Here is an all-too familiar scene out on the highways. You are traveling behind a gravel truck when a few bits of gravel get dislodged and hit the windshield of your vehicle. Suddenly, you have a cracked or chipped windshield. Should you arrange for a Houston windshield replacement, or is this something you can have taken care of in some other way? If you react quickly to the damage, you can save money by preventing the chip from growing. That will save you money and can prevent you from having to file a claim with your insurance company for windshield replacement.
Your windshield has been designed to increase the structural support of your vehicle. It also is able to withstand the rigors of driving. It is practically impossible to completely avoid chips and cracks that are not your fault. Windshields consist of two layers of glass that surround a layer of laminated safety glass. That middle layer holds your windshield together when it sustains a crack. The majority of chips and cracks can be fixed by a Houston auto glass repair company. It depends on how bad the damage is. The location and depth of the damage also determines whether the windshield must be replaced or if a Houston windshield repair is possible.
Size Matters
The size is the determining factor in most cases. New approaches to windshield repair can fix cracks and chips that are larger. Take your vehicle to a auto glass company to see what the prognosis is. The outcome is determined solely on an individual basis. No two cracks or chips are alike. In some cases, even an 18-inch crack can be fixed thanks to new repair options.
Crack Types
Cracks come in many varieties.
- A star break has short radial cracks emanating from the impact point.
- A bulls-eye is caused by a circular object.
- A partial bulls-eye is not completely round.
- A crack-chip or ding is a single crack that is about the size of a quarter.
- A pit is missing a small piece of glass.
Any of these types of damage can be fixed easily. If there is more than one crack, you need to consult with a technician to see if it can be repaired.
Location
Even the best repairs can leave some discoloration, unevenness or clouding on the windshield. Should that damage be directly in the driver’s sight line, a repair could limit your visibility and the clarity of the windshield. How tall you are will also be considered because your height alters the sight line across the top of the steering wheel.
If the crack is at the edge of the windshield, it will compromise the windshield’s strength by ruining the bond between the glass and the metal frame that surrounds it. A chip in that spot can cause the windshield to crack more.
Here are some types of damage that will require you to have the windshield replaced.
- Cracks longer than 18 inches
- Complex or multiple cracks
- Cracks that are contaminated
- Cracks over the rain sensor or internal radio antenna
- Cracks on the inside of the windshield
- A crack that has damaged both sides of the glass
Do not think that the solution to cracks and chips is windshield replacement. You may not have to pay anything for a repair, and it will prevent you from having to file a claim. It all depends on your policy. Most insurance companies will cover a windshield repair, but you may have to pay a deductible. Your auto glass technician will let you know if the damage can be repaired or if you will need to have a Houston Windshield Replacement.
