Windshield Repair Tactics

Answer 1

Fixing a cracked windshield is a commonsense car repair for couple of reasons.

The first is safety. A crack that interferes with driver vision is obviously dangerous. What many people do not know, however, is that cracks in a windshield can cause it to lose its shatterproof properties, creating the potential for lethal projectiles of glass propelled at high speeds in the event of a collision.

Small cracks can often be repaired, but a reputable glass shop can let you know when the size of the crack exceeds the abilities of the repair materials that are commonly used for rock chip and small crack repair.

The second reason is strictly one of economics. Depending on the type of vehicle, a new windshield can cost anywhere from a minimum of around $150, to considerably more. Fixing rock chips and small cracks before they have a chance to grow to a degree where repair is no longer an option can be done by a mobile repair service or a glass shop for much less, generally well under $100, usually for less than $50. If you carry comprehensive insurance on your vehicle, many auto insurers will waive deductibles as a good will gesture.

For the more adventurous, do-it-yourself glass repair kits are available from auto parts stores and department or discount stores that sell auto supplies. Fixing rock chips or small cracks in your own windshield does require some mechanical aptitude, or at least the confidence to accept the consequences of failure, but no special tools are required. All necessary supplies come in the kit. It is best not to try the do-it-yourself route with cracks or chips that are greater than the diameter of a dime. Even a glass repair company often will be reluctant to attempt a repair on anything larger than this size. Cold weather also increases the degree of difficulty.

Repair kits generally cost somewhere between $10 and $20 and considering that some mobile repair companies will come to your home or place of business, deciding in favor of convenience and an experienced repair person who is not hampered by cold weather could very well prove to be the most prudent course.