The purpose of a glass windscreen is to protect the passengers seated inside from encountering any harm, enabling them to drive safely. In the process of carrying out its function, your windscreen would get damaged with chips and cracks and would need to be fixed.However, the choice you make after you have noticed the damage plays a huge role in determining how much time and money you will invest later to get it fixed. This choice is often influenced by common myths that you hear, but believing false ideas could result in a wrong choice.
To help you make the right choice, we have debunked a few common myths regarding car windscreens:
1. Windscreens cannot Break:
Windscreens are basically laminated glass and often you will hear people say that they are crack-resistant, however, this statement is wrong.
Windscreens can get chipped or cracked due to extreme fluctuation in temperature, debris, flying stones, or vandalism. And if your windscreen does break, it will shatter into tiny pieces, therefore, not harming the passengers inside.
2. All Chips are the Same:
All windscreen chips are not the same, the type, shape and spread of the chip may vary based on the cause, temperature fluctuation, vibrations, etc.
There are various types of chips such as Bullseye, Edge crack, star break, stress crack and combination break. Therefore, if you see a chip, consult an auto glass expert to get the best repair choice.
3. A Damaged Windscreen needs a New Windscreen:
Not all type of damage on your windscreen requires you to replace it with a new one. If the chip isn’t within the line of vision, is less than half an inch, or if it isn’t severe, you can get it repaired rather than replaced. If possible, you could even ask your auto glass expert to inject resin into the damaged area.
4. Cheap Kits are Sufficient for a Repair:
Often people think that cheap kits provided at stores are sufficient to repair the chip or crack on their windscreen and try to do it themselves but instead worsen the condition of the glass.
You may hear of stories where it worked for a few people, but that isn’t always the situation. It is best to trust the experts when it comes to repairing as they have all the necessary tools and skills to render the best services. And because your windscreen plays an essential part in keeping you safe while driving, you shouldn’t meddle with it.
5. Small Cracks or Chips are Harmless:
Any and every chip or crack should be repaired as soon as possible as delaying it could worsen the damage, cause an accident due to obstruction of view, or cause it to shatter.
If you do not repair the tiny chip, it could expand due to fluctuating temperatures, vibrations, etc. and turn into a big crack.
A simple tiny chip that could have been repaired would then need a replacement if worsened. Therefore, the sooner you repair your glass, the better.
6. You can D.I.Y with a Repair Kit:
You may find countless tutorials online that teach you how to repair your glass on your own with a Do it Yourself Repair Kit, but the results are not guaranteed.
However, when you leave it to the professionals, positive results are guaranteed. You can rest assured that your windscreen is in good hands since it is with a professional but you can’t feel the same if you try to perform it yourself. You may be trying to save on your expenses but the stress it comes with isn’t worth it!
7. The Service is Expensive:
You may try to avoid getting your windscreen repaired because it is expensive but delaying it will only increase the cost of the services to fix the extra damage caused due to the delay.
Repairing a chip as soon as you see it will not only save your time but also your money. You can also go through your car insurance policy as some even cover repairs. As you can’t put a price on safety, it is best to act soon.
8. De-icing is Harmless:
De-icing can damage it to the extreme where it might even shatter! Pouring hot water to melt the ice causes an extreme change in temperature, as well as using a sharp object to scrape off the ice will also damage your windscreen in the process. If you want to safely de-ice, try using a de-icer spray and an ice-scrapper.
In a nutshell, do not believe anything and everything people say unless it is from a reliable source such as an auto glass expert and as soon as you see any damage to your windscreen, ensure you get it repaired quickly.
About the Author: Darren Pay and Justin Oakes are co-owners of A1 Windscreen that is famous for its windscreen crack repair and car windscreen replacement services.