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Repairing vs. Replacing Glass in Your Car

It is common for the windshield on your car to get cracked or chipped. This is typically caused by flying debris, such as small pebbles, that hit your vehicle while you’re driving. As tempting as it may be to delay repairing your glass, it is essential to address it immediately. A single small crack or chip can quickly turn into many cracks or become larger. It’s important to have them inspected as soon as possible if you hope to repair (rather than replace) your windshield. A car’s windshield is actually different than the glass on your side windows, and can oftentimes be repaired while window glass may need to be replaced.

The Windshield

Windshields are typically made up of two glass pieces bonded together by a special laminate. This means that if a pebble chips your windshield while driving, seeking auto glass repair will usually be enough. Unless the crack becomes too large an auto glass expert can use special tools to repair the glass rather than a full replacement.

Repairing a windshield is significantly cheaper than replacing it; however, it becomes more difficult to repair a windshield as more time passes between the damage and repair. Auto repair shops are more likely to successfully fix a crack and make it unnoticeable if the damage occurred within a week. As more time passes, the chip or crack could grow and dirt build up can make a repair more difficult. If a trusted technician tells you to replace your windshield because the crack is too large or passes through both pieces of glass, then you should take their advice.

Other Glass Items

While windshields genuinely offer you a choice of repairing or replacing them, the majority of other glass components on your car will just need to be replaced, including side windows. These windows are all made from tempered glass, and, unfortunately, that means that even a small amount of damage will ruin the entire window.

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