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It happens to most of us. At the most inopportune time, there’s a whack on the windshield. You take a closer look and notice a nice-sized chip or crack in the glass.

Not only is it distracting, but you know it’s the beginning of a serious issue with your windshield. That chip may soon turn into a crack that spreads out of control.

At which point, you’ll have to decide whether to repair or replace your windshield.

Not all chips lead to cracks, and not all cracks mean you have to buy a new windshield. But you don’t want to wait too long to test either theory.

Should I repair my chipped windshield or should it replace it? You may be asking yourself this while glaring at a fault in your windshield.

If so, check out this guide to learn more about when to replace or repair a windshield.

A Chip or a Crack: What’s the Difference

Two kinds of damage normally happen to most windshields–chips and cracks. You can repair the majority of them, but there are some that are impossible to fix.

A chip is a small nick in the glass that happens at the point of impact when something hits the windshield. Small pieces fall off the glass in the process. These nicks form in different ways:

• A Star Chip: tiny cracks form outward from the center of the chip.
• Flower Chip: the edges of the chip resemble a flower.
• Bull’s Eye: a circular nick whose center looks like a small bull’s eye.
• Half a Bull’s Eye: gives the appearance of a half-moon.

A technician can repair most of these chips through a filling process. But that depends on how they enter the surface of the glass. If the chip forms into the glass at a perpendicular or shallow angle, repair is possible.

The same works for cracks.

Cracks are clear lines in the glass that can stretch from under an inch to across the entire windshield. Cracks spread across glass in several ways:

• Small Edge Crack: inch small type of crack that starts at the edge of a windshield
• Pit Crack: starts as a tiny gauge that floats two inches from the center.

Similar to chips, cracks may be repairable, but it depends on how they enter and sit in the glass.

What Causes Windshield Faults

Anything can cause a fault in a windshield–vehicle debris, flying pebbles and rocks, and inclement weather.

Pebbles and Rocks

Loose pebbles and rocks come from common roadside construction. Strong winds along with passing cars come through and send particles airborne. Most of the time it’s small fragments of stone broken off larger pieces during construction.

The chips fly free along the road causing damage to oncoming vehicles.

Vehicle Debris

One of the first lessons you learn in driver’s education is to never drive behind large, commercial trucks. They obstruct your view, plus all types of stuff flys off the back of them.

A lot of times, workers don’t secure trash, parts, and cargo on the back vehicles. In turn, things fly off and damage vehicles traveling behind them. Windshields take the brunt of the damage.

Inclement Weather

Although we need the rain, driving in severe weather may cause damage to your vehicle. Strong winds can send things hurtling into your windshield. And a weather element like hail could cause chips and cracks depending on the size of the hail balls.

Whatever the case, these are the common culprits. They cause most chips in cracks in windshields.

Repair Windshield or Replace

When should you repair or replace? This depends on the type of windshield fissure and the factors surrounding it. How big is it? Where is it located in the glass? Is the flaw too deep to mend?

As stated earlier, it’s possible to repair certain chips and cracks, depending on their size.

Advancement in technology allows for modern ways to repair windshields but based on certain criteria.

Size and Shape

If a chip or crack is less than the size of a quarter and no longer than four inches, repair is possible. But this takes a professional opinion.

Once a professional determines repair is possible, they employ the use of resin. Resin is a viscous substance, with a natural or synthetic origin, used to make or repair things.

Window repair specialists inject chips or cracks with resin then use a vacuum to spread it. As soon as the fissure fills, the windshield’s considered repaired.

Depth

For the safety of the driver, the law requires laminated glass on windshields. Laminated glass has several layers–a plastic layer enclosed in two layers of glass.

If the damage permeates all three layers, repair is impossible. You will have to replace the windshield.

Placement

Where the damage happens in the windshield also determines repair or replacement.

Damage that runs along the outer edge of the glass is not good. This typically means there’s more damage to the structure of the glass than it appears.

Trying to repair the damage that reaches the edge will cause more harm. You’ll end up having to replace the glass regardless.

Forego trying to repair damage in the driver’s line of sight. Manipulating glass in this area further warps it, making it difficult for the drive to see the road.

Also, keep in the mind that damage on the inside of a windshield is tough to repair. Chips and cracks in this areas require glass replacement.

Considerations

To repair or replace boils down to whether or not a professional technician can see the damage. There are also some areas that if repair’s attempted, more damage than good may result.

For example, cracks near the rain sensor, multiple cracks, and damage longer than a ruler are indications of replacement. Always enlist the opinion of a professional.

Moving Forward

Knowing when to repair a windshield or replace it often requires more than a glance. Sometimes it’s hard to determine a chip from a crack and if either is repairable.

