Repairing Damaged Windshield: A Guide

Whether it is falling debris from the vehicle in front of you or a flying rock, your car windshield always runs the most risk of incurring damage. If your car’s frontline soldier has been damaged for whatever reason, it is imperative that you get it repaired or, if needs be, replaced at the earliest. Some windshield damages can easily be repaired, whereas others require a replacement.

The need for repair or replacement depends upon the severity, the size, and the location of the damage.

Common Windshield Damages

An important thing to know is that the location, size, and severity of the windshield damage decides whether it can be repaired or not. This is why it is best to opt for a windshield expert who can evaluate the damage and let you know whether a replacement is required or a repair suffices.

Chips

A chip is one of the most common types of damage that your windshield can incur. It occurs when a small rock or any other object causes an impact, nicking the glass and creating a small damaged area. This often occurs when the tyres of other vehicles fling stones or when debris falls out of the trucks in front of your car.

Minor chips (at the most two) that do not exceed 40mm in diameter can be easily repaired.  Moreover, if the chip damage is confined to the outer glass layer, it is repairable. Chip types such as bull’s eye, star break, bee’s wing, cloverleaf, half-moon, and combination break can be repaired without much hassle. Minor chips can be fixed easily, but you need to be proactive about their fixation. If they are left unattended, the chip damage can become severe, requiring total windshield replacement.

Furthermore, if the chip lies in the line-of-sight of the driver, it becomes irreparable as it could adversely affect visibility.

Cracks

If you spot a crack that ends or begins at the edge of the windshield then you must get a windshield replacement. A windshield replacement also becomes a necessity if the polyvinyl butyral layer of the windshield has been damaged. Windshield crack repair is not a wise decision as the structural loss will be significantly great. You might feel that the small crack on your windshield won’t cause you any harm but in reality, the structural loss that it causes can be extremely risky. This is why a windshield replacement undertaken by professionals becomes essential.

Dangers of a Damaged Windshield

If your windshield has been damaged, no matter how small or irrelevant the damage may seem, it is always in your best interest to contact a certified professional technician and get your windshield fixed. Your windshield is not a mere ornamental addition to your car; it plays a very significant role in keeping your safe.

It performs the major task of supporting the car’s roof and providing structural integrity to your car. A cracked or a chipped windshield can leave the roof of your car quite weak, increasing the chances of it collapsing and crushing you in a rollover. In the event of a direct collision, the presence of a windshield can reduce the brunt of the impact on you, but a damaged windshield won’t be able to perform this function. Your windshield also assists in the proper deployment of the airbags but if your windshield is damaged then it will lead to a failed airbag deployment. If you are not wearing seatbelts then a cracked windshield won’t be able to prevent you from being thrown out of your car in the face of an accident.

Moreover, a windshield crack can easily reflect light into your eyes and become a cause of major distraction. If the damage is in the driver’s line-of-vision, it can become an obstruction and can hamper your driving, making you and your fellow passengers highly vulnerable to fatal injuries during accidents.

A cracked or chipped windshield is not something to be taken casually. It is an enormous safety threat that can put your life as well as the lives of others in danger. Therefore, it becomes crucial for you to schedule an appointment for getting your windshield fixed immediately.

Windshield repair and replacement are specialised solutions. So, if you’re looking for them, contact a trusted expert such as AIS Windshield Experts! We are known to provide services that are ‘faster, safer, and better’. At AIS Windshield Experts, ‘Repair First’ is our policy and we recommend replacement only when repair is likely to make matters worse. From windshield crack repair to replacement, our team of trained experts can deliver safe and efficient solutions every time. To know more about our windshield repair offerings, click here.

You can wheel your car into one of our 90+ conveniently-located service centres but if that is not a possibility, simply give us a call at 1800 102 6364 and we will be right at your doorstep.

So, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with us today!