Scratches, Cracks and Chips: Can this Windscreen be Saved?

Scratches, Cracks and Chips: Can this Windscreen be Saved?

So there you are, driving down the highway, minding your own business, when “Bam!” — a rock kicked up by the vehicle in front of you hits your windscreen.


The sharp and sudden noise leaves you disoriented at first, wondering what happened. Then you see it: the dime-sized chip right in the middle of your otherwise perfectly clear windshield. Can you repair the chip? Should you replace the entire windshield? Is the windshield still structurally safe?

We’re here to answer these questions and more. Here’s a quick guide to windshield scratches, cracks, and chips and when you can repair versus replace your windshield.

Is It a Scratch, Crack, or Chip?
Today, most windshields are made of laminated safety glass. This kind of glass is actually two sheets of glass with a plastic laminate sandwiched in the middle. Unlike the windows in your house, windshields are engineered to withstand substantial stress and impact (like a car crash). This is why your home’s windows will shatter when hit with a rock, while your windshield will usually only chip or crack.

Windshield damage generally fits into one of three categories: scratches, chips, or cracks. The main difference between scratches, chips, and cracks is the depth of damage done to the glass.

Scratches
Scratches are usually shallow and affect just the outer layer of the glass. They are often caused by windshield wiper blades that haven’t been replaced. (When the rubber on the windshield wiper wears off, the metal windshield wiper will scrape against the windshield glass, causing a scratch that deepens over time.)

While scratches don’t affect the structural integrity of the windshield, they can be unsightly and can also reflect light from the sun or headlights from oncoming traffic in a way that impairs your vision. This is a safety issue—and for this reason, we recommend repairing your windshield.

Cracks
Cracks are similar to scratches but more severe. They generally penetrate at least the outer layer of glass in the windshield, and they can appear anywhere on your windshield—from the edge to smack in the middle. Cracks can be caused by flying debris, a collision, or even extreme temperature changes!

Cracks—because they are more serious than scratches—should be dealt with right away. That’s because cracks can spread quickly, soon obscuring your vision and compromising the integrity of your windshield.

Chips

Chips are when tiny pieces of glass “flake off” from your windscreen. This type of damage almost always happens after a small piece of debris (like gravel) hits your windscreen. Chips come in all shapes and sizes: they can be tiny, or they can be huge and with cracks radiating outward.
Scratches, Cracks and Chips: Can this Windscreen be Saved?
Scratches, Cracks and Chips: Can this Windscreen be Saved?

A chip might seem like no big deal, but don’t put off repairing it: a chipped windscreen is a damaged one, meaning that it is more vulnerable to cracks.

Should You Repair or Replace Your Windscreen?
Your windscreen is actually one of the most important safety features of your car: not only does it protect you from dirt and debris while driving, but it also provides 60 percent of the structural integrity of your car. What does this mean if your windshield is damaged? Your car won’t hold together normally in the case of an accident, which is incredibly dangerous!

It makes sense to get your windshield repaired or replaced as soon as you can. But which is appropriate? There are a few factors that affect your options.

How deep is the damage?
The extra sheet of glass and laminate create options for repairing cracks and chips—but only if just the outer glass is damaged.

The easiest way to figure this out is to gently scrape the surface of the scratch, crack, or chip from both sides of the windshield. If you can feel the damage from the inside, that means it is deep enough to affect the windshield all the way through. In this case, replacement is the only option for ensuring normal windshield safety and protection. If you can’t feel the damage from the inside of the windshield, you might be able to repair it.

What kind of damage is there?
Scratches and chips are the most common types of windshield damage. Luckily, they’re also the easiest windshield issues to fix. Scratches are usually shallow, and chips are generally small. If you catch them soon enough, they won’t result in spreading cracks across your windshield. As long as the damage is to the outer glass only, the filling compound will repair the chip so well that you’ll barely be able to see where the repair was made.

How big is the damage?
Small chips and short cracks are often a simple fix. Even those cracks that radiate from a chip in a spider web or bull’s eye pattern can be fixed, especially when they are small. Most of the time, cracks can be repaired with a filler compound.

For more extensive damage, however, the better option will likely be the replacement. If your windshield has multiple chips or very long cracks, there is more concern that your windshield will fail during an accident. To keep you and your passengers safe, you’ll want to replace your windshield.

In short: T
he smaller the damage, the more likely it is that your windshield can be repaired. (That’s why we encourage drivers to get their windshields repaired as soon as they see a chip or crack: it could save their windshield!)

Where is the damage located?
It’s not just the depth and size of the damage that matters; the location matters, too.

Cracks that reach the edge of your windshield are more difficult to repair. (That’s because the weakest part of the windshield is the edge.) Also, damage located directly in your field of vision is a safety hazard. In these cases, you might want to consider replacement over repair.

Talk to the Experts
The best way to determine whether your windshield needs repair or replacement is to talk to the professionals. Ask your local glass expert about the best remedy for your windshield scratch, chip, or crack.

The good news is that, in most cases, your windshield can be saved.

For all of your auto glass needs, Solana Windscreens offers superior repair and replacement. We’ll work with your insurer to cover any and all approved costs per your policy. Ask about convenient, on-site mobile windshield repair, too.


Call Us Today
Solana Windscreens has excelled in glass repair, replacement and design for more than 65 years. Solana Windscreens provides repair and replacement for auto glass and custom solutions shower and tub enclosures and many other residential glass items. 

We also do custom glasswork for businesses, and proudly serve Harare and locations that surround.

Call us today!
We Guarantee All Our Workmanship.

Satisfaction Guaranteed.

Operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year we repair or replace any piece of glass on any make or model of vehicle. Furthermore, you can relax in the knowledge that we guarantee all our workmanship, for as long as you own the vehicle.

Car Brands We Cater For.

Cars We Service:

With so many makes and models out there, you might be wondering if we service your car for windscreen repairs and replacements.
At Solana Windscreens we provide a mobile service for any vehicle, fixing and replacing your windscreen or window so you can get back out on the road again.
Take a look at the range of manufacturers we cater for, and if you don’t see your vehicle listed, just get in touch and speak to us – we source specialist glass for cars both old and new.

Toyota

We Replace Toyota Windscreens

Honda

We Replace Honda Windscreens

Mazda

We Replace Mazda Windscreens

BMW

We Replace BMW Windscreens

Hyndai

We Replace Hyndai Windscreens

VW

We Replace VW Windscreens

Nissan

We Replace Nissan Windscreens

Benz

We Replace Benz Windscreens

We Keep Your Business Moving!

Our 24/7 Services

We know how much a broken windscreen can disrupt your business, which is why we are dedicated to providing an efficient and quality service to all our customers across Harare and Zimbabwe. Our 24/7 service means we can reach your location quickly after your call and will use the most recent technology to carry out Komatsu windscreen repairs and replacements. So if you are in need of emergency windscreen repair, give us a call today and a member of our team can send out an experienced technician to fix your windscreen in no time. For more information on our services, please get in touch with us today.

Keeping your business moving!

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Combined with our passion, we work relentlessly to give drivers reassurance and a great service when they have chipped, cracked or smashed glass.

We are a leading automotive glass repair and replacement company in Zimbabwe. You can visit our local Solana Windscreens fitting hub or if you prefer, one of our mobile technicians will come to a place that suits you.

All repairs and replacements performed by us come with a lifetime workmanship guarantee whilst you own the vehicle for your peace of mind.

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