Windshield Chip Repair

Answer 1

Most windshield cracks start out as small chips. These can occur from falling debris or gravel which is picked up and flung onto the windshield. No matter how small the chip, the potential is there for a crack to start.

How a Chip Becomes a Crack

One way a crack forms is with moisture. Once the integrity of the windshield is compromised, moisture will seep into the chip. When the temperature is cold, the moisture will freeze and contract and as the temperature warms, the ice will expand. This will further stress the area and a crack is sure to develop eventually. When the temperature change is sudden, like the sun or defroster hitting the cold windshield, there is more danger of a crack developing quickly.

Since a chip has already weakened that area of the windshield, it will not take much pressure to make it spread out. Many times small cracks will form first and resemble a spider's web. This can happen from stress as the wind hits your windshield or from big bumps in the road.

When it comes to windshield chip repair, time is of the essences as it takes very little for a crack to form. Also, the chip will get dirty from debris and if you wait too long to repair it, the dirt will cause the repair to be more noticeable. Repairing a clean chip soon after it happens will be seamless and look better.

Locating Chips

It is important to examine your windshield periodically. One place that needs to be inspected is the black area around the edge of your windshield. Many cracks start here and chips are harder to see because they are out of your range of vision and in a dark area that is hard to see from inside the car.

A local windshield repair shop usually takes around an hour to do the job and will almost always charge your insurance company. If you have comprehensive insurance, your carrier will usually waive the deductible of a windshield chip repair since the cost of windshield replacement is so high. Your rates will not go up as this claim is considered no-fault.