Having a crack or a chip on your windshield can be very dangerous. This means that immediate intervention is needed. You may have to visit experts at Imperium Auto Glass to get your needed assistance. But how do you know when to repair or replace the windshield? You should consider a few things before deciding whether to repair or replace the windshield. All this time, make sure to prioritize safety.
Signs of Windshield Repair
You can always opt for windshield repair in the following instances.
- When the crack is less than 14 inches in length and doesn’t collide with the driver’s line of vision
- When the shape of the crack is a chip closer to a crescent, an inch or smaller in diameter
- When the crack appears more like a star and is no more than 3 inches in diameter
- When the crack falls short of penetrating the safety glass repair and is less than 1/8th of an inch
- When the damage is a combination of multiple chips or cracks not exceeding two inches in diameter?
Windshield repairs also differ depending on the extent of the damage. However, before anything is done, the glass needs to be in room temperature and should be extremely dry before any work is done on it. This is why a specialist needs to handle the repairs. The diagnosis may not be as obvious as many imagine it to be.
In case there are dirty particles on the glass, cleaners are not used. Instead, light conservative amounts of acetone or lighter fluid are used to clean any particles off the damaged glass.
Once this is done, th next step often involves applying an adhesive on the cracks. The glass is then left undisturbed for a few hours before the technician resumes working on it. Any excess adhesive is then removed using a razor and the glass be as good as new.
Some people prefer getting repair kits so as to fix minor dents and cracks on their own. However, if the damage is massive, or you aren’t sure about the kind of damage you are dealing with, its best to have a professional handle it. Avoid driving with a cracked windshield because a slight bump on the road could make it worse.
When Auto Glass Replacement is Needed
You may have to prepare for windshield glass replacement in the following instances:
- The crack has noticeable debris that is impossible to remove through cleaning,
- You can spot visible discoloration in the safety layer
- Three or more cracks stem from a single source and are more than 6 inches long,
- The chip has a pit size of more than 3/8th-inch,
- And the damage lies in the inner layer of the glass rather than the outside one.
Whatever you decide to get done, make sure that professionals handle it. The glass experts at Imperium Auto Glass will advise you accordingly. Feel free to reach out with all your inquiries.