Use this guide to make general observations about your window then talk it out with an expert.

Request a quote today and have someone speak with you concerning your auto glass needs.

You see that crack on the edge of your windshield and you know you need to get it replaced. You aren’t alone, 70-80% of windshield replacements are due to a crack less than 2 inches from the edge.

Having your windshield replaced my seem like a time-consuming project. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Many replacement technicians can come right to you. This lets you continue on with your day as your new windshield cures.

That curing part of the windshield replacement time is vital for your safety. We’re going to explain terms you might hear and what they mean.

Safe Drive Away Time

The safe drive away time is how long your vehicle needs to sit before it’s considered safe to drive. This amount of time depends on the glass, weather, and adhesive used.

The range could be anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. You need to wait for the adhesive to cure and harden before driving the vehicle.

Minimum Drive Away Time

Adhesive companies have begun to change the terminology that they use. Instead of saying the drive away time is “safe” they refer to it as the “minimum”.

This change in vocabulary is a subtle one but changes the meaning of the time. Safe implies that the car needs to sit that exact amount of time to be safe.

In reality, this time is the minimum amount of time needed for it be operational. There is also less liability for the adhesive company to say minimum instead of safe.

Regardless of the term, your glass replacement company should stand behind their work. They should not underestimate the influence of temperature and other environmental conditions.

Effects of Weather on Curing Time

Windshield urethane cure time gets shorter during the summer months. The increased humidity and warm temperatures create an environment for faster curing.

When weather temperatures fall the curing time increases. If the temperature goes below 40 degrees your technician will use extra products.

They will aid the curing process. It is best to have the vehicle in a heated location with the atmospheric temp drops below 40.

Specialty Windshields

More often vehicles newer than 2015 have smart windshields. You have a smart windshield if you have one or more of these features.

• Heads-up display
• Rain sensing wipers
• Condensation sensor
• Humidity sensor
• Solar and ultraviolet light blocking
• Acoustic interlayer
• Lane departure warning system
• Lane keep assist
• Forward crash alert
• Night vision

The technician performing your replacement needs to have knowledge of these features. The replacement will likely take longer due to these extra features.

These extra components will have to connect tot he new windshield. This adds to the installation time but should not affect the cure time.

Different Types of Urethane

Some auto glass technicians will use a lower quality and cheaper windshield glue. Another common problem is using the wrong urethane for the region you live in.

These urethanes are going to take longer to cure. The best brands that reputable technicians use are Progrip, Sika MOVEIT, and Dow BEATASEAL.

What Is It?

Urethane is a super sticky black glue that will adhere to everything it touches. It starts out as a soft caulk like material.

Once it cures, it becomes a strong material for holding your windshield in your car. This is different from the rubber gaskets you might find on other glasses pieces.

The urethane gets applied the frame around the opening where the windshield sits. Then the windshield lays on top and pushed into the glue.

Once cured there is a solid seal around the outside edge of your windshield. This method is strong enough to withstand impacts to the windshield.

What if You Don’t Wait?

Your windshield is a main component of your vehicle’s structural and safety systems. Driving before the adhesive cures compromises both systems.

If you are in an accident the adhesive may not hold the windshield in place. Without the windshield in place, the roof can cave in on those inside.

Roll Down Your Windows

You need to do more than not drive your vehicle for the required time. If you plan on getting in and out of your vehicle, roll down the windows.

When you close your car doors you create increased air pressure inside the vehicle. This air needs to go somewhere, and it can create small holes in the urethane seal.

When you go to drive after it cures, you will hear a wind noise or have a leak. This will result in your having to get the windshield replaced again if cannot locate the hole.

It’s Not Only Your Windshield

Your windshield isn’t the only glass installed with adhesive. If you get your sunroof replaced you will have to wait the required curing time before driving.

If you do not wait the sunroof glass can lift out of the top of your car. This is due to the reduced air pressure created from the speed of your car traveling down the road.

The same principles apply to the how a plane takes off. Your sunroof getting sucked out causes a great danger to the person driving behind you.

Windshield Replacement Time

Ask your technician how long does it take for a windshield to cure. If it is during the summer your windshield replacement time could as little as 30 minutes.

Keep in mind that this might be the minimum time. The longer you wait, the more secure and cured the windshield adhesive will be.

Take into consideration what the weather is like. Depending on how cold it is, the curing time will take longer or need special products.

Sure it’s tempting to ignore the wait time, but this can put you and others at risk. If you are in an accident before it cures, the windshield can’t protect you.

Schedule your windshield replacement today at a time convenient for you.