Understanding Different Kinds of Windshield Damage
Glass repair technicians can repair chips and small cracks without replacing the windshield if managed quickly.
While there are several types of windshield damage, typically, all result from objects impacting the windshield. There is no way to avoid damage caused to windshields because small objects like gravel or rocks are kicked up by other vehicles.
Glass repair technicians can repair chips and small cracks without replacing the windshield if managed quickly. Repairing the windshield will save the vehicle owner a substantial amount of money and, more importantly, keep them and their passengers safe.
It’s worth noting that most windshield damage starts as a small chip. The problem is that the vehicle owner may not spot the chip at all, or may not consider it significant enough to mess with, so it’s not repaired. A few weeks later, that small crack has grown into a long crack that makes it necessary to replace the entire windshield.
Vehicle owners should be proactive about windshield damage. In many cases, quick action can save them money and avoid the safety hazards accompanying a damaged windshield. Procrastination can put the vehicle’s occupants at risk.
Types of windshield damage
Bull’s-eye crack
A bull’s eye comes from small rocks or similar-sized debris impacting the windshield. This type of damage is identified by its shape, which resembles the bull’s eye on a dart board.
Bull’s-eyes are larger than a chip; however, depending on the size, a bull’s eye can usually be repaired if it’s addressed immediately. There are situations that a vehicle owner might be required to replace the entire windshield immediately.
The problem with postponing a bull’s eye repair is that the crack will grow and accumulate moisture, making it much more challenging to repair.
Half moon
A half-moon is almost the same as a bull’s eye, except that the damage is not entirely circular. It’s shaped like a half-moon. Half-moon damage can usually be repaired without having to replace the entire windshield.
Long crack
This type of crack is at least 15-cm long and usually requires replacing the entire windshield. In most cases, a long crack is caused by a larger piece of debris that impacts the windshield. It may also be the result of an unrepaired bull’s eye crack that expanded into a long crack.
Ding or chip
Dings and chips are the most common windshield damage. The same type of debris causes them as a bull’s eye but on a smaller scale. A tiny bit of glass is dislodged from the windshield, leaving only a minor chip. The good news is that chips and dings are easy to repair if addressed within a week or two. However, if postponed, a small ding can become a long crack overnight, which will require the vehicle owner to replace the windshield.
Cracked chip
This type of damage is the size of a quarter at the impact point with a single crack running in either direction. Usually, a cracked chip can be repaired as long as it’s addressed quickly. Like other types of damage, the car’s owner will replace the windshield if they don’t repair a cracked chip immediately.
Combination break
As the name implies, a combination break consists of several types of chips, dings, and cracks. It is often scattered along the surface of the windshield. Whether or not a technician can repair it depends on numerous factors. If the chips are not too deep, it can be repaired. Time is of the essence with this kind of damage, and the car owner must repair it immediately.
Edge crack
Edge cracks start within 5-cm of the outside edge of the windshield. They usually require that the windshield be replaced because they can run the full edge of the glass. Edge cracks must be dealt with immediately because they obstruct the driver’s view and lead to other significant safety hazards.
Stress crack
Windshields are a stress point for every vehicle. For example, if it’s snowing outside and the driver turns on the heater, the windshield is subjected to a rapid temperature change, creating stress. Before starting the vehicle, the driver should remove the ice from the windshield with cold water to prevent cracks.
Stress cracks can sometimes be repaired, but if the damage is extensive, then it’s recommended that the car owner replace the entire windshield to prevent even more damage.
Small chips can grow into cracks
Vehicle owners need to repair chips quickly, as chips can become cracks virtually overnight and will result in windshield replacement. Here’s what happens.
Windshields contain a layer of lamination to prevent shattering. Water is pulled into those chips when the coating is penetrated with a small chip because of surface tension. The moisture slowly delaminates surrounding areas of the windshield, causing the chip to spread. In colder climates, this is even more of a problem because the water will get inside the chip, freeze, and expand inside the chip. The glass is then forced to crack to compensate for the expansion of the newly formed ice.
Windshield damage has safety risks
A cracked windshield is hazardous to the vehicle’s occupants. Not only does a cracked windshield impair the driver’s visibility, but it also affects how a vehicle responds during a crash. Here are a few of those hidden dangers:
Risk of Being Ejected from the Vehicle
Problematic Airbag Deployment
Roof Support is Compromised
The main point is that vehicle owners should repair any damage to their windshields as quickly as possible. With large cracks, that’s an obvious statement. The problem is that most individuals will put off repairing small chips because they don’t see them as an issue. Understanding the different types of windshield damage can save a vehicle owner a substantial amount of money because they can address the problem quickly.
Lucid Auto Glass provides mobile windshield repair and replacement in Tacoma, Olympia, Renton, Lakewood, and surrounding areas. Our auto glass services include windshield replacement, rock chip repair, crack repair, and leak repair as well as door window regulator and door window motor repair and replacement. Family owned and operated. Military discounts available.
