If you need windshield repair in Houston, you need to decide between professional repairs and DIY repairs with a kit.
You have a chip or crack in your windshield and you know you need it fixed. Maybe you’ve seen windshield repair kits in commercials or while browsing at your local auto parts store. But do windshield kits actually work? Are they worth it compared to professional windshield repair in Houston? We understand you may have a lot of questions, and we’re here to help answer them. In this blog, we will explore some of the pros and cons of DIY windshield repair kits, when to use them, and when to choose professional repairs instead.
Professional vs. DIY Windshield Repair in Houston
If you have a damaged windshield, there are two basic options for windshield repair in Houston. You can get professional repairs from certified auto glass technicians, or you can use a windshield repair kit. We’ll get into which might be better for your car and passengers a little later. First, let’s break these down into what they are and the steps you have to take for each.
What is Professional Windshield Repair in Houston?
When you have a damaged windshield, professional auto glass repair is where you bring your car to a professional (or they come to you for mobile repairs) to fix the damage. Generally, this involves calling to set up an appointment for service and bringing your car to that appointment. Then, the professional auto glass technician takes it from there.
During professional repairs, the windshield repair technician assesses the damage to make sure it’s repairable. Usually damages smaller than the size of a dollar bill and not in the driver’s direct line of sight are repairable by an experienced professional. Then, they thoroughly clean the area and use a special tool to create a vacuum around the damaged area. This helps ensure the special repair resin can fully fill in the damage. After they fill the area with the repair resin to bond the windshield together again, we need to let the resin cure for a certain period of time. Then, they smooth the area to help it look almost invisible.
DIY Repair with Kits
By contrast, windshield repair kits are a DIY option for repairing chips and cracks in your auto glass. You can pick these up online or in your local auto parts store, and they contain a few different components that can help you repair minor damage to your windshield. Different kits have different instructions and different applications. However, in general they are meant for damages the size of a quarter or smaller.
In most cases, these kits include a tool to clean out the damage, resin to fill the damage, a tool to inject the resin into the damage. Usually you also receive a piece of film to seal the resin until it fully cures. Typically for DIY windshield repair in Houston, you must first thoroughly clean the damaged area and the surrounding area of the windshield to help the resin stick. Then, you must place the tool in a specific way to be able to fill the crack with the resin. Once you apply the resin, you must cover it with the film to protect it until it fully cures according to the directions. As you can see, this requires quite a lot from you as the car owner to use a windshield repair kit.
Issues with DIY Windshield Repair in Houston with Repair Kits
One of the most common questions about windshield repair kits is whether they really work. While they can work in some cases, there are many potential issues that may happen when you use a DIY windshield repair kit. Some of these include:
Fraction of the Cost = Fraction of the Quality for Windshield Repair
Windshield repair kits almost always feature lower quality materials than the pros have access to. This means that, while you may only be paying $20 for the kit and using a couple of hours of your time, the repair likely won’t be as strong or as durable. The tools are often made of cheap plastic that break easily and the resin is often much lower quality. This often means your repair either doesn’t take or only lasts a short time. It may also look much worse than a professional repair.
DIY Repairs are Often Visible
As a result of poor quality resins and difficult-to-follow instructions, the repair from a kit may be visible, which can detract from the look of your car and also obstruct your view while driving. Rather than drying clear, poor quality resins often found in windshield repair kits may leave a hazy look behind.
High Failure Rate from Windshield Repair Kits
While DIY windshield repair in Houston may sound nice, these solutions have a pretty high failure rate. There may be many reasons for this. For example, you may not perform the repair properly because of confusing directions or because you’re simply not clear on what is truly needed for a proper repair. In other cases, the tools or resins may not work properly, or they may not completely fill the damage. Of course, all repairs can fail, but DIY repairs are more prone to failure, which can actually drive up the costs for returning your windshield to a safe condition.
Failed Repairs Mean You Need a Windshield Replacement in Houston
One of the major issues with windshield repair kits is they’re not reversible. If a repair fails, there is nothing you can do to reverse it or try again. That means the moment the resin touches the windshield, you are rolling the dice on your windshield. You see, after a failed repair, you need windshield replacement in Houston instead. Even if that failed repair happened on a super small rock chip, it means paying for a brand-new windshield. So, if you’re thinking about using a windshield repair kit, consider whether it’s worth it to replace the entire windshield if something goes wrong.
The Damage May Not Be Repairable in the First Place
Oftentimes, using a windshield repair kit is a waste of time and money because the damage wasn’t repairable in the first place. Auto glass technicians can determine when a windshield is repairable and when it’s simply better to replace the windshield. The size, type, and depth of the damage all play a role in whether windshield repair in Houston will work. What’s more, for old, severely damaged, or windshields in poor condition, it’s often the more cost-effective option in the long term to opt for replacement instead of repairs. When you choose the DIY route, you don’t get the advantage of that expert knowledge to know whether your windshield is salvageable or not.
Houston & The Woodlands Windshield Repair From the Experts at Apple Glass
When you need quality, affordable windshield repair and replacement options, choose our team at Apple Glass. Our team offers top quality repairs and friendly service every time. We are a full-service glass company offering services throughout Greater Houston. So, whether you need The Woodlands windshield repair or need shower glass in your Houston home, we have solutions for you. Contact us today to get a free quote!
