Statistically, every 4 out of 5 damaged windshields can be repaired and most of the time it is a quick, simple and cost effective task. The most common damage is a chipped windscreen, which is easily caused by stones and rocks being flicked up from the road. Larger chips and cracks can also occur due to a variety of factors. Even the smallest of chips need to be repaired to prevent them from progressing into a crack, but you always need to check the repair to ensure it has been successful.
A windshield is repaired by injecting a clear adhesive-like material into the chip or crack, which acts as a filler spreading across the cracked surface. It is then left to stand, dried with UV light and polished to make the repair blend into the windshield. Small chips should be unrecognizable unless looked at close-up, but the overall damage will make a difference to the outcome of the repair, so your windscreen is less likely to look like new if it has suffered from a larger chip or crack. Faint chips may not mean that the repair was unsuccessful, but you’re well within your right to check that the job has been done properly.
Once the work has been carried out, inspect the windshield up-close where the chip or crack has been repaired. Though repairing large chips and cracks will not deliver a completely flawless finish, there are a few things to look out for when checking over the repair.
Things to look out for when checking your windshield repair:
- Look out for the clarity of the repair – it should not be cloudy in any way
- There should be no air bubbles as this indicates that air, dirt and debris was not eliminated before injecting the liquid resin
- It should be completely smooth to the touch – it should not feel rough with any protrusions
- You should not see any broken glass – the chip should only be very faint up-close
- The chip or crack should not develop or grow in size once it has been repaired
If you’re not happy with the finish, unfortunately the repair cannot be redone. Once the resin has been inserted, dried and hardened, it can’t be taken out and put back in. The results will obviously depend on the size of the initial damage and how quickly it is repaired. That’s why it is always best to get the windscreen repaired as quickly as possible after the damage has occurred. If you’re sure that you’re not happy with the work or if you notice the repair was not successful, then it is recommended to replace the windshield altogether. Thankfully, with Ace Glass if you are unhappy with the repair, the windshield rock repair will be credited to go toward a new windshield.