With a new year comes many new and exciting automotive window tinting trends. Having your vehicle’s windows tinted serves a practical purpose, in that it prevents damage to the interior due to extended sun exposure. While that’s a real bonus to vehicle owners in Albuquerque, window tinting also has an impact on the look and comfort of your vehicle. Here are a few exciting tinting developments to watch out for. (more…)
For residents of Albuquerque and all of New Mexico, a life without window tint seems unbearable. Window tint — otherwise known as “window film” — protects you and your complexion from the often-unbearable sunshine and heat that penetrates the state. However, window didn’t wasn’t always around. When was it developed, and by whom? (more…)
According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, 22% of automobile accidents are weather-related. Though Albuquerque roads remain free of the most dangerous winter hazards, such as snow and black ice, we do get some rain every once in a while. As a licensed driver in the state of New Mexico, it is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the dangers of driving in the rain and what you can do to avoid accidents.
Cracks and chips in your vehicle’s windshield can happen for all sorts of reasons. Volatile storms involving hail can easily cause defects in auto glass, as can pebbles and rocks kicked up by other vehicles’ tires while driving. Even when damage is relatively minor, scheduling expedient auto glass repair is of the utmost importance. The longer you wait, the bigger the risk (more…)
Windshield cracks and chips tend to happen when you least expect them. One moment you’re driving your vehicle and the next you’re subject to windshield damage thanks to a rock or pebble or some other type of flying debris. (more…)
The sun in Albuquerque can be unforgiving, a fact that is particularly noticeable when you climb into your vehicle after letting it sit for any length of time. Though window tint can’t protect you from the sun’s rays when you’re walking around, it can help to keep your car cool while it’s parked. That said, before you move forward with window tinting, ask yourself and the company with which you plan to work five important questions. (more…)
You want to tint your car windows to get all of the benefits: security, privacy, glare reduction and sun protection. But how dark can you go? Did you know that each state has a legal limit for window tinting? Do you know what it is in New Mexico? (more…)
Astro Auto Glass is known throughout the greater Albuquerque area for our exceptional auto glass services and window tinting. But auto glass is only part of what we do.
Albuquerque businesses can also rely on us for commercial fleet glass services and commercial building window tinting. (more…)
You’re interested in getting your car windows tinted. You’ve done your research, so you know the benefits, and you know what you want. But before you jump in and make an investment, it’s crucial that you ask a few more questions:
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You’ve been thinking about tinting your car/home/office windows for a while now, but you’ve got questions:
Does window tinting provide enough protection and heat reduction?
Perhaps more important—will the window tinting the film last long enough to make the investment worth it? (more…)
Albuquerque summers are hot! The sun beats down unrelentingly, and that heat gets trapped inside your car, making it even hotter when you get inside. But, you can reduce heat buildup inside your car with a simple, one-time fix—window tinting from Astro Auto Glass.
The purpose of window tinting is to protect the interior of the car from the solar radiation—that includes UV rays that deteriorate your upholstery and damage (more…)
Sure, tinted windows look good on a car. But is tinting your car’s windows really worth it? At Astro Auto Glass, we know it is!
There are many benefits to tinting your windows, some of which you can realize immediately:
Privacy
One of the most noticeable and immediate results you get from window tinting is freedom from intrusive ogling. Tinted windows make it difficult, if not impossible, for other drivers to (more…)
Admittedly, it is nearly impossible to keep your vehicle looking brand-new during the winter. There are times when it will be coated with frost, ice and/or snow, the mineral deposits left behind when it melts and road grime. And there will be times when it’s just not advisable to get your car washed (when you know temperatures are going to be consistently below freezing).
However, despite the sometimes dull and dirty exterior, you can still keep your paint in good condition so that when winter’s all over, your paint still looks as good as new.
#1: Prepare Your Paint for Winter Weather and Road Conditions
By far, the best way to ensure your paint looks like new after winter is to add extra protection—i.e., carnuba wax—before winter.
If you missed the opportunity while weather was still mild after Thanksgiving, you still have a chance to mitigate future paint damage. Whenever the weather is warm enough (we recommend 40°), treat your car to a thorough wash and wax. With New Mexico’s unpredictable late winter/early spring weather, there very well may be more snow and ice—and the corrosive substances that melt it—from which your paint needs protection.
For car owners who want to take paint protection one step farther, you can also get clear bra paint protection film applied at Astro Auto Glass. Contact us for a quote and appointment.
#2: Remove Grime Sooner Rather Than Later
If you do drive through winter road conditions, you may see a buildup of snow, ice and slush in your wheel wells and splatters along your front bumper and up your hood. As soon as it’s warm enough, get that gunk off.
Allowing water deposits (in any form) containing salt or ice melt sit on your car gives these substances time to eat through your clear coat, making the paint and metal beneath vulnerable to deterioration.
#3: Remove Hard-to-See Embedded Grit
A lot of what sprays up from the road and sticks to your car may actually get stuck in the clear coat. You can remove it without damaging your paint by using a clay bar.
#4: Reapply Wax
Every time you wash your car to remove winter grime, you need to reapply wax. Again, wax creates an additional layer of protection between the elements and your vehicle’s clear coat…and your clear coat is vital to keeping your paint intact and fade-resistant.
#5: Touch-Up
All the debris that may collect on the road beneath the ice and snow may scratch your paint, penetrating the clear coat, even down to the paint. That exposure invites corrosion, so it is crucial to cover it up ASAP.
Touch-up paints are available in a wide array of manufacturer-original colors for a perfect match. Most car owners can DIY touch-ups and achieve a seamless finish. However, for large areas, you are more likely to restore your good-as-new paint look with the help of professionals. Do you have any other tips to keep your paint looking like new despite winter weather? Share them on our Facebook page.
Winter is the season of auto glass abuse as people try to minimize the time they spend in the cold restoring visibility through their windows. Unfortunately, many time-saving tricks damage your auto glass, making it more susceptible to chips and cracks you have to pay to get repaired.
To ensure the integrity of your auto glass stays intact throughout the cold, avoid these types of damage: (more…)
If you’re reading this blog, then you’ve probably at least thought about getting your windows tinted. What’s stopping you? Some of the common objections to window tinting are myths, and Astro Auto Glass would like to clear them up. (more…)
You have a brand-new car. It sparkles, it shines, it has that new car smell. Everything is perfect, and there’s not a scratch on it—and you want to keep it that way! So, what’s the best way to do that? Does paint protecting film really work? Is it worth the investment?
Paint protecting film, or PPF, is an (more…)
When you need a windshield replacement, you always have options—OEM or aftermarket glass. If you look just at the price tag, it may seem like an easy choice because aftermarket glass is typically less expensive. But, sometimes, cost savings come at the cost of safety. Before you choose your replacement auto glass, you need to know how to carefully evaluate your alternatives. (more…)
For optimal visibility, you need to keep your windshield clear of water, dirt, bugs and anything else that flies at or gets stuck on your windscreen. That makes your windshield wipers extremely important to your safety. But did you know that the very fixtures you depend on to clean your windshield can damage it?
Dirty, worn and/or improperly installed windshield wipers can damage your windshield, sometimes to the extent that it can’t be repaired, only replaced. (more…)
