Windshield Replacement – Everything You Need to Know

Getting a crack in your windshield is more annoying than anything, a stone flies up from the road and that distinctive cracking noise occurs, leaving you with a small chip that will undoubtedly go from a small annoyance to an enormous problem if you don’t get it sorted quickly. Luckily, there are plenty of companies that deal with this situation, and more often than not it’s included in your insurance package. Even so, you still have to get someone to come and fix your windshield before your car is safe to drive again and that can be frustrating. 

 

Here’s everything you need to know about getting it replaced. 

Trust The Professionals

Firstly, it’s important to mention that if you’re getting someone out to help you replace your windshield then it’s important to trust them. They are trained and have the ability to help so there is no point in attempting to micromanage from the sidelines. This seems to happen on numerous occasions, so try and trust whoever turns up to help, they know what they’re doing. It’s also not worth attempting to replace your windshield yourself just in case something goes wrong, you don’t want to be driving down the road and your entire screen comes flying off!

 

Repair Or Replace?

There’s a difference between having to repair your windshield and having it replaced altogether and it depends on how bad the damage is as to which you will need. It’s important at this stage to remember that it’s only your windshield that will be able to be repaired as it’s made from laminated glass, and all other glass on your car is tempered.

A chip or crack are the two main variants of damage your windshield will receive and it depends on three main factors as to if it can be repaired or not. The size, the depth, and the location. Larger cracks are much more likely to need a full replacement.

How big the chip or crack will be the first thing you’ll have to look at, generally speaking, anything up to three inches long is going to be able to be repaired, however, technology is rapidly advancing so we are seeing cracks larger than this getting repaired more frequently.

Closely related to the size of the crack is the depth, your windshield is made up of layers of glass including an outer and inner layer of glass with a layer of plastic sandwiched in between. If your crack or chip goes through the outer and inner layer, then it’s going to need to be replaced. But if it’s just the outer layer, then you’re likely to get away with a repair.

Lastly is the location of the damage, if it’s in a place that is going to affect the structural integrity of the entire windshield, then you’re looking at a replacement, much the same as if it’s in the driver’s line of sight. Repairs often come with some slight distortion and may impede the view of anyone in the driver’s seat.

 

Mobile Repair

If you’ve had an accident that has placed your car in a state where it is undrivable, mainly if the windshield has been completely shattered or it’s too dangerous to drive, then there are options for someone to come out to where you are and replace it then and there. Professional mobile glass replacement services are a brilliant way to quickly and efficiently get your vehicle back on the road with little to no fuss. This is also a brilliant service if you are at home and have found damage to your vehicle which means you can’t get it to a garage. Having someone come to your home and replace it is much easier than having to find time to drive it to a garage and wait around until it’s done.

 

Warranty

Every company that will work on your vehicle’s windshield will or should provide a lifetime warranty. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where it’s been replaced and something happens to it because it hasn’t been fitted properly. Make sure to ask the relevant questions to whoever has come to fix your windshield to avoid any situation like this.

 

It’s a scary thing, having your windshield crack in front of you, and the noise can often cause quite a lot of stress. If you think that the crack or chip has made your car dangerous to drive, then pull over, the last thing you want is for the entire thing to come crashing into you whilst going 80 on the freeway. Stay safe and get it repaired as soon as possible, even if that means waiting on the side of the road for assistance. You’re better off getting it fixed before it does any real damage to you or another motorist, and don’t forget in most cases, your insurance company will foot the bill.