AbleAutoGlass.com
About AbleAutoGlass.com
Welcome to Able Auto Glass, your first choice for Houston Auto Glass Repair and Houston Windshield Replacement. Our parent company (Argonauts) has been servicing customers of Houston, TX and surrounding areas since 1992. We offer Houston Auto Glass Replacement and Houston Windshield Repair please visit our New Central Location-See Map Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm and Saturday by prior appointment only. Friday, March 12, 2010 Back Dots Around My Rear-View Mirror
What are those black dots around my rear-view mirror?
This is our first Blog at Able Auto Glass in Houston, TX so please be patient as we will strive to continue bringing new content as it relates to auto glass repair and replacement.
I would like to talk about the black dots you may see around your rear-view mirror. Most of our customers think this is a an antenna. The terminology used in the auto glass industry is "Third Visor Frit". We all know the purpose of a “Visor” on a baseball cap. It helps block the light so you can see the playing field without all the glare. When you drive toward the sun, you and your passenger probably flipped down your interior “Visors” above your head to see better. Everyone realizes there exists a gap between your interior “Visors” where the sun could still shine into your eyes. So, a “Third Visor” was created on the glass to help block those rays. It is located on the glass behind your rear-view mirror and is a continuation of the “Frit” (black area) around the outer perimeter of the windshield. It looks like rectangular or bullet shaped black dots and dips down in the middle of the glass.
The other part of the name “Third Visor Frit” is the word "Frit". The “Frit” is the black paint applied to the glass and serves (3) main purposes. First (most important), is to help block ultraviolet rays from degrading the urethane (protecting its strength). The urethane is what most people think of as the seal and it holds the auto glass to the body of the vehicle. Second, when the “Frit” feels etched (fused with a glass ceramic particle) the urethane is better able to adhere to the glass. Third, this black opaque area creates added aesthetic value (beautification). It serves as a border to conceal the interior details of the a-pillar, headliner, overhead console, dashboard and electrochromic mirror to hide wires, metal welds, trim, etc.
Next time you call Able Auto Glass in Houston, TX, you can say with confidence this dotted design on your windshield is a “Third Visor Frit”.
Thank you for taking the time to read our blog.....
