When it comes to damage to your windshield, repairing or replacing the glass has a lot to do with the type of damage the glass suffered. The size and type of the crack, the depth of the damage, and the location of the damage will all impact if the glass can be repaired or replaced.
Factor #1: Location
Where the damage is located will play a big role in how you proceed with addressing it. If the damage is in the driver's line of sight, even if the damage is not that big, it is generally best to replace the glass. Repairing the glass can cause a slight distortion to the glass, which is okay for a crack that is outside of the driver's line of sight but can be problematic when it is in the driver's line of sight.
If the windshield edge is damaged, it is a good idea to get your windshield replaced. The advantages of the windshield support the structural integrity of the whole piece of glass, which is why damage at the edge of the glass means you should skip the repair and just replace it.
Additionally, if the windshield damage in any way blocks any of the sensors for the safety systems on your vehicle, such as the lane departure warning system, or the automatic braking system, you are going to want to replace the glass, as you need perfect glass for those sensors to work.
Factor #2: Depth
Second, it is crucial to consider the depth of the damage. A car windshield has an outer and inner layer of glass and a layer of plastic between the two different glass layers.
If the damage is only to a single layer of glass, it can be repaired. If the damage is deep enough to impact the layer of plastic and the second layer of glass, it cannot be fixed, and the windshield will need to be replaced.
Factor #3: Size
Finally, size is an important factor in determining if the damage can be repaired. If the size of the damage is small, such as under an inch, a technician can generally repair that damage. If the damage is spread out, then a replacement is often necessary.
Factor #4: Type of Damage
Finally, the type of damage really matters. A small chip can be repaired, and a large chip will have to be replaced. Cracks can be a couple of inches long and easily repaired, as they are generally surface level. If the crack is more than a foot long, though, you will need to replace the windshield. Most pitting damage can be repaired. With star-shaped breaks, the damage has to be small. Combination breaks are the most difficult to address and often repair replacement.
When figuring out if your windshield needs to be repaired or replaced, you need to consider the location, depth, size, and type of damage to know what choice is best.
Share13 July 2021
Over the years, the materials that people use to make buildings and decor have changed. We rarely build homes from stone or brick anymore. They're made from wood, concrete, and drywall. But one material has not changed much over the past few hundred years, and that material is glass. Since glass windows were invented in the 17th century, they've become ubiquitous in homes. It's hard to imagine a home without glass windows! Glass is here to stay. That's one of the reasons we are happy to present this blog. Since glass is here to stay, we are going to discuss it here, in depth.
