All kinds of things can result in a damaged windshield. In fact, you don’t even have to be driving your vehicle for something to chip, ding, and damage your glass. Something can fall and hit your car, you could get caught in a hailstorm, the car in front of you can send rocks and debris flying your way-the possibilities are truly endless. A damaged windshield doesn’t always need a full replacement, though. If you’re lucky, you will be able to get away with just getting a windshield chip repair, to correct a small amount of damage in your glass.
Okay, if you were really lucky, you wouldn’t be in this position in the first place. But that’s beside the point. Minor damage can be easily fixed with a windshield chip repair, which is less costly and less time consuming than a brand new windshield; here’s how it works.
Types of Repairable Damage
A windshield specialist will be able to tell you for certain whether or not your damage can be fixed by repair. However, a general rule of thumb is that damage about the size of a quarter can be taken care of by repair. If the damage extends past about an inch or so, you might need a new windshield.
Windshield Chip Repairs Fill the Damage
Since windshield chip repairs don’t replace the windshield (this is good news for your wallet), glass specialists have to fill the chip instead. This is done with a glass resin; the substance will set and harden to fill the chip or crack after a little pressure is applied to help it seal tightly. This process is quick, usually taking around 30 minutes to an hour, at most.
While there are windshield chip repair kits available for you to take a do-it-yourself approach, it’s not usually recommended unless you have prior experience. When done well, windshield chip repair jobs are hardly noticeable. They are definitely going to be a big step up from having an obvious ding in your glass. They can be tricky though; if any debris or foreign objects are stuck into the chip you are filling, then it’s going to get stuck in there. A windshield specialist will know how to clean the chip without making it bigger. This will ensure there is nothing stuck into the crack that will be an eyesore later on.
Getting a Repair
Windshield chip repairs are easily performed by our FastGlass Service professionals. There is no reason to put off getting a repair that you’re ultimately going to end up needing. If you get it fixed while it’s still small, you will save time and money. We also offer mobile services, so even if you can’t make it to us, we’ll work it out to come to see you. If you aren’t sure whether or not your windshield can be mended by repair, you can swing by our shop in Russellville. We’ll let you know what exactly what you need to get back on the road.
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