Its hard to see from the photo on the left side that in addition to a common star break, there was a piece of glass about 1/8th of an inch thick by 1/2″ round, missing. It had been sheared off when the rock hit the windshield. The customer was pleasantly surprised when there repair was completed. There was almost no trace of the damage. We let the pit resin cure for a little longer than usual since the damage was deeper than usual.

Repair results can be significantly enhanced by reporting and scheduling an appointment immediately after damage has occurred. When a rock from the road hits the windshield a small piece of the top layer of glass is literally sheared off. At the same time, some of the glass directly under the point of impact is propelled inward. From that point on, as you are driving, the small opening into the middle layer of glass is collecting and compacting dirt, debris and moisture in the break. The longer you wait before having the windshield repaired, the more difficult it will be to remove what ever has accumulated in the damaged area. In short, the sooner the repair the better the result.

Above is an example of windshield damage commonly known as a star. Star breaks usually have an impact point where the rock or debris has hit the windshield. The impact causes the windshield to crack forming several legs extending outward from the center. Left untreated it is not unusual for a simple star break to crack out clear across the windshield resulting in the need for a more expensive windshield replacement. Here are three photos illustrating three phases of treating a star repair. In the first photo, you can clearly see the legs extending out from the center of the break. The center photo shows a closer look after resin has been injected into the break. The legs are already filling in this photo. Approximately 15 minutes later the third photo shows almost no sign of the original damage. The entire repair took about 25 minutes to complete, leaving the windshield as strong as it was before the damage had occurred and about 90% enhanced in appearance. The customer reported this damage to her insurance company one day after it occurred and we repaired it the very next day. The sooner damage is repaired after it has occurred, the better the results. There are several reasons why time is critical.

1. The damaged windshield may appear structurally stable but it is not. One bump or change in the weather can cause it to crack across

2. The damaged windshield is missing a piece of glass where the rock hit and moisture and debris can get into the break making it more difficult to repair.

Above is a magnified photo of a common type of rock chip. this is a combination break showing a bull’s eye and a star break. Magnification show many micro-cracks that extend out in all directions. Without magnification the damage may appear less extensive giving the impression that it does not need immediate attention. One significant bump or extreme changes in temperature can easily cause this rock chip to crack out. The “legs” extending outward are unstable and can easily spread resulting in a costly windshield replacement. If the damage is repaired soon after it occurs, the resin injected into the damage area will totally fill the break structurally restoring the windshield to pre-damage condition. The visible damaged area will be enhanced between 75 – 95%. The sooner the repair is made the better the results.

Some Windshield Damage Cannot Be Repaired

There are times when a repair is not possible and a windshield replacement is necessary. When a windshield crack runs into the seal of the windshield as in the photo above, a repair is not possible. The reason is that windshield repair requires that resin is injected into break filling the entire damaged area. When the windshield is cracked all the way to the seal any resin injected will flow to the furthest point of the break and seep out. There is no way to structurally restore the windshield in this case and a replacement is necessary. Any honest repair technician will inform the customer that they need a new windshield. Not only would an attempted repair under these conditions be unsuccessful, it is also unsafe. Remember the windshield is the first layer of protection should you be in an accident.

This is a very common type of rock chip. Notice the point of impact in the center of the damage on the left side. You can see the dark area which extends out from the damage point on each side of the bulls eye. When the windshield is damaged, air, dirt and debris are forced into the break causing it to appear darker in color. The repair process consists of alternating pressure and vacuum cycles. The vacuum cycle draws out the trapped debris, air and moisture while the pressure cycle injects resin into the damaged area eventually filling it. The “after” photo shows little trace of the original damage, leaving a small, faint gray dot at the original impact point.

Save time, Save money, Save your windshield!

Windshields are more than just glass. They’re engineered systems that play an integral part  in the aerodynamics, fuel economy, and safety of a vehicle.

Windshield damage creates a weak area in the windshield.  If not properly repaired, temperature changes or road shock could cause the damage to spread making a replacement necessary.

The repair process is quick, does not require removal of  the windshield and permanently restores the structural integrity of the windshield.

Common windshield damage can be permanently repaired in under 30 minutes and it will look great!