The Short & Sweet about Mouldings:
- Mouldings are usually made from rubber
- Moldings are for cosmetic purposes.
- Mouldings are NOT part of what holds your window in place.
- Mouldings may, or may, not need to be replaced during a service.
Modern Purpose vs. Older Gaskets
In older vehicles, the windshield was sometimes held in place by a heavy rubber gasket – a far cry from the sleek mouldings of today. Gaskets were thicker and their design was functional, to hold the windshield firmly. With modern auto glass bonding processes, the windshield is chemically adhered to the frame of the car using polyurethane adhesive, making mouldings purely cosmetic in most cases.
Types of Windshield Mouldings
Here are the most common scenarios your vehicle may fall into when it comes to mouldings:
- No Moulding: It may surprise you, but not all windshields have or need a moulding. Increasingly, vehicle manufacturers are choosing to leave them out entirely for a streamlined look (and probably cost saving). If your car was designed this way, there’s usually no need to add one.
- Factory-Applied Moulding: Some windshields come standard with a pre-applied moulding from the factory. This moulding is attached during manufacturing. If your vehicle falls into this category, you automatically get a fresh moulding each time you replace the windshield. It will already be included in the price.
- Separate Moulding: For many vehicles, mouldings are supplied separate from the windshield and do not come pre-attached to the glass. The existing one might be reusable, but it may need to be replaced – or you may also choose to replace it for a newer look. Some mouldings come in bulk rolls – called “wrap” mouldings, which are fairly standard and cost-effective. Others are specialty or packaged mouldings that are specific to certain vehicles.
Cost and Replacement Options
- Wrap Mouldings: Stocked in bulk rolls and various styles to fit many vehicles, these can cost as little as $10 but vary based on the length required. Wrap mouldings can’t be used for all vehicles but are a good choice where possible if the old moulding can’t be salvaged, or if you simply want a fresh look.
- Specialty Mouldings: If your vehicle has a uniquely designed moulding, you may require something packaged and sold specifically for your make and model, ensuring a perfect fit. These are often still in a similarly affordable price range but in some specific cases can be quite expensive. Pricing of specialty packaged mouldings all depends on your vehicle.
How to Decide if You Need a New Moulding
Often, your moulding can be successfully removed and reinstalled on a new windshield if it’s in decent condition underneath the surface. If it’s bent, cracked, worn out, or if it is stuck too firmly in the glue and tears on removal, a new one is necessary. The perk is that a new moulding definitely looks better, giving your newly replaced windshield a factory-fresh appearance.
Loose or Lost Moulding?
If we replaced your windshield and the moulding hasn’t remained firmly affixed, it is completely covered under our lifetime workmanship warranty. We will repair or replace it for you as quickly as possible and free of charge.
If someone else replaced your windshield and the moulding came loose, it’s often best to check with the installing company. Many will fix the issue for free. If that’s not the case, if you don’t trust the other company anymore, or if the moulding came out all on its own without a windshield replacement, we’re more than happy to help too!
In almost all cases a loose moulding can be re-affixed to the window without removing the windshield and in a fairly small amount of time.
Looking to have your windshield replaced?
We’d love to earn your business and we appreciate it! You’re welcome to give us a call at 1-800-909-9923 or click here for an online quote. To learn more about our windshield replacement services please visit one of the pages below:
If you have any questions about mouldings, older-style rubber gaskets (the kind that did hold windows in cars), or any other glass feature, please feel free to reach out! We’re not only here to help keep your windshield looking good but also to help you feel comfortable about the experience.