Nobody is happy when a rock is kicked up by that semi on the highway and it cracks or chips your windshield. But, how can you tell the difference between an inexpensive repair or a more pricey replacement?
The short answer: you should always contact a professional to take a look because you never know what may be needed. We will look at some basic rules to see if you need a replacement or if a simple repair would be enough.In most cases, you can have your windshield repaired if:
- The chip is under two inches wide and less than ⅜ of an inch deep
- Only the outside layer of glass is damaged
You may need to consider a replacement if:
- There are three or more chips / cracks
- The damage is on the driver’s side. Repairing this may leave marks that could impair visibility.
- The damage is around the outside of the glass. As windshields are held in place around the outside edges, damage around this area may compromise the integrity of the glass.
- A repair of the windshield was not successful
These are great rules-of-thumb to follow, but an expert opinion is always recommended. If the integrity of your windshield is compromised, the strength and protection that it provides decreases dramatically.
If you are in need of an expert opinion, the auto glass experts of Abra are here to help! Whether you need a simple repair or a full windshield replacement, we can handle any of your auto glass needs.
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