Windshield Crack Types and Why Early Repair Is So Critical

Windshield cracks come in many different shapes and sizes, each of which has slightly different contributing factors. Understand these types of cracks, and various care and maintenance tips, to keep your car safe from these issues.

The many types of windshield cracks to watch for include:

• Bull's eye . This type of crack causes surface damage to the windshield and occurs when something small hits the glass. This type of damage is similar to a chip but more extensive.
• Crack chip . This is a crack that is small enough to be covered with a quarter and which has a singular impact point.
• Edge crack . Breaks that start near the edge of the windshield and which occur due to excessive pressure on the sides where the glass is installed.
• Floater crack . A floater is any crack that appears in the middle of the windshield and which spreads out from this position.
• Stress crack. Stress cracks are those that trigger due to changes in temperature or excessive pressure put on the windshield and not a single impact point.
• Half moon . The half moon is similar to a bull's eye crack but without the circular shape of that type of break, typically producing a half-circle or moon shape.
• Star break . A star break is an impact crack that creates a star-like appearance and which may spread out rapidly in all directions of the star's hands.
• Combination break . Multiple types of cracks appearing at the same time, such as floater cracks and edge cracks combining into one massive break.

Unfortunately, cracks of these types can become impossible to repair if they are allowed to worsen. For example, a break that spreads to cause deep damage to both layers of glass or which is allowed to spread over one-foot longon the windshield may require windshield replacement to manage. Thankfully, you can prevent impossible-to-repair cracks.

Several windshield care and maintenance tips can help guide you towards a stronger and more reliable windshield. Make sure to precisely follow these guidelines to keep your windshield safe from cracks that cannot be repaired:

• Work with certified experts . Many people may have a friend who knows how to do some auto repair but lacks certification. Avoid going to this person when getting windshield cracks fixed, as a certified shop has been tested and licensed to provide high-quality repairs the right way.
• Cover cracks with tape . If you see a break on your windshield, take out a roll of clear plastic tape and cover the crack until you can go to the repair shop. This step can prevent a severe crack spread and keep the windshield more stable until you get repairs.
• Get immediate repair. The moment that you see a crack in your windshield, take the car to a professional to get the breaks fixed. If you wait too long, you give the cracks time to worsen and spread out.
• Choose high-quality repair materials . Some people are tempted to buy the lowest-priced repairs - including cheap glass replacement items - to save a little money. However, this step can ultimately cost money by putting sub-standard materials on your vehicle.

All of these tips help to minimize windshield crack spread on your car. Make sure to try these out the next time you get a crack. Also, make sure to utilize windshield crack preventative measures, such as avoiding tailgating people and driving slower on bumpy roads.

If your windshield is cracked and you want to make sure it gets appropriately repaired, please contact us at Perfection Auto Glassright away to learn more. Our experts will assess the severity of the cracks in your windshield and will work hard to improve the strength and integrity of your windshield.