Whenever there is a chip or crack in your windshield, getting it repaired as soon as possible is always prudent. Although seemingly harmless initially, these imperfections can quickly escalate into more significant safety concerns if left unattended.
Unley glass repair Adelaide professionals can assess the damage and determine whether it can be repaired or needs to be replaced, with appropriate solutions depending on its size and location.
Windshield Repair
If your windshield has experienced damage, you must understand what steps can be taken to address it to keep further damage at bay. In addition, knowing your repair options could save money when purchasing a new windshield.
Do-it-yourself windshield repair kits provide the tools to address small chips and cracks on windshields. Such kits typically include adhesive tape, rubber cement and squeegee blades, usually found at most auto parts stores.
However, they aren’t the best solution for windshields as they do not strengthen the glass and won’t work when dealing with large cracks that interfere with vision. In addition, these options could prove fatal.
Windshield chips often form when debris strikes the windshield and causes an indent in its glass surface or when struck by something such as stones or other foreign objects.
These chips typically don’t interfere with your ability to see. However, they should be addressed as soon as possible before they spread and become more extensive, impacting how well you can see other vehicles and objects around you.
As soon as you notice a chipped surface, take an in-depth examination. But first, you must identify what caused it to establish how best to repair it.
Cracked paint caused by defroster or windshield wiper blades can also lead to vehicle chips and can be fixed by placing clear tape over the chip to keep moisture out of its crack.
Chipped windshields may result from temperature variations in your car or driving on rough roads, where fluctuations cause large temperature swings that cause chips and cracks to spread quickly, compromising its glass surfaces and leading to potential damage.
Cracked windshields can be extremely hazardous to drive on and must be addressed as quickly as possible for their safety and the safety of others.
Once a chip occurs, it is crucial to clean the area with water and a soft cloth quickly – this will ensure no contamination enters and causes further spreading of infection.
If the chip is difficult to reach, a particular windshield patch you can apply by hand might also work, though this method may not be as efficient. But, again, a repair kit would likely be more suitable in these circumstances.
Auto Glass Replacement
It must be quickly repaired if you have been involved in an accident that damaged your windshield. It could make driving unsafe, and the damage can worsen over time.
Small chips from rocks and road debris can usually be repaired quickly. But larger cracks that penetrate the inner layer of the glass must be replaced entirely to prevent further damage to your windshield. Although some auto glass shops may recommend chip repair services for longer cracks than six inches long, it may be too far gone, and you must opt for windshield replacement instead to protect your safety.
Auto glass technicians equipped with advanced tools and resins are skilled at fixing most chips and cracks on vehicles using polymer resin injection into damaged areas, which dries quickly before being shaped to make the damage virtually undetectable.
Once the resin has set, it will be polished to make any crack or chip virtually undetectable, allowing a technician to make accurate repairs while preventing further spreading of damage.
The repair can typically take less than 30 minutes, depending on the size and depth of a chip or crack, providing a faster and cheaper alternative than replacement.
A skilled Unley glass repair Adelaide technician may repair chips and cracks; however, replacement may be necessary if they are located close to the windshield frame or near components that rely on its glass for proper functioning, such as sensors, automatic breaking or advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). In addition, for these systems to function accurately after installation, calibration of their front-facing camera may be required to provide accurate data.