realise damage has occurred soon after. This could be because you’ve used a company or mechanic that has improperly installed the glass. When new glass is not correctly installed, gaps can appear between the glass and the frame. Driving your vehicle can cause these gaps to increase, resulting in it popping out or cracking.   

With this in mind, if your rear windscreen has suffered damage, it’s integral that it’s fixed as soon as possible by a reputable and reliable company. 

Common Causes of Rear Windscreen Damage-04

At The Windscreen Company, if you require a rear windscreen replacement we’re here to help. We work across the West Midlands and South East, providing a dedicated service that can replace any glass on vehicles of every make and model. Whether you need a rear windscreen replacement, or any other glass repairs or replacement services, get in touch with our team today by phone or email.

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The Windscreen Company, has over 20 years of experience in windscreen repair and replacement. Since 1998, they have been at the forefront of industry innovation, leveraging the latest technology to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.

The Windscreen Company's, help-and-advice pages offer valuable tips and guidance on maintaining vehicle safety through quality windscreen care, while also featuring updated industry realted content.

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