Car Windshield Repair vs. Replacement
Whenever there's an accident, the first thing that has a
probability of breaking is the windshield. Even a small crack
can often spread across your area of vision or it can spread
into the inner layer of your windshield, which is a plastic
layer sandwiched between the two glass layers. Even a small
stone can cause extensive damage.
Whenever such a situation occurs, the first thing that arises in
our mind is which option we should choose - repair or
replacement. If we go for repair rather than the replacement
then certainly we can save some money. Modern windshields have
been designed to be repairable. Nowadays special injections are
coming into the automobile glass market that contain a special
resin which is injected into the damaged area using unique tools
that attach directly to the glass.
Some chips or crack may react successfully to the repair whereas
some may not. Windshield repair is like first aid. If you leave
a crack and do not fix it, then it may cause more severe damage
and the condition of the windshield can get much worse.
If a tiny size chip is just in front of your driving seat, then
a quick repair is must as this may hinder your vision.
Windshield repair can be quarter sized or up to 3 inches long.
But some advance techniques can repair up to 12 inches long
cracks. For more than 12-inch cracks, only replacement is
suggested.
Major thing that needs to be considered is the location and size
of the damage. If damage is at the edge of the windshield then
it will spread fast and will destroy the integrity of the glass.
If any edge damage is found then repair it soon. It will save
the life of your windshield.
Some of current techniques do no repair those cracks that
directly come into the view of driver's line of sight because a
small distortion may still left behind. In that case replacement
would be a wise decision. Cost of the repair is entirely
depending upon the damage of the windshield. If the cracks are
quite long or around 12 inches then charges will be higher.
Certainly if you go for replacement then your insurance company
may not pay you the entire replacement amount but in case of
repair they may pay the total expenditure. So repair is a more
economical process.
Windshield repair or replacement is totally depending upon the
size and location of the damage and cracks. So, before going for
any of these options just consult a glass specialist who can
examine your shield and suggest if a repair will work or not. If
damage from an accident is quite big then do not compromise your
life, as you know better that windshield replacement is a
necessity. Just bear in mind that your life is more valuable
than anything else.