Should You Repair That Chip In Your Windshield Yourself? A Quick Decision Making Guide
If you recently noticed a chip in your windshield, you need to act fast to repair it. The longer you wait to repair the chip increases the chances that the chip will spread and become an even larger issue. Here is a quick guide to when you should fix the chip yourself and when you should get professional assistance.
Examine The Damage
The first thing you need to do is examine the damage and determine what kind of damage your windshield has sustained.
- Rock Chip. A rock chip is generally considered as minimal damage that is barely noticeable. The chip may be indented a little bit, but does not seem to go through all the layers of the glass.
- Small Crack. A small crack is generally considered anything that is less than two inches long.
- Large Crack. A large crack is generally considered anything that is over two inches long.
- Spider Crack. A spider crack is a little different than the other three types of cracks mentioned above. With a spider crack, there is a primary point that sustained damage, with cracks extending in a circle around that point. There may even be little cracks connecting the small cracks that extend out from the main point of damage
Determine Your Course Of Action
The course of action you take really depends on what kind of damage you identified on your windshield. In general, you should take the course of action described below for each crack:
Rock Chip & Small Cracks
You should be able to repair a rock chip at home as long as it is smaller than a quarter. For small cracks, you should be able to use a home repair kit as long as the crack is less than two inches long. All you need to do is purchase a windshield repair kit, acetone and a razor blade to fix the chip.
If you can hold a quarter up to the rock chip, and the chip is visible past the edges of the quarter, you probably need to have a professional repair the chip. If the crack measures more than 2 inches long, you should also take it to a professional repair shop. When a chip or crack is that big, a windshield repair kit may not have enough material to do the job and the crack could be more compromised than you realize.
Large Cracks & Spider Cracks
For large and spider cracks, you should always take them to a professional repair shop. These cracks generally extend beyond the surface of your windshield, and require additional materials in order to fix them. Also, if the crack is too large, it may not be able to be fixed and a professional glass shop may need to replace your entire windshield instead.
If you discover a crack in your windshield, use this guide to determine what type of crack it is and what type of action you need to take to fix it. Make sure you act fast – a small chip or crack can quickly grow larger and cost more money to fix. Contact a glass repair company like Mr Go-Glass for more information.