You’re driving down the highway and unbeknown to you, the truck in front of you is spewing out tiny rocks as it drives at a rapid speed. Some of the debris bounces off the road and hits your windshield, forming a small crack that will later grow into a larger crack across your entire windshield if you don’t do something about it in a short period of time. What do you do? Windshields are designed to support the vehicle, especially when traveling long along highways. It is inevitable that damage to the windshield at some point in the lifetime of the vehicle. Repair it or Replace it?
In most cases of chips or cracks, they can be easily repaired, it just depends on four specific factors: size, type, depth, and location of damage. When you crack the windshield of your car, each case is assessed individually and the results will vary based on these factors as well. Size and Depth of Damage Any car repair shop should be able to repair chips in your vehicle windshield that are about one inch in diameter and cracks that are up to 3 inches in length. Any crack that is larger than a dollar bill is deemed irreparable. Therefore, size of the damage is a huge decision making factor in terms of which route to take when fixing the damage. There are new technologies out that help repair chips that are wider and cracks that are longer, however, a qualified technician can judge all cases individually. Nowadays, cracks up to 18 inches long can be repaired. Type of Damage Types of cracks can vary; some are easily reparable whereas others are not. A few different types of cracks are as follows:
Chips and cracks that are the size of a quarter or less can usually be repaired. Multiple cracks on the other hand are a more difficult repair job. Location There are some side effects that come with repairing your windshield, even good repair jobs. Some of the following can occur when repairing a damaged windshield: discoloration, mistiness, unevenness, decrease of clarity and visibility in the spot damaged. Any cracks or damage that is near the edge of the windshield or if cracking begins near the edge of the windshield in general as a response to damage, this can compromise passenger safety as well as driver safety. The types of damages that cannot be repaired typically are:
Repairs to Windshields A technician usually takes about 30 to 40 minutes to repair a windshield with one chip or one crack. If the chip or crack is deep on both layers or is contaminated with dust, there are some preliminary steps that need to be taken. When repairing the windshield, a clear, curable resin must be injected into the outer layer of the glass to help restore its integrity and improve overall appearance of the glass. The resin used is then polished to help achieve a smooth surface and prevent the crack or chip from spreading and causing further damage. A deeper or more slanted chip or crack can cause damage to the intermediate poly-Vinyl Butyral layer. In this case the damage is slightly enlarged or deepened with a drill in order to help smooth and even out the hole so that resin can reach the intermediate Poly-Vinyl Butyral Layer. In the case of repairs, there is usually an ‘injector’ attached to the windshield of the vehicle around the damaged area and small portion of resin is thereafter injected into the chip or along the crack. The excess resin is removed and UV light is applied to harden the resin in place. Replacing Windshields A chip bigger than 2 inches long or a crack that is one foot or longer will require a windshield replacement. Your options for quality windshields are not always the best; you may have to go with an Aftermarket substitute, third-party aftermarket alternative, or a Same-OEM windshield. Windshield replacement is a four step process that involves firstly canvasing the areas of the vehicle that windshield encompasses to prevent any damage. The windshield is thereafter cut from the edges and removed from the car, as are the seals and glue. The bare frame is all that remains on the vehicle. A primer is then spread on the inside of the frame, where the new windshield will be fitted, and after which, the new windshield’s edges will be coated with a special adhesive that seals it into place. The new windshield will have be to fitted and bonded shortly after to the frame. This process usually takes between 30 minutes and an hour. Most repair shops will ask you to wait more than 60 minutes to allow the adhesive to set and bond. To keep your windshield in good standing, always clean in the proper manner and at the proper time. More on Car Tips
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