It doesn't matter what part of the country you live in; your windshield can take a beating. Construction happens on all roads, and you may get behind a truck hauling gravel, which puts you at risk of pea gravel hitting your windshield. There are sanitation trucks in all parts of the country, and when they place their loads of sand or salt down, your windshield becomes a target for flying pieces, as well as the occasional bits of debris left on road which can be thrown up by passing vehicles. It doesn't matter what hits your windshield when it gets a crack; when it happens should you consider repair or auto glass replacement?
Replace or Repair
If the crack or chip is small enough, you can usually have the windshield repaired. The professionals at Dan's Glass can look over your damage and determine if it is tiny enough to qualify for a repair.Repairing a windshield requires injecting a special resin into the crack or chipped area. If you have sustained a crack, a hole can be drilled by each end of it to prevent spreading before the resin is injected. It takes a professional, such as Dan's Glass, to complete drilling into a windshield as the hole is only put through two of the layers, not through the entire unit.
There are three layers to your windshield. Between two of the layers is a layer of polymer or resin, which is as far as the drilling should reach. To repair a crack or chip, the resin is placed between two layers of the glass. This repair should be completed as soon as you notice the damage as the chip or crack can spread across the windshield if you hit a large hole or pothole in the road. The damage can become more severe if you make a quick, aggressive turn or drive along a bumpy road, so do not delay the repair.
When to Replace a Cracked or Chipped Windshield
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the windshield is an essential structural part of your vehicle. It is a major unit on your vehicle, contributing to the overall strength of the car or truck and makes its repair or replacement incredibly vital to your safety when driving.If the crack or chip occurs in your line of vision when driving, or you have three chips or cracks, or more in the windshield, you should consider auto glass replacement of the entire unit. If the damage occurred to the edge of the windshield, or if your windshield is covered with small divots and old, you should also replace the entire unit rather than trying to repair the damage.
It is said when you are trying to decide between repairing or replacing your windshield; you should repair only if logical and possible. Replacement should be done if you have to, and professional glass services should be used to perform either the replacement or repair work.
