Chips and Cracks Windshield Repair Myths

A little pebble hits your windshield on the highway, leaving a minor mark. It’s barely noticeable, so you decide to ignore it. A few weeks later, you wake up from a cold night to see that the tiny chip has grown into a massive crack that extends the whole length of your windshield. Instead of a simple repair, you now have to consider a whole replacement. Is that anything you’ve heard before? Many drivers delay getting their windshields fixed because of common misconceptions. These false beliefs might lead to more significant problems, higher costs, or even compromise your safety when driving. Understanding the facts about windshield damage is essential for making informed decisions and keeping your vehicle in the best possible condition. This essay will debunk the most common myths about repairing chips and fractures in your windshield. We will go over the importance of keeping an eye out for small damage, the reasons why do-it-yourself kits aren’t always the best choice, and how you can save time and money by using a professional repair service. At the end, you’ll know enough to handle windshield damage with assurance and competence.

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Myth 1: A small chip or crack is inconsequential.

Perhaps the most harmful of all the falsehoods is this one. A little chip might be a minor cosmetic worry, but it could be a major structural problem waiting to come. Your windshield is an essential safety component that maintains the overall structural soundness of your vehicle.

Reasons for Rushing to Maintain Structural Integrity: Up to 30% of your car’s structural strength comes from the windshield. It helps support the roof and keeps it from collapsing in a rollover accident.  A little chip weakens its strength, lowering your car’s level of safety.

The windshield serves as a backstop when the front passenger airbag deploys. A cracked windshield might break in an accident, causing an improper airbag deployment and perhaps injuring a passenger.

Expansion is inevitable since the tiny chip is always under stress from changes in temperature, vibrations in the road, and even the movement of the car itself. A fast decline in temperature, like washing your car on a hot day or using a defroster in the winter, can cause the glass to quickly shrink or expand, turning a little chip into a large, irreversible break overnight. Moisture may also seep into the chip, freeze, and then expand, widening the crack.

Delaying a repair not only increases the likelihood of a more expensive replacement but also puts your safety in danger. Dealing with damage as soon as possible, no matter how little, is the best and safest course of action.

Myth 2: Do-It-Yourself Repair Kits Are Equal to Expert Assistance

Any auto parts store will have a variety of do-it-yourself windshield repair kits that provide a fast and reasonably priced solution. Despite their temptingly low cost, these kits seldom yield the same results as a professional repair.

The Drawbacks of Do-It-Yourself Kits: Specialized Equipment: To produce a vacuum over the injured region, skilled technicians employ specialized gear. Once all moisture and air have been eliminated, a high-quality resin is poured into the chip. DIY kits sometimes omit this crucial step, which leads to air bubbles that erode the patch and provide a noticeable fault.

Resin Quality: Compared to over-the-counter kits, professional repairs use resin of a far higher standard. Professional-grade resin can tolerate large temperature changes, is stronger, and cures more cleanly. Over time, the less expensive resin used in do-it-yourself kits may become yellow and lose its ability to stick to glass.

Experience and Technique: Repairing a windshield is an art. A competent technician knows how much resin to inject, how to apply pressure appropriately, and how to cure it for a smooth, durable surface. An inexperienced hand might provide a sloppy, ineffective repair, quickly worsen the damage, or apply too much pressure that further breaks the glass. Furthermore, a badly done do-it-yourself project can make it impossible for a professional to properly fix the damage later on.

Even while a do-it-yourself kit can seem like a good value, it occasionally leads to a subpar repair that later fails, necessitating a full replacement.

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Myth 3: Windshield repair is costly and time-consuming.

Many consumers postpone repairs because they anticipate a hefty price and a long wait at the auto shop. In contrast to the expense and inconvenience of a complete replacement, expert chip repair is really rather quick and reasonably priced.

The Real Story of Skilled Repair: Cost-effective: A typical chip repair is significantly less expensive than a full windshield replacement. In fact, many insurance companies may waive your deductible and cover the full cost of a repair. Because it is less expensive for them to pay for a little repair now rather than a full replacement later, they behave in this manner.

Quick Process: In many cases, a professional chip repair may be completed in less than 30 minutes. By having mobile repair services come to your home or place of work, you may carry on with your day without interruption. A full replacement, on the other hand, can need several hours and a period of curing during which the vehicle cannot be driven.

Avoiding Higher Costs: By doing a little repair now, you can actively prevent the need for a much more expensive replacement later on. It can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars to replace a modern windshield, particularly if it incorporates advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) that require recalibration.

Don’t let your concerns about the cost stop you. You’ll be surprised at how easy and affordable a professional repair may be if you check with your insurance provider and a local auto glass shop.

