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Acute Viewing Area What types of damage can be repaired?

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

Here are illustrations of small breaks that likely are repairable:





                                                  I don't think so!

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.

Star Chip

Bullseye Chip

Combination Chip

Pits (Surface Impacts) - "No Repair Needed"

We receive calls on a regular basis concerning damage (pits) like shown below. This type of damage "DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPAIRED". This is normal wear and tear, and can be as large as 1/8" in diameter. Only chips which have a black or silvery grey appearance as shown above and to the right need to be repaired. Pits will not crack out.

Notice No Black Discoloration in the pits below.

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.

Tips for a successful repair.

- Clean, dry breaks make better repairs. Cover the chip a.s.a.p. to prevent contaminants from entering in that can hamper the repair.

- Repair the damage immediately to keep it from spreading.

- Repairs cannot be performed outside in inclement weather. Also keeping the vehicle inside overnight prior to repairing is optimal.

- If it is an outside repair in cooler weather, park vehicle facing into the sun if possible to warm the glass before the technician arrives.

Bill's Chip Tips

What to do when a rock hits your windshield?

The first thing you should do is find the impact point in your windshield. Examine the spot. If the spot has a cone, a circle deep in the glass or some little legs in the damaged area that makes it look like a star, and probably you will see black, you have a ding that needs repairing. The spot will need immediate attention or it could develop into a long crack that will stretch acrosss the entire windshield and require replacement of the windshield itself.

Ding Aids

Place a small piece of clear plastic tape- approximately 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch in size-over the impact point on the exterior of the windshield. Do not place tapethat will block or obstuct your vision while driving. The tape will not prevent the damage from spreading, but will keep dirt from getting into the cracks while you await repair. Repairing a ding can cost as little as $50.00, and most insurance companies will cover the cost regardless of your deductible.

Ding Don'ts

Don't use your defroster, the rush of hot or cold air could cause the ding to crack.

Don't wash your vehicle; the water will contaminate the damaged area and could cause the crack to grow.

Don't touch the ding with your finger or any tool. You could cause the damage to spread or even contaminate it.

Don't slam your door shut. The excess pressure combined with the impact of the could cause the ding to continue to crack. Leave a window slightly open when shutting doors.

Don't dig a surface scratch in the glass over the tip of the crack. This seldom prevents a crack from running and only causes additional surface damage on the windshield that can not be repaired.

Please do not use finger nail polish, super-glue or a do it your self kit.

All this will do is plug up the very microscopic cracks coming from the point of impact where the rock hit.

This will prevent a professional tech from removing the air and completly filling the void with resin.

Keep Dings Cool

Avoid parking in the hot, direct sun. Leave a window slightly open to reduce temperatures inside the vehicle-hot windshields are weaker and tend to crack easier.