It can be devastating to see the windshield of your car developing a crack or chip after an impact of a rock piece hitting it from outside. In some cases, the owner comes to know about this damage when he comes to pick up the car standing by the roadside. Whether the damage to the windshield takes place from a piece of rock or hail, you need to decide between its repair or replacement. When can you get away with an inexpensive repair and when replacement is the only option in front of you? Let us find out.
What Does Chipped or Cracked Windshield Mean?
A crack or chip in the windshield of your car is akin to a cracked screen of your iPhone. It looks ugly and it compromises the safety of your expensive car. The mechanic at www.glass.net/auto-glass-info/mobile-windshield-repair emphasized that if the crack is wide and comes right in front of your vision, it can make driving your car unsafe. Many a time, even a seemingly large crack can be repaired cheaply by a trained glass repair mechanic to save a lot of money for the car owner. It is a question of contacting the right mechanic after the mishap with your damaged windshield. The right mechanic can give you advice on the repair or replacement of your damaged windshield after taking a close look at it.
Chips That Can Be Repaired
It is difficult for an average car owner to decide whether the chip created by the impact of a piece of the rock should be repaired or the windshield replaced. The size, the location, and the extent of damage caused to the windshield decide whether the chip demands a repair or a replacement of the damaged windshield. Some minor chips are fit for repair but they come right in the line of the vision of the driver and hence need a replacement of the windshield. In general, a chip that is smaller than 40 mm in diameter can be repaired easily if the technician is experienced enough. Also, the repair is easy if it is only the outer layer of the windshield that has been damaged.
Some types of chips that are easy to repair for a trained technician are as follows:
- Half-moon
- Bull’s Eye
- Bee’s Wing
- Cloverleaf
- Star Break
No, you don’t need to differentiate between these types of chips. It is better to leave it to your technician to decide whether the chip is to be repaired or needs a full replacement of the damaged windshield.
When Replacement of Damaged Windshield is the Only Option
If the technician feels that the crack or the hole caused by the piece of rock is so large that it cannot be covered with the help of filler, replacement of the windshield is the only viable option for you. There is no point trying to save a few dollars and going ahead with a repair kit if the technician says it is prudent to change the windshield.
The windshield of your car keeps you protected from the elements and hard objects like stones and rock pieces. If you see a crack or chip in the windshield, you need to contact a trained glass repair technician as soon as possible. This professional will decide whether the windshield can be repaired or needs a replacement.
