Here’s What You Need to Know About Auto Glass Repair vs. Replacement

When you drive in your car, glass chipping and cracks become almost unavoidable. It doesn’t matter if you were involved in an auto crash or dirt hit your vehicle while on the road. Here are things you need to know about auto glass repair and replacement if your car’s glass cracks. 

How Is Auto Glass Different from Other Glass?

Auto glass is a multipurpose part of the vehicle. It provides a clear view, seals the cabin, withstands impacts and vibration, and, most importantly, mitigates the chances of injury in an auto crash. All cars built over the past 60 years have laminated glass windshields and rear mirrors. The laminated glass is formed by bonding two glass sheets together with an inner layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) plastic which acts as a shock absorber.

Automakers use tempered glass for most rear windows and the side windows of vehicles. This glass is made through heating and quenching with jets of air. It results in the center of the glass cooling faster than the outer edge building internal tension.

How Does Auto Glass Repair Work?

You can use resin to fill cracks and chips in laminated glass. However, you have to remove dirt from the area to prepare an even surface, after which you’ll use a pressurized nozzle to force the resin into the crack to fill the holes/gaps. You must apply and blend this plastic differently depending on the temperature and humidity, just like automotive paint.

When Do You Need to Repair an Auto Glass or Replace It?

The tempered glass needs urgent replacement because damage interrupts the pane’s inner tension. Although you can repair laminated glass, it has its repair limits. According to the National Windshield Repair Association, here is a limit for repairable damage:

• A “bullseye” not more than 1 inch
• Cracks not more than 14 inches
• A “star break” no larger than 3 inches 
• Surface pits with the least diameter of 1/8 inch

However, there are certain cases where cracks or chips in auto glass can be unrepairable due to its placement:

• When resin from a previous repair detaches from the screen, you cannot refill it.
• Cracks closer to or over the edge of the windshield reduce its strength even if repaired.
• Damages directly in the driver’s view result in obstruction of view.

Spectrum Collison in Irvine, CA, is the right place to visit if you want the best chance of getting reliable auto glass repair. We have I-CAR-certified technicians with in-depth knowledge and experience in using the latest equipment and techniques to repair and replace your auto glass in our auto body shop in Irvine. Visit our vehicle repair center today and experience our first-class full auto body service.