Myth 4: Any crack means you need a new windshield.

Even while large, complicated cracks may require replacement, not all fractures are irreversible. Thanks to developments in mending technology, cracks that were previously believed to be irreparable can now be repaired.

At What Point Can a Crack Be Fixed?: It used to be widely believed that if a crack was no bigger than a dollar note, it could be repaired. This rule is still helpful even though there are other considerations to make.

Location: Even the best repair may leave a small deformity that could impair vision if the fracture is directly in the driver’s line of sight. Cracks that extend to the windshield’s edge also frequently need to be replaced because they seriously compromise the product’s structural integrity.

Type of Fracture: A single, straight-line fracture is more likely to be fixed than a multi-leg starburst crack or a complex, branching crack.

A qualified professional can assess the damage and determine if a repair is a sensible and secure line of action. You don’t necessarily need a new windshield at first. Get a professional opinion first.

Myth No. 5: Every car glass store is the same.

Selecting the right auto glass company is just as important as deciding to have the repair done in the first place. Regarding the materials used, the craftsmanship, and the adherence to safety requirements, one company may differ significantly from another.

The Essentials of a Repair Shop: Accredited Technicians: Look for businesses that use technicians accredited by the Auto Glass Safety Council (AGSC). This certificate ensures that they have been trained on the latest industry standards for safe and effective replacements and repairs.

Superior Materials: Ask the shop what quality of glass they use for replacements (i.e., if they use OEM—Original Equipment Manufacturer—or equivalent glass) and what sort of resin they use for repairs.

Guarantee: A reliable company will offer a guarantee that addresses defects in both the material and the craftsmanship. This gives you confidence that the repair will last.

Making the extra effort to select a reliable, experienced auto glass company ensures that your windshield is in good hands.

Next Steps for a Clearer, Safer Windshield: Ignoring a chip in your windshield is not a smart idea. A little irritation can quickly turn into a major safety concern and a significant financial burden. You may make wiser decisions that protect both your cash and your health by being aware of the truth about these common misunderstandings.

The message is simple: as soon as you see a chip or fracture, get professional help. Your safety systems will function as intended, your windshield’s structural integrity will be restored, and a quick, affordable repair will avoid the need for a costly replacement. Don’t wait for a little issue to grow into a major one.

Facts vs. Myths Regarding Windshield Repair

You may consider a tiny chip or crack in your windshield to be a minor annoyance. It’s simple to put off the repair since you don’t think it’s important. Misinformation on windshield repair, however, can result in more serious issues that could jeopardize your safety and cost you more time and money.

Every motorist must be aware of the reality around windshield repair. Numerous widely held notions regarding do-it-yourself repairs and when they are required are just untrue. These misconceptions have the potential to cause a minor chip that can be fixed to grow into a huge break that necessitates replacing the entire windshield.

The misunderstanding will be resolved by this post. We’ll disentangle the most prevalent fallacies about windshield repair from the verified realities. In conclusion, you’ll have the precise knowledge required to make informed choices regarding your car’s glass, guaranteeing both your safety and your ability to see well.

Myth 1 It Doesn’t Matter If There Is a Little Chip or Crack

Many motorists think that a little chip is only an aesthetic problem that should be disregarded. They could put off getting a professional repair until the damage has gotten worse.

Fact Tiny Chips Have the Potential to Grow Into Big Cracks Fast: The truth is that even a little scratch weakens your windshield’s structural integrity. Your windshield is an essential safety feature of your car that does more than simply keep out wind and rain. It contributes up to 30% of the structural strength of your car and is necessary for the correct deployment of the airbags in an accident.

A tiny chip can spread quickly for a number of reasons.
Temperature Changes: Using the defroster in the winter or getting a blast of cold air from your air conditioner on a hot day stresses the glass. A chip might quickly become a major crack due to this heat shock.

Road Vibrations: Regularly traveling on uneven roads or slamming into potholes causes vibrations to travel through the frame of your automobile, applying pressure on the weak spot on the glass.

Washing Your Vehicle: Water may be forced into the chip by the pressure of an automatic vehicle wash or even a power washer at home, further weakening it and causing it to swell.

The most efficient method of avoiding an expensive and bothersome windshield repair is to take care of a little chip right away. The structural integrity of the glass may be restored and the damage can be stopped from spreading with a skilled repair.

Myth 2: Do-It-Yourself Repair Kits Are Equal to Expert Assistance

It’s tempting to believe that you can replace that chip on your own and save some money, especially with the abundance of do-it-yourself windshield repair kits available online and at car parts stores. For a fraction of the cost, these kits frequently claim results comparable to those of a professional.

