Damaged Windshield: Should You Repair Or Replace?

When your windshield is damaged in any way, it’s advisable to get it fixed as soon as you can. You can avoid more issues by doing this because even the tiniest cracks or chips can spread further if not corrected.

A damaged windshield can be pretty dangerous to drivers and passengers. This is because the broken, chipped, or cracked glass will obscure an operator’s vision. This will risk the safety of everyone in the vehicle, as an accident could occur at any time. Besides that, drivers also risk getting police citations, or being stopped for this auto issue. This latter means they might spend more of their valuable time on the road.

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How To Choose A Good Auto Shop For Your Vehicle

It’s usually a tough decision for drivers to decide whether to repair or replace damaged windshields. If you’re facing this dilemma, it’s good to visit a local auto shop and seek advice from a professional. They’ll inspect your glass, and advise you on the best solution for your case. 

There are some factors to consider when choosing an auto shop. Firstly, you have to make sure they have experienced mechanics to ensure you get the best service for your vehicle. Secondly, you have to check on the price to make sure you’re not being overcharged. To be certain, visit several shops and ask for their fees. 

If you have limited time to walk into different outlets, you can get quotes online from sites like https://discountautoglasspdx.com/. By identifying the charges of various auto shops, you’ll know who is offering the best price in the market. 

Another factor to consider is the auto shop’s reputation. Make sure you work with an outlet that has gained a good name over the years for its services. To ensure this, you can check what people say about them online. 

If there are many positive reviews on their social media platforms or website, you can consider working with them. However, if you can’t find the right mechanics for your car, consider asking for referrals from friends or relatives. 

Besides seeking advice from an expert, it’s possible to identify if your vehicle needs a windshield repair or replacement by yourself. In this article, you’ll find what factors mechanics consider when deciding whether a car needs a new auto glass or not. These could help you determine what’s suitable for your vehicle without an expert’s help. 

Factors That Determine Whether A Repair Or A Replacement Is Right 

Each of these options has its unique advantages and disadvantages. For instance, one benefit of repairing a windshield is that it takes lesser time than having a complete replacement. In most cases, it might only take half an hour if you’re working with an expert. 

Also, restorations are usually much cheaper, and might be more suitable if you want to save some money. Most insurers favor repairs over replacements, meaning you don’t have to cover costs out of your pocket. 

On the other hand, replacements can be advantageous, too, whenever necessary. Even though they take more time and are more expensive, they can help to restore your car’s integrity. In addition, a new glass ensures better sight for drivers. Therefore, it’s a safer option since several repairs on a windshield may hinder efficient visibility. 

Despite the several benefits of either option, there are certain instances when one option is better than the other. To determine what option is suitable for your vehicle, mechanics will look at certain factors. These are:

• The Position Of The Damage

If the chip or crack is at or near the edges or corners of your windshield, experts advise you should get a replacement instead of repair. This is because these regions are considered the weakest parts of a car’s auto glass. Therefore, damages along these areas can easily and quickly spread due to vibrations during movement. In addition, dips and bumps might worsen the situation in this case.

The position of your windshield’s damage may also affect some technological parts in your vehicle, depending on your car’s model. Usually, automatic braking, advanced driver assistance, sensor, and self-parking systems might have some elements embedded in the windshield. Therefore, if the auto glass is damaged, it may affect the functionality of these parts. In this case, a windshield replacement is usually more suitable to ensure these tools work properly, and the vehicle runs smoothly.

• The Visibility Of The Driver

The driver’s visibility is another factor determining what measure is most suitable for a damaged windshield. Usually, operating a vehicle that hinders your vision is quite dangerous. You might be risking your life and that of your passengers. Besides, it’s illegal in most states to drive a car whose glass is severely damaged. This means you risk getting into trouble with traffic police by not fixing the defects on your auto glass. 

Normally, mechanics recommend replacing the entire windshield if the damage is hindering your vision when driving. If a crack or chip is within the area covered by your wipers, then experts highly advise against repairing the glass. It’s because this region is usually considered to be in the line of sight of the operator. 

There are two reasons why most mechanics recommend replacing a windshield if the damage is in the said region. If the chips or cracks are more severe, reconstruction may not correct the issue sufficiently. 

Secondly, by repairing this region, you might weaken your glass, especially if the destruction reached the inner part, no matter how minimally. If you’re involved in a collision, the weakened part may break. This means windshield pieces might fly into your passengers’ faces or yours.

• The Depth Of The Damage

Usually, windshields have two layers, the inner and the outer surface. The inside part is built with glass, while the outside covering is made of plastic. Usually, if the ruin is only on the external sheet, then a repair is most suitable. 

However, if the crack or chip has penetrated all through and reached the glass part, then the damage may be too severe for repair. Therefore, you’ll have to replace the entire windshield. 

Additionally, if the ruin is only on the inner part, a replacement is more recommended. This is advised, even if the outer layer has been minimally damaged or hasn’t been affected at all. 

• The Safety Of The Car Operator And Passenger

In all cases, the safety of passengers and the driver is usually a top priority for mechanics. Usually, a windshield is designed as a critical element of a car’s structural integrity. Thus, if damages or poor repairs weaken this part, your vehicle’s crash zone may shift. 

In this case, even though the shield was engineered to protect a car’s occupants during an accident, it might not provide the safety the manufacturer intended it to offer. This means a crash could turn severe or even fatal, even though it might have been survivable.

Therefore, although it might be safe to drive a car with a cracked or chipped windshield for shorter distances, experts advise fixing it sooner rather than later. If the damages are so severe, they recommend changing the entire glass. This is because repairing it might weaken the glass, which can be catastrophic in case of a crash.

• The Size Of The Damage

The size of the damage is also a critical factor in determining whether a windshield should be repaired or replaced. Usually, if the chip on your auto glass is less than an inch, or if a crack is less than 12 inches, mechanics advise that reconstructions are an excellent option to consider.

However, if you’ve got a chip whose diameter is larger than three inches on your windshield or a crack that’s more than 14 inches, then a replacement is more suitable.

Closing Thoughts

Despite the benefits of either option, there are instances whereby experts advise it’s only fit to replace the entire auto glass, and in others, to just perform a repair. This article provides some factors that mechanics consider when determining what option is right for a damaged windshield. 

These could help you make a proper decision for your vehicle without the help of a professional. Some of the aspects technicians look at are the depth, size, and position of the damage. Besides these, other factors that determine their decision are the driver’s visibility, or threat to the safety of the car occupiers.

From this write-up, it’s right to say that when the damage is only on the outer side of the windshield, then it’ll be okay to consider a repair. Also, if fixing the old glass doesn’t reduce the car’s safety in a collision, a repair is more suitable. If you have a crack that’s less than 12 inches or a chip less than an inch, a reconstruction may be okay. 

On the other hand, a replacement might be better if the damage on the windshield hinders a driver’s visibility or if both the inner and outer layers are destroyed. Additionally, if the glass has a chip whose diameter is larger than three inches, you will need new glass. Lastly, if the damage is near or has reached a corner or an edge, changing the windshield is a better option.