In the past, a crack or chip on your windshield meant that it needed to be replaced. However, advancements in modern technology means that these cracks and chips can be repaired as opposed to replaced. This is of course going to save you money in the long term. However this piece of technology does have its limits, and thus it is going to be good to know beforehand whether you should replace or repair your car windshield in Hamilton, and that is hopefully what I am going to help you with in this article.
So firstly, why is it important to have your windshield repaired or replaced when it has become damaged? Of course, the reason is for safety issues. If you have a chip on your windshield then you will literally have a ‘blind spot’ and this means you could miss oncoming vehicles and pedestrians. In addition to this, the windshield could shatter if it is put under too much pressure, and this isn’t going to be safe at all, especially if you are zooming along the highway at top speeds.
Whether your windshield can be replaced or repaired will depend on the severity of the damage, as well as the size of it. For example, the majority of dedicated windshield repair shops will be able to repair chips that are the size of a quarter and cracks up to three inches long. If they are anything bigger than this then replacement is probably going to be your best bet. However, a number of auto glass companies in Hamilton may be able to repair cracks up to 12 inches in length depending on the situation, so it is worth talking to them about it.
The exact location of the damage will also be an important factor in determining whether damage can be repaired or not. The cracks at the edge of the windshield tend to be the most dangerous. This is because the cracks can spread very quickly and if they appear then the structural integrity of the glass has been compromised. Whilst in most cases these can be repaired, ideally you will want to replace them as the glass will never be the same again.
Sensible companies will not repair chips which appear in the line of the driver’s vision. This is because repaired chips are never going to be as ‘clear’ as normal chips, and thus the vision of the driver will be compromised severely. Even if your auto glass company suggests that it can be repaired, it may not be ideal as you will be losing vision on the road, and that is never going to be safe at all.
If the damage has taken a long time to repair then it is best that you have the windshield replaced. This is because over time, dirt would have worked its way into the chip or crack and that is going to reduce how effective the repair is going to be.
Of course, in some situations, the damage to your windshield will be beyond repair and thus you will want it replaced. Your chosen auto glass repair shop in Hamilton should be able to help you out with this.
