Small chips and cracks in your automotive glass may seem like a minor issue that you can easily ignore, but that’s not the best idea! There are several reasons you should get your windshield or car window repaired right away. The biggest is simply to save yourself some major time and hassle.
Did you know that windshield crack repair is possible, in most cases, for breaks up to six inches long? This is both the good news and the bad news, however. Small chips and cracks in window and windshield glass can be fixed, but larger fissures require that you replace the entire piece of glass. With auto glass repair being so much more affordable than complete window or windshield replacement, it just makes sense to get your vehicle fixed–while you still can. That’s because the chip or small crack isn’t guaranteed to stay minute. A whole host of conditions (many of them common occurrences while you’re on the road) can all make the damage spread. These can include temperature shifts that cause the windshield glass to expand or contract, potholes or speed bumps that jostle the vehicle, and even contact with your windshield wipers. And in many cases, once the damage has spread, you’re stuck shelling out for a whole auto glass replacement rather than an affordable repair.
The repair process itself is extremely straightforward, and many auto glass shops provide mobile services so they can come directly to your location. After the damaged area has been cleaned to ensure maximum adhesion, the windshield crack repair pro will apply a specialized epoxy resin that will completely fill the space of the chip/break. Once fully cured, this fix will provide twofold benefits: for starters, the auto glass repair is practically invisible, so your window or windshield will look just like new; secondly, because the resin reinforces the once-damaged area, your car window glass will be protected from spreading cracks.
Now, if you’re thinking that windshield repairs sound so easy you can handle them yourself, you should reconsider. While repairing chipped or cracked car window glass looks easy when a professional tackles the job, it’s a whole other story when it comes to do-it-yourself work. Automotive glass repair requires specialized resins and the appropriate tools for applying and curing this material. If it’s not done right, your DIY windshield chip repair can result in a real mess on your glass, but the real danger is in not reinforcing the chip/crack adequately. When amateur repairs go awry, they fail to stabilize the original damage, and after a sudden cold snap or high speed bump, the flaw could turn into a spreading crack–one that requires complete windshield replacement.
Windshield and car window repairs cost, on average, between $50 and $100. Windshield replacement usually starts around $300. So instead of putting off your car window repair or trying to do it yourself, if you’ve noticed damage to your window or windshield glass, contact your local professional for immediate service. You’ll save yourself time, hassle, and money in the end, so don’t hesitate to seek automotive glass services to repair that chip or crack today!
