Why and How to Fix Windshield Cracks

Sooner or later, you'll likely experience tiny chips or cracks in the windshield of your car. You might think it's no big deal, but driving with chipped windows or broken glass can be dangerous for a few reasons. Today, let's take a look at how those cracks appear and how they can continue to damage your car - not to mention cause you unnecessary expense - unless you take action. 

Anything small that hits your car with enough force will have the capacity to cause your windshield some damage. Most often, you'll find that the tires of someone in front of you have kicked up small rocks or gravel and sent them flying toward your vehicle. The internal structure of windshield glass enables it to withstand a significant amount of force, but it's also the reason you can't leave the cracks alone.

Small cracks never remain small for long. Any damage to the surface of the glass will weaken the structural integrity, which makes it less capable of withstanding the next impact it will undergo. If your windshield received an impact hard enough to chip or crack the glass, the strength has already gone down significantly, and the initial crack is just the beginning.

Even if you don't have any more impacts that day, driving with a cracked windshield for an extended length of time allows the holes to grow and widen. The air pressure from within the car and outside is no longer evenly matched if there's a hole, so the force of the wind created as you drive will continue to weaken the glass. 

Eventually, when the windshield can't take it anymore, you'll find out dramatically. To prevent injuries when in a wreck, auto glass's design causes it to shatter into smooth, small pieces rather than crack with sharp edges. This structure serves you well if you're in an accident, but if the only danger to your person is the shattered windshield, you still have a mess to clean up and the bills to handle.

You'll want to avoid the high cost of replacing your windshield after it collapses, so address cracks as soon as you can after noticing them. You can do this in one of two ways: repairing the break or replacing the entire windshield. Sometimes the size of the crack decides for you: anything larger than 14 inches will mean replacing the windshield due to the standards in place.

If the break is less than 14 inches long and doesn't penetrate the inner layer of glass, you can have the crack repaired. Your auto glass technician will inject a clear resin into the hole, which will restore the strength and integrity of your windshield and allow you to keep driving with little damage to your visibility.

If the crack is too long or too deep, you'll have to dedicate a little more of your budget and your time to allow the technicians to remove and replace the glass. Don't wait too long to have just the right time, though - if your break is too big for that kind of repair, your car won't be road safe for very long.

Next time you get a crack in your windshield, don't waste any time calling in an expert to fix it. Perfection Auto Glass has experts to help you get your car back on the road while working around a busy lifestyle. We bring the repairs to you rather than making you take time out of your schedule for an appointment at the shop. Contact Perfection Auto Glass today to see how we can make your life easier and your car as good as new.