We replaced the cracked laminated door glass in these photos on site in Port Orchard. The cracks ran across the whole window, but the glass never fell out. That’s what laminated side glass is built to do.
Laminated vs. tempered side glass
For decades, most car door windows were tempered glass. When tempered glass breaks, it bursts into small pebbles and leaves an open hole in your door.
More newer vehicles now use laminated glass in the side windows, the same type of glass used in windshields. It’s two layers of glass bonded to a clear plastic layer in the middle. When it’s hit, the glass cracks, but the plastic layer holds it together in the frame.
Automakers use laminated side glass because it:
- Cuts wind and road noise for a quieter ride
- Makes break-ins harder, since thieves can’t just shatter it and reach in
- Blocks more UV light
- Stays in place in a crash instead of breaking apart
Cracked laminated glass still needs replacing
Because it holds together, cracked laminated glass is easy to put off. Don’t. The cracks block your view, weaken the window and can spread, and a window that’s already cracked won’t stop the next break-in attempt.
There’s also no fix-it option like a windshield chip repair. Once laminated side glass is cracked across, the whole window needs to come out.
What laminated door glass replacement involves
Replacing laminated door glass means taking the door panel off, removing the damaged glass and installing the correct laminated part for your vehicle. It’s important to match what the car came with. Swapping laminated glass for a cheaper tempered window changes how quiet and secure the car is.
We check the glass specification for your vehicle before the appointment, so the right part shows up the first time.
Free mobile service in Port Orchard
This job was done right where the car was parked. Our mobile service is free across Port Orchard and all of South Kitsap, so you don’t have to drive around with a cracked window or wait at a shop.
We’re in the major insurance networks, and we handle glass claims for you.
Holding a Novus quote?
If you’ve got a written quote from Novus, send it to us. We’ll beat it by $100. For any other comparable written local quote, our $50 Price Beat Guarantee applies.
valueGLASS is local, veteran-owned and fiercely independent. We started in a Poulsbo garage and built this shop from nothing. Today we’re Kitsap’s highest-rated glass shop.*
Cracked door glass? Call our Port Orchard line at (360) 845-6228 or request a quote online.
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Related Categories: Auto Glass Repair and Replacement Guides