Windshield damage is all too common, especially with the amount of highway driving most of us do commuting to and from work. It happens to hundreds of drivers every day, a stray stone blows out of a construction vehicle, or flies out of a trucks tire and lands directly in the middle of your windshield. Here is a list of a few lesser known facts about windshield repairs and damages.
1. Any damage can, and in time will, spread and become more dangerous. Just because it’s a small star or bullseye crack that doesn’t affect the functionality of your car, doesn’t mean it’s not a safety hazard that should be addressed immediately. A damaged windshield left untreated can spider across the glass, and what was once a simple fix, will now cost you hundreds. Don’t wait! Fix it now!
2. Now, in the time between getting the damage and getting it fixed you want to be careful not to make it any worse then it already is. Try to avoid getting any debris into the crack; this is difficult so the sooner you fix it the better off you’ll be. Also, avoid putting your car through any drastic temperature changes. For example, you don’t want to wash your car with ice cold water on a hot summers day. That’s a good way to make your crack ‘spider’ and become unfixable. Also washing the damaged area could push more unwanted particles into the crack where it will be difficult to clean them out.
3. A common misconception about do it yourself glass repair kits is that it will be a big messy job that will take all afternoon. Luckily this isn’t the case at all! The majority of these kits take approximately 30 minutes. This is another strong reason for why it’s better to simply repair your damaged windshield rather then replace it.
4. Although it’s better to repair then replace when the situation allows, there are times that a do it yourself kit will not be all you need. Don’t spend time and money trying to fix a crack that has spread, or is larger then the recommended size on your kit. Damage in the drivers direct line of site is very dangerous and can render the car unlawful to drive. Be reasonable when evaluating your damage and either way, address it as soon as possible.
5. Now, the most important thing to know is what kind of Windshield Repair Kit is the best to use. Regardless of the type of damage the best kit to use will always be one that puts no pressure on the glass. Think about it, the glass is fractured, it already has a weak point, do you really want to press on it? No. Windshield repair kits that apply no pressure are very easy and clean to use. An adhesive seal will mount the resin to the surface of the glass while the vacuum will draw the air out of the damaged area allowing the resin to easily flow and fill the crack. It’s clean, easy, fast and affordable.
