It is not often that a windshield gets damaged and shatters into pieces. But that doesn’t mean that windshield cannot get damaged. And it certainly doesn’t mean that such a damaged windshield is not repairable. In this article, we are going to discuss windshield damage and repair in detail so that you can make the right informed decision when the time comes to fix your car front glass without any delay.
Windshields are extremely well-constructed
Normally, one would expect glass to be a delicate material. However, in automotive industry, specialized glass material is used in order to maintain the safety and the structural integrity of the vehicle.
For windshields, safety laminated glass is used which is usually two layers of glass sandwiched by a plastic interlayer, usually PVB (or Polyvinyl Butyral). This interlayer acts as a glue that keeps the glass sheets together even after damage. Thus, instead of shattering into dangerous shards, laminated glass’ broken pieces remain stuck to the interlayer. Overall, laminated glass is many times stronger than ordinary annealed glass.
Windshield repair is possible and easily available
Let’s make this quick. There are few things that you need to remember about windshield repair.
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Proper damage assessment will tell you if your windshield can be repaired
Not every type of windshield damage is repairable. Depending upon the intensity of damage, its depth, its spread across the glass, its location, and its type, one can deduce whether a repair will be possible. Thus, proper windshield inspection is must. If the damage is more than 1 inch in diameter, spread on the edges, present right in driver’s line of sight, or penetrates the first sheet of front windshield glass, then it is better to go for a full-fledged, glass replacement procedure. In other cases windshield repair can be done extremely easily. Services like Windshield Experts take only 2 hours to make your damaged windshield as good as new!
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There are certain types of damages that can be repaired
If your windshield damage is in the form of a crack shaped like a star break, half moon, bull’s eye, clover leaf, bee’s wing, or a combination break, then you can rest assured that it is curable. However, as mentioned earlier, the extent of damage will play a huge role, too.
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Windshield repair should be best left to professionals
Now that you know that windshield repair is possible, would it be wise for you to carry it out on your own? Well, we would not recommend it. Repairing a windshield is a highly technical process which involves proficiency and a certain level of skill. Moreover, there is also the question of safety. Installation of the repaired windshield back into the car precisely is extremely important. Also, repair must always be done with the best quality equipment and materials. For this reason, it is always wise to let the experts and technicians take over.
At the end of the day, you must not worry if your windshield is damaged. Take it to the service centre, or better yet, call the technicians over since many services provide mobile repair options. Professionals will also give you the right advice when it comes to choosing between repair and replacement, thus helping you save time and money.
