5 Types Of Auto Glass 

In today's article, we'll be discussing the different types of auto glass found in cars. We'll be talking about the side door glass, vent glass, quarter glass, and rear windshield. Stay tuned!

Five Types Of Auto Glass You Should Know

When it comes to automotive glass, there are two main classifications- tempered and laminated glass. But that's not our focus today. Let's discuss the glasses that make up your vehicle:

#1 Front Windshield or Windscreen Glass

This automotive glass is an essential part of the vehicle because it supports the roof's rigidity by up to 30%. This part of an auto glass rests at the front of the car, directly opposite the driver and passenger's seat. It's called a windshield because it shields the car's interior from heavy wind current while traveling. The front windshield also has a wiper unit to wipe off rain and moisture that rests on the glass.

The front windshield is made from a particular type of glass called Laminated Glass Windshields. This type of glass is made with two sheets of glass and a special plastic layer called poly-vinyl butyral (PVB). The plastic layer is placed between the two sheets like a sandwich and heated together until it becomes one thick glass with two layers. Thus, the front windshield contributes to the structural integrity of the vehicle and safe driving.

Laminated auto glass has maximum strength that, when broken, they don't shatter- instead of crashing into tiny pieces of sharp glass chunks, they crack into a spider-web form. Depending on the extent of the impact, the inner layered glass doesn't receive any damage, thanks to the cushion effect of the plastic layer embedded into it. There are three examples of laminated (and tempered) glass, and they are:

i. Original Equipment Manufacturer Tempered Glass (OEM):

OEM glass is high quality manufactured to serve as authentic as the original windshield glass that initially came with your vehicle.

ii. Factory Equivalent Glass:

This type of windshield glass is equivalent to OEM glass but not as authentic. If you want a cheaper option, you can't opt for this type of laminated glass.

iii. Generic Laminated Glass:

Generic laminated glass has a lesser quality than the previously mentioned and comes at a cheaper rate.

Laminated automotive glass also comes in various kinds according to its function. The Solar Control Laminated Glass works well to screen out solar heat energy and provides 99% UV ray protection. Another type is the Acoustic Control Laminated Glass, designed to reduce noise and provide 40% more acoustic protection than the standard laminated glass windshield.

#2 Front Door & Back Door Auto Glass

The door windows are a molded door glass at the side doors of your car or vehicle. This particular piece of glass is different from the windshield glass in the making process. The front windshield glass and the door windows are two different types of glass. Door windows are usually operated by power or manual, depending on the model and make of your car. The manual ones can be wound up and down with a small handle placed at the inner side of each door.

The front and rear door glass (door windows) is made of a specific kind of glass called Tempered Glass which is ten times stronger than regular glass. However, you can find laminated tempered glass on a newer vehicle of this decade. Tempered glass is made through a tempering process whereby a curved glass is heated to high temperatures and then cooled rapidly. Unlike laminated glass, tempered glass can get shattered when damaged but doesn't break into sharp shards. Instead, tempered glass breaks and shatters into pebble-like pieces with dull edges. If the tempered glass breaks, the only solution is an entire replacement.

#3 Vent Glass 

With time went the era of vent windows. Newer vehicles of this decade no longer feature vent windows due to the invention of the air conditioning system in cars. If you still own an older vehicle brand, you probably want to hear more about vent windows.

The vent glass's original shape is a small triangle mounted at the sides of a vehicle, usually next to the main door frame. Vent windows were a big part of older cars to let in cool air and contribute to proper airflow especially for occupants in control of the steering wheel.

Side vent windows in most old vehicles are mounted on both ends of the car- near the main car glass door and the quarter glass.

#4 Quarter Glass

Often called valence windows, quarter glass is an automotive window roughly shaped like a triangle. This type of auto glass is also only popular in old-model vehicles. This glass window is often in a fixed position, mounted just after the rear door. 

In some car models, the quarter glass is technically the same as the vent window as they were made to be pushed open and retracted. Most car manufacturers don't include quarter glasses on their car though but, you can find it on majority of European cars.

#5 Rear Windshield Glass

The rear glass is also known as the back glass or rear window. It is the type of glass located at the back of the vehicle to protect the interior from wind, flying debris, and rain. The rear windshield usually features embedded antennas and invisible defrosting wire to allow the flow of satellite connection in the car. This type of automotive glass is made from tempered glass, just like the front & back door glass. 

The tempered black glass is not as strong as the front windshield; hence can be prone to more damage than the front window. 

However, the rear glass is a safety glass- when broken, it doesn't shatter into jagged chips but small round pieces of glass that are less likely to cause injuries. Also, they have a wiper unit mounted on them, just like the front windshield.

Furthermore, newer cars feature panoramic glass on the car roof. The panoramic roof can be an all-glass roof or partly glass roof located in the middle of the vehicle's roof, directly above the passenger seat and the driver's seat to access visible light.

The panoramic roof allows for natural light to shine directly into the car's interior. It can also be a means of ventilation for the vehicle, thus classified as a vent window.

Conclusion

There you have it- the five types of auto glass.  We hope you found this article helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below! Thank you for reading! And stay tuned for more interesting content like this!

About Wollongong AutoGlass

Driving around with a cracked windshield is dangerous. Not only is it illegal in some states, but it can also obstruct your view while driving. A broken windshield can be a serious safety hazard. Not only is the glass at risk of falling out and causing an accident, but the broken glass can also cut you or someone else in the car if it shatters.

Wollongong AutoGlass offers fast, convenient, and affordable auto glass repair and replacement services. We work with all insurance companies and we have several years of experience repairing and replacing car windows. Schedule an appointment today!