Is Your Windshield Repairable? Windshield Damage! A big block of masonry fell on your parked car and now you've got a gaping hole in your windshield. (Groan!) Better go shopping for a replacement.This inner layer,called the lamination,serves to hold together the broken outer layers in the event of an accident. This is why windshields crack when struck by objects,yet do not fall apart and cave in upon the driver in most everyday circumstances. Repair or Replace? In general,most chips and cracks can be repaired,but it always depends upon four factors: the size,type,depth,and location of the damage. Results will vary based on age,amount of contamination,location & severity of the damage. A qualified auto glass repair technician must evaluate a number of factors before deciding whether your windshield is repairable. Each case is assessed on an individual basis,and a determination is made based on the technician's own skill with equipment,the expectations of the customer,and the probability of a high quality repair. Size and Depth Pretty much any shop should be able to repair chips of about one inch diameter and cracks about three inches long.Location Even good repairs may leave behind some discolouration,mistiness or unevenness,and if the damage is in the driver's line of sight,repair would decrease clarity and reduce visibility creader crp129. The technician must consider all potential drivers of the vehicle when determining the line of sight over the steering wheel,because this can vary depending upon the height of each driver. Any crack that is at or very near the windshield's edge,or any chip at or near the edge that has caused the windshield to start cracking,attenuates the strength and integrity of the windshield and its bonding to the surrounding metal frame,which in turn compromises passenger safety. If the technician cannot fully see the crack or chip,then he may not be able to successfully repair it. Damages that usually cannot be repaired: on inside of the windshield deep damage on both layers of glass damage over rain sensor,internal radio antenna damages that reach into the driver's critical viewing area complex multiple cracks very long cracks (i.e. over 18 inches long) contaminated cracks edge cracks and chips Other Considerations Now if you have a couple of chips near the top,passenger-side corner,you might think,"May as well get a replacement,given the repair cost and my low deductible."Third-Party Aftermarket'alternative. In the United States,the Auto Glass Safety Council (formerly AGRSS) certifies technicians and registers glass shops that meet their standards,thereby quasi-regulating windshield replacement. They maintain www.safewindshields.org where they list approved glass shops. Windshield replacement is a four-step process. First,the areas of the car body around the windshield and the nearby interior are protected with canvas or such launch creader crp123. The windshield is then cut from the edges and removed,as are the seals and glues,leaving behind the bare frame. Next,a primer is spread on the inside of the frame where the windshield will be fitted after which the new windshield's edges are coated with a special adhesive sealer with a polyurethane base. A very short time is allowed to elapse before the windshield is carefully fitted and bonded to the frame. This replacement process usually takes from half-an-hour to 60 minutes. But wait before you start doing 60 miles,most repair shops ask that you wait a further 60 minutes to allow the adhesives to set and bond. So if you have the windshield technicians do the replacement at home,well and good,but if you go to the auto glass shop,take a book! There is a Right and Wrong Ways to Replace a Windshield,so even when you go to a repair shop,make sure you do some due diligence and make sure that standards are followed. To keep your windshield in a good health,make sure you know how and when to clean it.
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