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:

1. The diameter of the chip is an inch or less
2. There is no dirt lodged in the chip
3. 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.

Do you have a chip or crack in your windshield? No matter how small, any blemish on your windscreen should be attended to immediately to prevent spreading and further damage.

For any type of chip or crack in your windshield, the damage will need to be assessed to answer the big question: Repair or Replace?

Obviously, you will want to try to fix any windshield issues with a repair if at all possible, as it is much less involved and expensive.

How Do I Know if a Repair or Replacement is Needed?

That all depends on the size and nature of the chip or crack on your windshield.

In most cases, it is best left to the professionals to decide. The integrity of your auto glass is a huge factor for staying safe in your vehicle.

Depending on the model and make of your vehicle, the strength of your windshield is responsible for providing anywhere from 45% – 75% of the structural integrity of your entire vehicle, should you get in an accident.

If you do happen to get into a collision and your car rolls, the windshield is relied upon to handle around 60% of the weight to keep the cabin of the automobile intact.

For the continued safety of you and your passengers, it is recommended to visit a reliable and speedy auto glass service, like Valvoline Express Care in Brampton.

Factors to Determine Repair or Replacement

To make an informed decision about which route to go to fix the blemish on your windscreen, it is important to consider several factors.

Some elements to consider about the chip or crack on your windshield, are:

• Size
• Depth
• Duration
• Location

Size

The first factor to examine is the size of the chip. Auto glass repair is becoming more efficient and effective all the time, so bigger chips are now being able to be properly fixed with a repair instead of a replacement.

The general rule of thumb is that if a chip is bigger than a toonie, a replacement will likely be required. Cracks longer than 7 or 8 cm will also probably demand a full replacement.

Superficial chips or small cracks that don’t penetrate to the inside of the glass can often be fully repaired without having to replace the glass.

Depth

Most windshields are made up of 2 or 3 layers. Some windscreens are double-paned glass, while others have three layers. Two layers of glass sandwiching a layer of plastic.

In either scenario, if the crack penetrates the inside layer of glass, it is time for a replacement.

Location

The location of the chip or crack is also critical for deciding on repair or replacement.

If a crack extends to the edge of the auto glass, then that windshield’s days are finished. There is too much risk to the structural integrity of your vehicle for cracks that hit the edge of the window.

If the crack or chip is directly in the driver’s line of vision, then a replacement is recommended. Most repairs end up leaving a little bit of distortion which can impair a driver’s ability to clearly see everything on the road in front of them.

Also, some cracks may interfere with one of the car’s automatic systems or sensors. If this is the case, then it is replacement time.

Duration

The longer a chip or crack has existed in your windshield, the more likely a replacement will be needed instead of a repair.

It is best to take care any windshield issues promptly, before the situation gets out of hand.

Auto Glass Repair and Replacement for your Safety

The number one concern for any nick, break, or slinter in in your windshield is safety. Safety for you and your passengers, and also for other drivers and pedestrians in the area.

The Uni Glass windshield replacement experts and repair experts at Valvoline Express Care have been fixing windshield issues in Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon, and Vaughan for decades.

Stop in anytime for damage assessment.