Got a small ding in your windshield? Most car owners will brush it off and ignore it, especially if the chip is outside of their line of sight. If it’s not a tremendous crack, then they don’t deem it necessary for repair. However, that small chip left unattended will end up costing that car owner hundreds of dollars in the long run.
You see, a windshield chip breaks the integrity of the windshield, placing unnecessary stress on a fragile area. The windshield is held onto the frame of your car with hundreds of pounds of pressure per square inch, and any chip within the windshield will be subject to that great force. Within several weeks – in as little as a few days – certain parts of the chip will extend outward. At first, this process goes unnoticed by the car owner because it happens so gradually. However, within a month or two the chip will extend well beyond the ability of repair (which is usually less than an inch.)
Windshield repair and replacement companies specialize in fixing these small chips for a very reasonable fee. Typical chip repair jobs range from $10 to $50 depending on the severity of the crack. These jobs are completed in under half an hour and get the driver back on the road in no time at all. Compare these numbers with the $300 to $500 you’ll spend fully replacing your windshield due to negligence.
Priceless Auto Glass of Santa Rosa, CA specializes in both chip repair and full windshield replacement. In an hour or less, your car windshield can be fully replaced due to smashes, scratches, etc. It’s not safe to drive in a car with a broken windshield; any sort of imperfection on the windshield creates a hazardous distraction for the driver, even when the crack is out of the range of sight. It’s always recommended to repair your windshield at first sight of damage. In the case of irreparable damage, it’s advised that you replace your windshield without any delay due to the distractions.
How chip repair works is a scientific process. Basically, a transparent resin is injected into the breach. This resin fills the cracks and forms a cohesive bond with the auto glass. Think of it like when you get a hole in your tire, and using a tire repair kit the hole is plugged by liquid rubber. Not all chip repair is perfect; depending on the extent of damage, you may need to eventually get a replacement. On larger cracks/chips, there may be a slight haze where the chip used to be. That’s exactly why these chips are best repaired right after they appear, because there will be no sign of them when the job is complete.
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