When To Repair Or Replace A Damaged Windscreen

Your vehicle's windscreen ensures your safety on the road. However, it's not immune to damage. Rock chips, cracks and impact damage can compromise the structural integrity of your windscreen and blur your field of vision. Thus, it is important to determine whether you should repair or replace your damaged windscreen. In this blog, we will discuss various aspects of windscreen repairs and replacement to help you choose the best course of action.

Not all damage to your windscreen is the same. There are several types of cracks and chips, each with its own unique implications and requirements. These include:

• Chip: A small piece of glass that has been knocked out by a stone or other road debris. These are usually round or semi-round in shape.
• Crack: A line of damage that can vary in length, from a small crack less than an inch long to a sprawling web that covers the entire windscreen.
• Half Moon: These are circular damages with a conical damage pattern, usually caused by a rock or other object with a round or semi-round shape.
• Star Break: This type of damage appears as a starburst pattern, with small cracks leading away from the impact point.
• Combination Break: A type of damage that includes features of multiple other kinds of damage.

Once you've identified the type of damage, several factors will help you determine whether to repair or replace your windscreen:

• Size and Depth: In general, chips larger than a 20-cent piece and cracks longer than a $10 note will typically require windscreen replacement. Smaller chips and cracks, especially those not in the driver's field of vision, can usually be repaired.
• Location: If the damage is located in the driver's line of sight, replacement might be the best option. Repair processes can sometimes cause minor distortions in the glass that could distract the driver. Damage at the edge of the windscreen can also spread quickly and weaken the windscreen's structure, making replacement a safer choice.
• Age of Damage: The longer a chip or crack goes unaddressed, the more dirt and debris will accumulate in it, making it harder to repair.

Repairing a windscreen involves injecting a special resin into the chip or crack. This resin is then cured and polished to restore the strength and clarity of the windscreen. The entire process usually takes less than an hour and can often be performed right at your home or place of work.

Windscreen replacement is more complex. After removing the old windscreen, the area around the frame should be cleaned and prepared. The new windscreen is then fitted and sealed into place. This process typically takes a few hours, and it is recommended that you wait an additional hour after the installation before driving to allow the adhesive to cure fully.

At Roadrunner Windscreens, we believe that sometimes a repair is all you need to get back on the road safely and swiftly. It often turns out to be less costly and more time-efficient than a complete windscreen replacement. That is why we prioritise repair over replacement, wherever it's a safe and reasonable course of action. Call us today to learn more!