If you’ve been driving for a while, you’re certainly familiar with the sinking sensation that comes with a pebble bouncing off your windshield. When you finally study the shattered windshield, you’ll undoubtedly wonder if it can be mended or if you’ll have to replace it entirely.
Today, we’ll answer those questions to determine when should you replace your windshield.
Chipped Vs. Cracked Windshield
Windshield damage can occur from a multitude of sources, but not all breakage is the same. The damage produced by anything as minor as a small pebble or an animal accident can have a significant impact on your windshield and how you handle it. But before we get into the different sorts of damage, it’s vital to understand how a windshield is constructed.
Auto glass, often known as windshield glass, is also known as safety glass. This is because it is two parts with a laminated plastic layer in between, rather than a single piece. When an object strikes your windshield, the design forces it to shatter into considerably tiny bits, rather than bigger, potentially hazardous ones.
Windshield Chips
A chip is a minor defect that occurs when a part of the glass layer is broken away by an impact. If the damage is little enough, it can usually be restored. If the chip is deep enough to penetrate the inner layer of plastic, you may need a windshield replacement. Small chips may not seem like a big deal on their own, but they can often be the source of fissures.
Windshield Cracks
A crack, unlike a chip, is a line along which a single piece of glass has begun to split. While they may begin modestly, they have the potential to expand with time.
Temperature fluctuations can cause the windshield to expand and contract, whether it is exposed to the sun’s blazing rays or driving through the chilly air. If your windshield has a crack, this technique can cause it to spread over time.
Small bits of dirt can also make their way into the crack’s opening, causing it to worsen. Using a small piece of tape to cover a broken windshield can be a temporary remedy to keep it from spreading.
Finally, the daily wear and tear of your vehicle might aggravate a crack. The impact of driving over speed bumps, potholes, and uneven roadways is felt throughout the car. The damage might also spread as a result of the repeated tension.
Aside from these two big groupings, it’s not unusual to see a mix of the two, as well as anything in between.
Replacing Windshield
These are the conditions where replacing your windshield becomes absolutely necessary:
Tempered Glass
As previously stated, most windshields are laminated glass, which is a sort of layered glass with a plastic layer in the middle. When laminated glass is broken, it tends to stick together instead of shattering or breaking into bits.
Side and rear windows, on the other hand, are frequently made of tempered glass, which is created using a separate method that causes the glass to shatter into minute, granular bits when broken. Since it breaks in this way, the only true solution is to replace it.
Large Cracks
Longer cracks can be fixed in some cases, but those that are longer than a dollar note normally need to be replaced. A chip larger than a quarter, on the other hand, necessitates windshield replacement.
Deep Cracks
Any chip or break in a laminated windshield that penetrates both the outer and inner layers need replacement. Even if the break just goes through the outer layer, it can expose the inner plastic layer, which can discolor if exposed to the weather for too long.
As a result, even if mending the windshield is an option, you may wish to replace it.
Multiple Chips Or Cracks
In theory, if your windshield has three or more cracks on it somewhere, it should be replaced. They begin to lose their capacity to endure subsequent impacts after taking a certain amount of damage.
Bad Positioning
Since repairs frequently leave at least some residual traces, breakage to the driver’s side of the windshield usually necessitates a complete replacement. Cracks that run from one edge to the other can compromise its structural integrity, necessitating a replacement.
Contact Windshield Replacement Professionals Today
Omni Auto Glass is the place to go if you’re looking for high-quality windshield replacement services. We will help determine when it is necessary for you to get your windshield replaced.
We’ll give you the best deal on a windshield replacement, and you’ll be pleased with the work our skilled technicians accomplish on your vehicle while staying within your budget. Contact us today!
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