Why do Splinters on Your Windshield Need to be Repaired Immediately?
Find out how fixing a small chip on your windshield quickly can save you a lot more money down the road.
How to Recognize a Chip Caused by a Stone?
If you've seen debris bouncing off your windshield while driving, it's best to have the shards inspected as soon as you safely stop your vehicle. You are looking for a small notch or crack that is five millimeters or less, about the size of a 25-cent coin, with cracks radiating less than 50 millimeters. There are four basic shapes to identify these rather small cracks. They are as follows:
- Star with a center from which small cracks radiate, like a star;
- Target Shard: Stone Shard with a center;
- Half-moon: targeted shard forming an incomplete circle;
- Combined Shard: Targeted circular shard radiating the same cracks as in a star.
Why is a Chip on Your Windshield a Problem?
Despite its negligible appearance, a shine caused by a stone is never good news. It allows moisture, air and dust to penetrate between the layers of your windshield. And if it's in line of sight of the driver's seat, it distorts your view of the road. The more a shard is exposed to the elements, the more it weakens your windshield, especially in the presence of extreme temperature changes. This chip will eventually become a crack that cannot be easily repaired. In fact, 90% of the chips near the edges of the windshield turn into cracks.
Strive to Have a Chip Repaired as Soon as Possible:
There are several benefits to dealing with a chip quickly, not to mention the particularly ugly long crack that will go through your windshield if you wait. Visit your auto repair shop within impact week for an easier and cheaper windshield repair. Repairing recent shards is faster; your vehicle can be ready between 15 and 30 minutes. You may pay less, or pay nothing, as insurance companies prefer to pay for the repair with a shine rather than the additional costs that would result if you waited. This little repair job probably won't even affect your deductible. If you allow a chip to become a crack, you may need to replace the windshield instead of doing a simple repair. And your insurance company may not want to reimburse you for the full cost of the replacement.
Do I Need an Auto Repair Shop to Get a Chip Repaired?
There are kits to repair shards yourself. However, if you'd rather make sure you get away with a simple chip rather than a long crack, it's best to take your car to an auto glass repair facility. In addition, a technician specializing in car glass has the resins, tools and drying equipment to perform a reliable repair.
