Repairing a Cracked Windshield: When is it Time?

There isn’t any other sound quite as fear and anxiety-inducing as a pebble or rock
smacking your windshield at 60+ MPH on the highway, only to see a dent or crack immediately forming. Similarly,
few events feel as exasperating as walking to your parked car and seeing a crack formed on your windshield,
seemingly out of nowhere. While a cracked windshield isn’t the end of the world, it’s an annoyance that no one
thinks about until it happens.

Then you have to think and ask yourself: Do I have to deal with taking this to a
service center near me, or can I keep driving until it really becomes a problem?

Fortunately, this quick guide will help shed some light on windshield chip repair and when you
need to take care of windshield issues that come up.

Assess Your Cracked Windshield’s Damage

There really are only two options for repairing a cracked
windshield, and it depends on the size of the crack and the style of the windshield in question.

A Large Crack in Your Windshield

Your front windshield is the most likely place to have a crack since vehicles in front of you
can kick up pebbles, rocks, and debris that will ding your windshield as you drive. If the crack is larger than
a few inches, your windshield’s structural integrity is compromised. When this happens, these are the ensuing
results, in no particular order:

• Poor temperature regulation as heat or air conditioning escapes through the crack.
• Limited visibility (location and spread dependent) makes driving difficult and
  possibly leads to further accidents and injury.
• The windshield cracking all over or “spidering,” rendering the vehicle undrivable.

When you encounter a wide or deep crack, it is best to replace your windshield before the
crack worsens and limits your visibility while driving. Repairing a cracked windshield is fast and easy — and
will keep your car working optimally on the road.

A Small Crack in Your Windshield

If you only have a small dent or crack in your windshield, there isn’t an immediate
need to rush to an auto body shop. In some cases, with a small enough cracked windshield, you can have the
windshield repaired rather than outright replaced. It’s not recommended to let it go too long without getting
looked at, but you have some time. Eventually, however, the crack will expand, and you’ll be back at step one of
a large crack in your windshield.

There is one important note to make about cracks in your windshield: the material used for the
windshield. Is it laminated glass or tempered glass?

What is a Laminated Glass Windshield?

Laminated glass, the kind you’d find on most (if not all) modern front windshields, is two
layers of tempered glass layered with a film of plastic in between, greatly strengthening the durability of the
windshield. When laminated glass is hit, say with a rock on the highway, it will only crack rather than shatter
into pebbles.

What is a Tempered Glass Windshield?

Tempered glass, like the kind you’d find on driver and passenger windows and the rear
windshield, is strengthened through intense heating. When it is struck hard enough and at the right angle, it
will shatter into pebbles that won’t cut and slice. You won’t see tempered glass on front windshields because it
would be detrimental for the glass to shatter if it were hit with a large enough rock at the right speed.
However, it’s ideal for rear windows and side windows in case of an accident when you need to escape.

What Happens If I Have a Cracked Rear Windshield?

As mentioned above, rear windshields are made from tempered glass, and if you have a crack in
the rear glass, you run the risk of it expanding quickly and the entire windshield shattering more quickly and
easily. It is best to immediately take it to a repair center and have it replaced before any further issues
arise.

Should I Take My Car to a Collision Center Near Me?

Short answer: yes.

Is it possible to repair or replace your own windshield? Technically, yes — if you
have the tools and expertise to do so. However, incorrect installation can lead to problems.

You could hire an at-home windshield repair or replacement service. The pros are that it’s
quicker and more convenient as it’s done at your home or on the road. However, at-home windshield replacement
services often don’t have all of the tools necessary to always install them correctly. You may also see a higher
price due to the convenience.

Repair Cracked Windshields Quickly

Repairing a cracked windshield in Olathe is easy when you take it to an auto shop in the area.
Our mechanics are expertly trained in repairing and replacing cracked windshields with all of the modern tools
to have your vehicle back up and running in no time and without breaking the bank. If you need windshield repair
in Olathe or general service repairs, visit our collision center to make your car look like new again. Contact us
or call us at (913) 324-7300 to schedule an appointment.