A Windshield Repair is a quick, easy and inexpensive way to keep your vehicle safe. Depending on your insurance policy, repairs might even be covered by your car or homeowners insurance.
Windshields play a major role in your safety on the road, providing structural support, and preventing objects from flying off the roadways and hitting you. They also provide a clearer view of the road and allow you to monitor traffic conditions and other drivers without taking your eyes off the road. The windshield might seem like a mundane safety feature, but any damage to it can quickly turn into a serious visual obstruction that could affect your driving.
The National Windshield Repair learn more Association recommends that you cover any damage with tape to prevent contaminants (water, dirt and insects) from entering the crack until you can get it repaired by a certified specialist. This will also prevent the crack from enlarging or becoming unrepairable.
Windshield repair is a process that removes air from the break and fills it with a curable, optically matched resin, bonding the glass together to restore its strength and structural integrity. It also improves the appearance of the break.
If a crack is left unrepaired, it can worsen and result in a costly windshield replacement. This is because extreme temperatures can intensify damage, and even seemingly harmless actions such as pouring hot water on ice can cause sudden expansion that might crack the windshield further or even shatter it. A common test for determining whether or not your windshield needs repair is to hold a dollar bill up against it; if the crack extends past the length of the bill, then professional repair or replacement is necessary.
There are a variety of windshield repair kits available, and they all claim to work the same way: By injecting resin into the break and curing it with ultraviolet light, they will stop the crack from spreading and leave you with a smooth, blemish-free windshield. However, most of these kits only last a few months at best and may not be as effective as a professional repair.
In addition, many windshield repair kits use low-quality adhesive materials and are not endorsed by automotive manufacturers. In order to be a safe and reliable option, windshields should only be replaced by original equipment-quality glass. High-end glass offers features that make your driving experience more comfortable and safer, such as UV protection and a thermal interlayer. It also has a molded structure that makes it less likely to warp, and optical clarity that provides a crisper image of the road ahead.