Over the years we have received requests to repair damage on the inside layer of glass on a windshield. Usually the damage ranges from a rear view mirror that has been either knocked causing a crack or cracks, to actually having the glass broken out. This includes a call we took a couple years ago from a woman whose boy friend was reinstalling the rear view mirror, ( it had come off due to age), it seems he had glued the metal mirror mount button on upside down. When he found out that the button was positioned wrong, he mounted the mirror and then pulled on it, in an effort to remove the button. While he did get the button off, he also removed a piece of the inside glass about the size of a baseball in diameter. She was amazed that there was vinyl in the center of the windshield.

Still other damage is caused by items striking the inside of the windshield during a panic stop. Like the guy with the van that had not strapped his ladder in; during a quick stop the ladder impacted the windshield. Another example was the gentleman who reported his wife was talking to him on her cell phone when she was driving. It seems she got upset with him and threw the phone at the windshield, breaking the phone in 5 pieces, besides damaging the inside layer of glass.

Unfortunately damage on the inside layer of the windshield due to safety should not be repaired. As per both N.G.A. (National Glass Association) and N.W.R.A (National Windshield Repair Association) recommendations. Further they do not recommend repairing damage that the center laminate is exposed.

Tip: If you happen to install the metal mounting button for the inside rear view mirror, upside down or backwards, simply buy a new button at the parts store and mount it on the other button. Just make sure you position the second one correctly.