Things to Know About Windshield Repair or Replacement

The windshield is actually part of the structural integrity of the car. It can protect you and everyone inside the car during an accident. You should know that in a front-end collision, the windshield provides up to 45% of the structural integrity of the car’s cabin. In the event of a rollover, it can provide up to 60% of structural integrity.

Since it is one of the most important safety functions of the car, it is important that it is retained or restored in its good condition at all times. As a responsible driver, you have to prioritise that the integrity of your windshield. To get started, it can help if you know more about windshield repair or replacement.

What are signs of the damaged windshield?
Minor windshield damage comes in two forms – cracks and chips. In a crack, you will notice a distinct line in the glass that can range from below an inch up to the width of the windshield.

In a chip, it clearly marks the point of impact by different debris. The impact may be in the form of star break (which is characterised by short cracks that form outward from the center), bulls-eye (which is circular), partial bulls-eye (which is usually seen as half-moon shape), and crack chip (which refers to smaller cracks less than an inch).

Is this repairable?
The good news is that windshield repair technology is rapidly advancing. In general, windshields can be repaired based on three main factors – size, depth, and the location.
• Size: the ability to repair larger chips or cracks will depend on the repair company.

Mostly, repair companies consider it easy to repair chips smaller than a quarter and crack up to 3 inches long. With this, it is important that you check with the repair company because they will specify the limits on repair sizes based on the type of damage. Some companies even limit the damage up to 14 inches.

• Depth: the next thing to consider is the depth of the damage. It refers to how deep is the penetrating damage to the windshield. Consider a windshield a glass sandwich – it has an outer layer of glass, plastic interlayer and inside glass later. If the damage is through the inner layer, it is too deep to consider repair. It is time to consider windshield replacement Springfield MO.

• Location: you must understand that the location of the damage will affect the ability to perform the repair. If the damage extends to the glass’ outer edge, there is a chance that its integrity is compromised. When it comes to warning systems, sensors, and other related components, these are not repairable. If there is repair, it should not be conducted within the driver’s line of sight as it can cause some amount of distortion.

When to replace your windshield?
Safety is your primary concern. You should repair or replace your windshield if safety is compromised immediately. Many drivers think that driving around with a cracked windshield is okay. It is not and it can pose a safety risk.