One of the questions we at McConnell Auto Glass frequently receive is “Can my windshield be repaired?” In some cases, it is possible to repair a damaged windshield, but in others, it is necessary to replace the glass altogether.
To help answer this question, our team has put together the following article to explain when windshield repair is possible and when it is not.
- Extent of Damage – The first criterion we consider when determining whether windshield repair is possible in a given case is the extent of the damage. The more minor the damage, the more likely it is that we can repair it. To put it another way, we are looking at how much of the total surface of the windshield has been damaged, and the lower the percentage, the more likely we’ll be able to repair it effectively.
- Size of Cracks, Pits, and Scratches – Another factor we consider when deciding between windshield repair and replacement is the size of the individual cracks, chips, pits, and scratches. In general, if a crack is less than three inches long and a chip is smaller than a quarter, we should be able to repair it.
- Placement of Damage – Lastly, we’ll look at where the damaged areas are. Even if the damage is minor, we might still recommend replacement instead of windshield repair if the damaged areas are in a bad spot. For example, we usually recommend replacement if a crack extends from the edge of your windshield, or if a chip is directly in the driver’s center of view.