It’s important not to let a chipped or cracked windshield go for too long. A chip can become much larger meaning replacement instead of a simple repair. A large crack can even impair your view of the road and surroundings. While it may be an inconvenience to schedule these repairs, your windshield plays a vital role in keeping you and your passengers safe in the event of a collision.
With so much riding on your windshield, this is one fix you shouldn’t put off. But how long will a windshield repair or replacement take? Let’s take a look…
Replacing Your Windshield
There are several factors that go into the decision to replace your windshield rather than repair it. If any of the following are true, a full replacement will be advised:
- The chip or crack is old and can’t be repaired
- There are more than three chips or cracks
- The chip or crack is at the edge of the windshield where it can reduce vehicle safety
- The chip is bigger than a quarter, or the crack is longer than a dollar bill
If you need a windshield replacement, the technician can let you know ahead of time that it is required and why. They will also help to determine the time it will take to go through the whole process from prep work to finish.
What kind of vehicle do you have?
It used to be that a windshield was a windshield and the year, make, and model of your vehicle didn’t have much to do with it other than making sure you had to right one. Newer cars, however, often have sensors and other features. This can lengthen the time it will take to replace the windshield since all of these features need to be connected or calibrated to the new windshield. Some windshield replacements also need more prep work. The technician will let you know what needs to be done.
What are the environmental factors?
Both the temperature and the humidity will impact how long it takes to go from chipped or cracked windshield back to the driver’s seat. This is because the urethane adhesive used to keep the glass in place is highly sensitive to environmental changes. Most often, the replacement itself won’t be the longest part of the job. The technician will let you know how long you should wait before driving the vehicle again.
Do you have to wait at the shop?
If you bring your vehicle into the shop, you don’t need to wait there for the replacement to be completed. While you won’t be able to take your car, you can have someone else drive with you so you can head out in their car, avoiding a lengthy wait at the shop. Some shops will even come to you, however. If you are at work, at the park, or even at home, mobile windshield repair can make this inconvenience more convenient. Then you can relax wherever you happen to be while a technician gets to work on the replacement.
Repairing Your Windshield
If the chip or crack in your windshield can be repaired instead of the whole windshield needing replacement, it not only saves money but also time. Chip repairs don’t take long at all compared to a replacement so this is a much more convenient for those who are short on time.
What are the environmental factors?
The resin that is used to fill in small chips or cracks in your windshield is impacted by the temperature. This means that a repair during summer won’t take as long as a repair during the winter. This is because the heat helps the resin to flow more smoothly into all the jagged edges. The sun is used to cure the resin through UV rays. However, to complete the repair faster, the technician may use a UV light to cure it.
How complex is the repair?
There are several factors that go into a repair of your auto glass, determining how long it will take. If the repair is small, with very few jagged edges that need to be prepped and filled, it may take as little as 10 or 15 minutes. If the chip or crack is larger, but not large enough to warrant a windshield replacement, the repair can take up to an hour, with all factors taken into consideration. The prep work includes cleaning the inside and outside of the windshield and this must be factored in as well.
What will the technician do during the repair?
You will most likely see your windshield repair technician using both a drill and the resin he will use to fill it. The drill is used to clean up the area inside and around the chip or crack. This allows the resin to bond more solidly with the auto glass. Based on the weather and the repair to be made, the technician can give you an estimate of how long it will take to complete.
Do You Need Your Windshield Replaced or Repaired?
You most likely still have questions about windshield repair or replacement and speaking to a technician may be your best bet. If you don’t know whether you need a repair or a replacement, give All Star Glass a call. After determining which is necessary, you can make an appointment to come in to the shop or have a mobile technician come to your location. That technician can give you more information on just how long it will take and what will make it take that long. Don’t put off repairing or replacing your windshield any longer, now that you know what will go into the job and you know it won’t take very long to make your vehicle safe again.
