replacing broken glass in your window

Windshield Repair Processes For Rock Chips

30 August 2016

Britney Simpson

There are some things to know about rock chip repair for windshields. Here's a guide to the process before, during, and after the repair. 

Protecting Your Windshield

Before you take your car in for windshield repair, you may want to take some steps to prevent further damage to the car. As soon as you notice a rock chip, tape the glass on both sides of the chip to secure the crack and help prevent it from widening. You'll also want to keep your windshield from experiencing any major temperature changes until you get it fixed. Go easy on the windshield when it comes to turning the AC or heater on full blast after the car has been at room temperature. 

Checking for Insurance Coverage

Before you get your windshield fixed, you might want to check for insurance coverage. It's often in your insurance company's interest to pay for a windshield repair, since the replacement costs can be much higher. You might be able to get your windshield repair done for free. 

Knowing What's in the Repair Process

There's a general process that windshield repair technicians will follow for rock chips. First, they may remove any glass bits and dirt from the area. Then, they will drill a hole into the rock chip. A special glass resin is applied to the area and hardened with a UV light. The windshield repair technician will make sure that the resin is flush with the rest of the windshield to avoid any unnecessary visual distortion. After a cleaning, you're free to drive away. 

Asking How Successful Rock Chip Repair is

Before you decide to go with a windshield repair, know that they aren't always successful. A windshield repair can fail if the pressure of the repair causes the glass to crack even further. The easiest rock chip repairs are done when the chip is small and hasn't begun to spread yet, so taking your car to a windshield repair center right away can help boost your success rate. 

Also, a windshield repair can often leave a small visual distortion on your windshield. Although the resin is designed to blend in with auto glass and have similar visual qualities, it's not always a perfect cosmetic fix. But the small visual distortion of the resin is much smaller than that of the rock chip itself. In some cases, if you aren't happy with the outcome of your windshield repair or the repair is unsuccessful, your shop may offer a guarantee where they apply the cost of repairs to an auto glass replacement in place of the repair, giving you some safeguards in your repair choice. 

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