When you have a crack in your windshield, you shouldn’t ignore it. Some chips and cracks can grow larger over time, significantly weakening the integrity of the entire shield. To avoid even more severe damage, you’ll want to get your windshield taken care of sooner rather than later. However, you may be wondering if you need an entirely new windshield or if you just need a repair. Below, we’ll aim to help you answer that question by covering the essential factors.
Type of Windshield Cracks
There are a few different styles of damage you may have, and the type of crack will help determine how you should measure it. For example, you may have a more circular crack that takes the form of a bulls-eye or more a star pattern. You could also have a non-circular crack, which is more of a jagged line running through your windshield. The main thing you’ll want to determine is whether you have a circular crack or line crack, then proceed to measure it.
Diameter of a Windshield Crack
The first measurement is the diameter of the crack. You’ll want to measure the diameter when you have a circular crack rather than a longer one. These usually come about as the result of a chip in the glass. To measure the diameter, you’ll want to use a ruler to measure from one side of the circle, through the center, to the other side of the circle.
Length of of a Windshield Crack
If you have a crack in your windshield that is more of a line rather than a circle, you’ll want to measure the length of it instead of the diameter. This can sometimes be tricky if the crack bends and twists in different directions. Do your best to measure the length of the crack from top to bottom, or from right to left, depending on the direction it’s facing. You don’t need to get an exact measurement, but the closer estimation you can make, the better decision you can make about how to proceed.
How Does a Windshield Repair Work?
The process to repair a crack or chip in a windshield is fairly simple. The technician first starts by creating a vacuum over the damaged area. This removes both the air and moisture from the area. Next, they inject a clear resin into the crack, which fills up even the tiniest of spaces. Once the crack is filled, the technician removes the vacuum and applies a UV light. This UV light interacts with the resin, causing it to harden in place.
After a short while, the resin is set and good to go. You may notice a slight defection where the crack or chip once was, but it should be much less noticeable than before. This is one of the reasons why technicians can only repair smaller damage.
Repair vs. Replace: Which Do I Need?
Once you know a little more about the damage you’re dealing with, you can then start to figure out if you can repair your windshield or if you need to go with a full replacement. There are a few factors that typically make this determination.
For starters, there is the size of the damage. Generally speaking, if your circular crack is smaller than the size of a quarter, it can likely be repaired. For jagged lines, the maximum length is typically around three inches. While there are always exceptions, if your crack is longer than a dollar bill, you’ll likely need a full replacement as a repair isn’t feasible.
Another consideration is the number of cracks. If your windshield just has one small chip, you can likely have this repaired. However, if you’re dealing with multiple chips throughout the glass, then it’s more likely that you’ll need to replace the windshield.
Finally, there’s the location of the damage. There are several locations where, if there is damage, it’s unlikely that a technician will be able to perform a repair. These locations include:
- On the interior of the windshield
- Within the driver’s viewing area
- Within both layers of glass
- In a rain sensor or internal radio antennae
In addition, cracks or chips near the edge of the windshield are more likely to weaken the integrity of the entire glass. It’s therefore typically recommended that you replace the windshield in this case rather than replace it. All that being said, every situation is different. Some technicians have more experience or tools available to them, which allows them to repair more significant or troublesome damage. Your best course of action is to receive an evaluation from a professional windshield repair and replacement service and see what they recommend.
Repairing or Replacing Your Windshield in Grand Forks
Whether you need windshield repairs or an entirely new windshield, it’s important that you bring your vehicle to a trusted service. Your windshield is too important to leave in the hands of inexperienced professionals or to attempt to do it yourself. You don’t want to pay money for windshield repairs, only for the problem to pop up again a short time later.
To avoid this, bring your vehicle and its damaged windshield to Rydell Auto Group. We are a professional car repair service in Grand Forks, specializing in windshield repair and replacements. When you bring your car to us, we’ll give your windshield a full inspection. We can then advise you on the best course of action and take care of the work for you. Our goal is to get your windshield back to you as quickly as possible, looking good as new again, all for an affordable price.
To get started, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our service department today. We’d be happy to schedule a time for you to drop off your vehicle or to answer any questions you may have. We know how frustrating and inconvenient a damaged windshield can be, and we’ll do everything we can to make the repair process as smooth as possible for you. Thank you for considering Rydell Auto Group, and we hope to hear from you soon.
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