Do you have a chip or crack in your windshield? If so, it is highly recommended to deal with the issue right away to minimize cost and damage.
Most vehicle owners would prefer to repair a windshield than have it replaced, if at all possible.
Repairs are obviously quicker and less costly than a replacement, and often repairs are covered by your auto insurance policy.
So, how do you know if you need a windshield repair or replacement for your windscreen?
Assessing Windshield Damage
An initial assessment you can do on your own, just to get a better idea of what will be needed to solve the problem.
The first task is to figure out the type of chip or crack that exists on your windshield.
Some of the most common types of windscreen blemishes include:
- Surface chip
- Bullseye
- Half moon
- Star
- Angel wings (combination crack)
- Star Burst
- Straight line
- Extended bullseye
Surface Chip
A small surface chip is the most common type of windshield blemish. This is typically a superficial nick that does not penetrate the surface of the glass.
A surface chip can be fixed with a minor repair, as long as it is attended to promptly.
Bullseye Chip
A bullseye is an impact chip that is usually the result of a rock or stone coming off the road and hitting the glass.
A bullseye is a circular chip that has a cone shaped whole dig out of the outer layer of the windscreen.
A bullseye chip can be mended with a repair, if:
- The diameter of the chip is an inch or less
- There is no dirt lodged in the chip
- The chip is not directly in the driver’s field of vision
Half Moon Chip
Much like a bullseye chip, a half moon chip is often caused by impact from an errant stone or pebble.
You can think of a half moon as a partial bullseye chip that is not fully circular in shape.
Half moon chips can also be repaired if the diameter is small enough and the blemish is not in the driver’s eyeline.
Star Chip
A star chip or break is caused by a point of impact, and generally has several small cracks coming out from the center to form a star shaped design.
A star chip or break can go either way when it comes to repair or replacement.
Star chips can often be repaired if they are the size of a looney or smaller. If the chip is larger than a looney, or you can feel it on the inside of your windshield, a replacement will most likely be needed.
Angel Wings (Combination Crack)
An angel wing chip is also sometimes referred to as a combination break. Angel wings may be a combination of a bullseye chip with cracks spreading outwards from opposite directions.
If the entire diameter of a crack of this nature, including the body and the legs, does not exceed 2 inches, then a repair may be possible.
Star Burst Chip
As the name suggests, this type of blemish is a star chip that has escalated or covers more surface area than a regular star chip.
This type of chip must be taken care of immediately. An expert will be able to assess if a repair or replacement is required.
Straight Line Crack
This type of damage can be caused by either impact or pressure.
If a straight line crack is caused by the impact of a stone or debris, then it can possibly be fixed with a repair if it is small enough, does not reach the edge of the windshield, and is not in the driver’s line of vision.
If a straight line crack is caused by pressure, rather than impact, then a replacement will be mandatory.
Extended Bullseye
Like an angel wing chip, an extended bullseye is an enlarged or magnified version of the original.
This is another issue that needs to be dealt with urgently.
Driver’s in Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon, and Vaughan should contact the auto glass repair experts at Valvoline Express Care for professional UniGlass windshield chip and crack assessment.