Driving a car on the busy roads of modern cities is a herculean task. One has to dodge flying debris or bikers popping up from all directions. It is quite common to get minor scratches, cracks, and dings on car windows, especially windscreens. Hence, one will typically encounter the need for car window repair, either by the DIY route or better, with professionals.
Why is car glass critical?
Every car has several glass components: rear glass, side window glass, and windscreen. One may think that car glass is an ornamental feature of a car, but in fact, it serves a major functional role.
Car glass is so designed keeping in mind the safety of the car. The main function of car glass is to protect the car and its occupants from debris, dust, wind, and rain, and other external factors. The car glass permits one to gain a 360- degree vision of one’s surroundings. It provides a clear view of the road in front and the surrounding traffic. For safe driving of the car, it is important to gain a proper view and be aware of one’s surroundings.
Yet, these are not the only functions of car glass. The windscreen provides aesthetic appeal and aerodynamics to the car. It offers structural integrity and support to the car. It upholds the car frame and prevents the caving in and crushing of occupants of the car in case of a rollover.
During a collision, the laminated, multi-layered glass offers protection to car occupants from any harsh impact. The windscreen also aids in the proper deployment of airbags during an accident. In case an accident happens, and one is not wearing the seatbelt, it is the windscreen that prevents one from being flung out of the car.
Types of damage
Following are some kinds of damage to car windows that are quite common:
Minor chips
The potential for repair of a car window depends on the severity, location, and size of the chip. Minor chips on the car window glass, which are 40 mm in size or smaller, can be repaired easily by a skilled technician.
In case chip damage is limited to the outer glass layer, a simple repair job can fix the damage. Some chips that can be fixed include Bull’s eye, Star break, clover leaf, half moon, bee’s wing, as well as combination break. But note that minor chips can be repaired only if they are 2 or less. Anything more requires a car glass replacement.
It is easy to fix chips, but when neglected, they can snowball into serious damage in the long run, such that one is left with no other option than total replacement of the car glass.
Chips that cannot be repaired
If the chip damage is more than 40 mm in diameter, it is impossible to complete a repair job. When damage penetrates both glass layers (outer and inner), the repair is also not feasible. Additionally, chip repair is not an option when damage is in the driver’s line of sight. In such cases, simple repairs will leave one with a weak windscreen. In this case, glass replacement is the solution. Additionally, if car glass is littered with several chips, glass replacement is recommended.
Cracks
In case a crack emerges from the edge of the windscreen, the repair is not recommended. This can compromise the integrity of the glass. If the Polyvinyl Butyral layer of the glass has been damaged, a simple repair is not an option.
In simple terms, no matter how small the crack is, getting it repaired is not wise because the structural loss caused by a crack is highly risky. Hence, a glass replacement is in order.
Though repair of many kinds of chips and cracks is tough, after careful examination, one needs a different modus operandi for accomplishing the best outcomes. For getting the perfect solution for a windscreen crack, the technician should thoroughly analyse the area of damage. This way, they can label or identify the nature of the crack and recommend a suitable fix.
Tips for repair
Don’t procrastinate
Because of the hectic pace of modern life, there is a tendency to postpone issues. But if one postpones the handling of chips and cracks, waiting for the proverbial right time, even the most minor issues can escalate into serious problems. A chip might develop into a crack, and a crack might become the reason to bid adieu to the whole glass window.
Decide on a course of action
There are two main solutions to fix a damaged glass of car windows: Use a DIY solution or entrust the task to professionals. It may seem tempting to deal with the problem as DIY as it can save money and time. But with this, there is always the danger of worsening the problem. Hence, it is always advisable to use the service of trained professionals, who are equipped with vital tools and equipment suitable for car window repair or replacement.
In sum, car window repair must be handled with care, and one must consult the best professionals to handle this responsibility. It is critical that one gets the most competent help.
