How to Handle a Broken Car Windshield

You may be unaware of all the different purposes the windshield of your car serves. It isn’t there solely to provide you with a clear view of the road ahead and help you keep an eye on the traffic. It also prevents dirt, dust, and moisture from entering your car. But more importantly, the laminated auto glass used in windshields lends 40% structural strength and support to the roof of your car. Therefore, any damage to the windshield can be a safety hazard. And if you don’t want to jeopardize your safety and the safety of the people driving with you, you should get your windshield repaired or replaced, depending on the extent of the damage.

Examine the Extent of the Damage

Most windshields are made of laminated safety glass, which is a specially designed glass that provides maximum safety to the driver and passengers in the event of a crash. Laminated safety glass constitutes two separate pieces of glass, laminated glass on the outside and tempered glass on the inside. Both layers of glass are glued together with a layer of polyvinyl-butyral or PVB, sandwiched between them.

Whenever there is a collision or a small object, such as a pebble or a rock, strikes the windshield, only the outer glass gets damaged. But even when the impact of the collision is considerably severe, and the windshield glass shatters, the PVB layer prevents the shards of broken glass from flying into your face.

Usually, a chipped windshield can be repaired, but only if there are no more than two chips. If the windshield glass gets chipped in more than two places or if it gets cracked, then you need to get your windshield glass replaced. Moreover, if the damage has trickled down to the inner layer of the glass, you must get your windshield replaced at the earliest. Otherwise, the safety of the passengers is compromised.

Determine Whether the Windshield Glass Needs to be Repaired or Replaced

Up until a few years ago, no one could imagine getting their broken windshield glass repaired. If the windshield glass got chipped or cracked, you would have to get it replaced, that too at a considerable cost. However, with modern technology, repairing windshield glass is possible today, saving you the time, money, and hassle of replacement. But note that repairs are possible only under specific circumstances.

Minor scratches, and up to two chips, each smaller than 40 mm in diameter, can be repaired. Any damage beyond that can only be fixed by getting your windshield glass replaced. Other factors which determine whether the windshield glass needs to be repaired or replaced, are as follows:

• Repairing a crack on the windshield glass is not recommended if the damage has penetrated both layers of the glass.
• If the polyvinyl-butyral layer is damaged, repairs are not possible.
• Repairs are not advisable if the damage begins or ends at the edges of the glass. The integrity of the glass may still be compromised after repairs.
• If the windshield glass gets chipped at the same place twice, you should get it replaced.
• If the damage is in the line of sight of the driver, you should have the glass replaced, even if the damage constitutes only a minor chip.

Seek Assistance from Professionals

You may be an experienced driver, someone who has seen it all, but you are most likely not equipped to decide whether the windshield glass needs to be repaired or replaced. You might not be able to tell if the damage is only in the first layer or if the second layer is also affected. Also, you will not be able to measure the size of the chip. As mentioned above, many technicalities go into determining whether the damage to the windshield glass warrants repair or replacement. Only a professional can help you with these things.

That is where AIS Windshield Experts can assist you. At AIS Windshield Experts, we follow the ‘Repair First’ philosophy. If possible, we aim to fix the problem by way of repairs and suggest replacement only if the safety of the car and the passengers is compromised.

We provide cashless claim transactions and hassle-free services to facilitate convenience for our customers. Our trained technicians meet international standards, and we are the only company in India to extend a 1-year written warranty on workmanship and materials used.

AIS Windshield Experts is a one-stop-shop for all your windshield related solutions, be it windshield chip repair or complete windshield replacement. We provide fast and easy car chip repair and replacement with low overall costs and minimal time investment.

AIS Windshield Experts has 90+ service centers across 50+ cities. Get in touch with us to get your broken windshield glass repaired or replaced today.