Typically, small breaks in the non-acute area (see illustration) can be

repaired.

 Here are illustrations of small breaks that likely are repairable:Acute Viewing Area
 

 

Impact Point/Separation Bullseye Star Half Moon Combination


Only laminated safety glass can be repaired; tempered glass cannot.

Repair is particularly effective in restoring bulls-eye, combination, star break,

and edge cracks depicted below.


Bullseye Break

 


Combination Break



Star Break

 

close-up of a rock chipped windshield

                                       

  

 
 

                                                  I don't think so!

 

hail damage

 

When a stone or rock strikes your windshield it sometimes creates an air pocket in the outer layer of glass.  (A windshield is made up of 2 layers of glass with a sheet of poly vinyl brutal between them, known as safety laminated glass.)  The distortion from the chip is caused by light waves being bent (refracted) as they pass through the air pocket.  In simple terms windshield repair is filling the air pocket with a bonding agent.  Once repaired the structural integrity of your windshield will be restored.  In the event that the vehicle is involved in an accident the windshield will perform as designed.  Your car, suv or truck's appearance will be greatly improved as most repairs should be next to invisible. Rock chip damages are like  snow flakes........there have never two identical rock chips or snow flakes!

 

Chips that can be covered with a silver

dollar on the outside layer of the

windshield can usually be repaired.

Types or terms:

  • Bullseye: Damage that forms a complete circular shape with an impact point.
  • Combination: A bullseye or partial bullseye with a crack or star.
  • Crack Chip: A single crack that can be covered with a quarter with a impact point.
  • Ding: Term used by the general public to describe a chip.
  • Partial Bullseye: Similar to a bullseye, but with a portion not damaged so as a complete circle is not formed.
  • Pit: An area where a small piece of glass is missing. On a chip the point of impact, or by itself  without a chip requiring no repair.
  • Star: More than 2 cracks extending from a central point.

Damage that can not be repaired:

  • Damage on the inside of the windshield.
  • Damage that involves both layers of glass.
  • Damage to a heated windsield or over a heated wiper rest area. In either case where the repair chemical will come in contact with the heating element.
  • Damage over an internal radio antenna.
  • Damage over a rain sensor.
  • Damage larger than an 1 1/4", (some exceptions apply on motor home windshields.)
  • Damage with a pit larger than 1/4", (diameter of an eraser on the end of a pencil.)
  • Damage with pit depth to the center laminate.
  • Bulletproof windshields.
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
     

Waiting to repair your windshield may rob you of the opportunity to repair as damage can crack out at anytime.  Each time the vehicle is washed or exposed to rain, it gets filled with water. While it will dry out the water whatever was in the water will remain in the chip. This is nearly the same as repeatedly filling a drinking glass with water and letting it air dry; eventually it will look dirty. The difference is, water from the road could contain almost anything.