Fact- Do-it-yourself kits fall short of professional quality: Although a do-it-yourself kit can seem like a wonderful idea, it seldom offers a safe or long-lasting solution. A professional repair differs greatly from a home repair in several ways:

Specialized Equipment: To produce a vacuum over the injured region, skilled technicians employ specialized gear. This procedure cleans the chip of moisture and air, which is essential for the proper bonding of the repair resin. This technology is absent from do-it-yourself kits, which frequently trap air and result in a weaker repair that is more likely to fail.

Resin Quality: Professionals employ resin that is of a better caliber and more resilient than that found in most do-it-yourself kits. In order to create a strong, long-lasting connection, professional resin is injected under pressure, filling the fracture entirely.

Expertise of the Technician: To choose the most effective repair method, a skilled technician can evaluate the kind and degree of damage. They can also determine whether a replacement is the only safe course of action or whether a repair is even feasible. If you attempt a do-it-yourself repair on a chip that is too big or complicated, it might worsen the issue and perhaps prevent a future expert repair.

A botched do-it-yourself repair usually ends in a total replacement, which is substantially more expensive than the initial professional repair would have been.

Myth 3: Any Auto Glass Shop Is Able to Do a Good Job

You may believe that all car glass shops are the same when you choose to get your windshield fixed. It makes sense to go with the nearest or least expensive alternative.

Fact- Repair Shop Quality Differs Widely: The technician’s expertise and the materials they employ have a significant impact on the quality of a windshield repair. Not all stores maintain the same high standards. The following are characteristics to look for in a good auto glass repair shop: 

Certified Technicians: Look for businesses that employ technicians who have obtained certification from organizations like the Auto Glass Safety Council, as this accreditation ensures that they have received training in the most recent industry best practices for safe and effective repairs.

Premium Materials: Reputable stores utilize premium resins that offer exceptional optical clarity and a robust, long-lasting bond. Inquire about the materials used by the store.

Warranty: To support its work, a trustworthy repair company will offer a warranty. This provides you with the assurance that they will take care of the problem in the event that the repair is unsuccessful or the chip spreads.

By choosing a reliable source, you can be sure that the repair will be done well the first time, preserving the value and safety of your vehicle.

Do you have a Question?

Get An Auto Glass Replacement Quote Now 866.278.7417

Myth 4: Rather than repairing your windshield, you should replace it.

Even with little damage, some people think that a replacement is always the better, safer choice. They may worry that a fix won’t last or will be too obvious.

Fact: The best course of action is often repair. For many types of damage, repairs are the appropriate course of action for several reasons.

Economical: A windshield repair is far less expensive than a full replacement.

Time-saving: You can be back on the road fast because most repairs may be finished in less than an hour. Including the time required for the glue to set, a replacement is a more extensive procedure that may take several hours.

Eco-friendly: By fixing a windshield, old glass is kept out of landfills. Because of the layer of plastic that is bonded between the glass panes, windshields are challenging to recycle.

Preserves Original Seal: The original factory seal surrounding the glass of your windshield is preserved when it is fixed. This seal is essential for minimizing wind noise and stopping water leaks. This seal is broken by a replacement, and although experts may make a new one, it is always preferable to keep the original.

Not all harm can be fixed, of course. If a crack is too long, in the driver’s direct line of sight, or reaches the edge of the windshield, it must be replaced. A competent technician may provide an accurate assessment.

Myth 5: Windshield repair is not covered by my insurance.

Because they worry that their premium would go up, many drivers are reluctant to submit an insurance claim for windshield repair. They may choose to forego the repair entirely or, worse, pay for it out of pocket.

Most insurance plans support and pay for repairs. Insurance companies are aware that even a little chip might require a costly replacement. Most comprehensive insurance plans cover windshield repair in full, with no deductible, to help you avoid this higher cost.

Your insurance premiums usually don’t increase when you file a claim for a repair. Like regular maintenance, insurers see this as a preventative action. It is in both your and their best interests to address the problem before it becomes worse. It’s a good idea to clarify your coverage specifics with your insurance agent before moving further.

Choose Wisely for Your Windshield

It doesn’t have to be difficult to navigate the car glass industry. You can make wise selections that safeguard both your car and your finances by being aware of the facts and busting common misconceptions. 

Keep in mind that even a little chip is a significant problem that requires immediate care from a trained expert. Avoid putting off the repair or giving in to the temptation of a do-it-yourself remedy.

You may avoid the worry and cost of a future complete windshield replacement by acting now. Get your windshield examined by a qualified car glass specialist right now if you see a chip or fracture in it. Your windshield’s strength may be quickly restored, allowing you to see the road ahead safely and clearly.