12 Do’s and Don’ts for a Successful Windshield Repair

1. Assess the Damage:

All windshield damages are not the same. Before an ideal solution can be determined, the extent of damage will need to be evaluated in a proper manner. If the damage is assessed correctly, you can expect to restore the newness of your broken car window glass.

It is the job of a professional to determine how severe or small the damage is. Usually, a crack that is less than the size of a dollar bill can be repaired. If the crack is larger in size, the auto glass will need to be replaced with a new one. Chips are also repairable unless they are not too many. If the size of the chip is smaller than a quarter, a repair will suffice. Larger chips or multiple chips in a windshield cannot be repaired. So, the windshield will need replacement.

Therefore, verification of the extent of damage is key. Whether you need a repair or replacement can only be determined after an auto glass technician has measured and assessed the size of damage accurately.

Call now to discuss your auto glass damage.

2. Clean the Chip Area:

Before a chip can be repaired, the area of the chip requires proper cleaning. If the area of damage is not cleaned in a proper manner, the repair job will not be accurate.

Whether you use DIY technique or hire a professional to get the job done, cleaning the area of the chip is essential. Moisture or debri trapped inside the chip will ruin all the efforts of the repair. If the repair is performed while debris still remains trapped inside, you will have a cloudy spot on the windshield. A strong auto glass cleaner is available in the market for this specific job. So, make sure the area surrounding the chip is cleaned for a high-quality windshield repair.

3. Apply Windshield Resin:

Two specific methods are used to repair a chip or crack in a windshield – Windshield Patch and Windshield Resin. If the damage is small, you can get a DIY repair kit from the market to fix it. This is called the Windshield Patch method. In this method, a patch will be first cut as per the required size and then applied over the area of damage.

However, professionals employ the Windshield Resin method to repair a chip or crack in the car window glass. After the affected area has been cleaned, the windshield resin will be injected into the broken spot. The auto glass technician will then use a heating tool to heat up the resin. As a result of heating, the applied resin gets hardened and restores the strength of the auto glass. On the other hand, the DIY patch method does not restore the strength of the windshield. The film or the patch simply holds the chip or crack together so that it does not worsen.

4. Operate the Car Carefully:

Once the damage in the windshield of your car has been fixed and repaired, you should drive the vehicle carefully for the next 24 hours while the auto glass is in a sensitive state.

The first 24 hours after the damage repair are crucial. Instead of being careless, you should remain careful during this period. You will need to give the repair adequate time in order for it to become fully strong. It is highly recommended that you drive your car on even and smooth roads. If you operate the vehicle on bumpy roads post-repair, there are chances that the damage may worsen. Also, do not close the door of the vehicle with a bang to avoid rattling the glass.

5. Change Driving Routes:

After the chip or crack in your car’s auto glass has been repaired, you should take some steps to avoid similar damages in the future. One of these is to change your driving routes.

There are multiple reasons for damage to the windshield. It could be due to bad weather or a storm. Vandalism is another reason for such damage. Whatever be the case, it is always a good idea to use a different route to get around town. For example, a route that is smooth and well-lit is better. Prefer driving on those routes that are provided with sufficient shielding from bad weather.

6. Hire Professional Help:

Fixing a broken auto glass is not something that you can deal with on your own – unless of course you have experience in this area. Whether it is a repair or replacement, attention to detail is key for repairing the damage in a correct manner. Most of all, you need to know the latest techniques as well as be proficient in the use of tools of the trade to fix the problem with great precision. That is why it is best to hire the services of a professional.

Sir Auto Glass in Portland is an ideal service provider for top quality repair and new windshield installation. The company’s certified technicians have multiple years of experience in windshield repair and replacement. With the expert help of our auto glass technicians, you will be able to get the job done right the first time. You should know fully well that a poor quality repair or installation can potentially compromise your safety on the road. If you plan to get the broken windshield fixed with great precision, you should hire our proficient technicians.

Our auto glass fitter company also provides free mobile service to assist vehicle owners who are pressed for time and cannot take the vehicle to an auto glass shop. You can avail yourself of our mobile windshield replacement service in areas including Portland, Oregon City, Hillsboro and Beaverton.

7. Ignore a Cracked Windshield:

A broken windshield requires immediate attention. The windshield of a car, SUV, or van is specially designed as a key safety component. If you think that you can get the problem fixed in a day or two or the next week, you are simply compromising your road safety.

Ignoring or delaying the repair work can lead to serious problems. Even if it is a small chip or crack, you should not put off the repair. If left unrepaired, a small damage can worsen and spread across other areas of the automotive glass. Ignoring a small chip or crack may require a complete replacement. If you want to protect your road safety and save money too, you should always address the problem as fast as you can. If you can’t drive to an auto glass repair shop, you should hire a mobile auto glass repair service to get it done at your home or office.

8. Try to Fix It Yourself:

Windshield glass repair is not a job that you should try to do on your own. It requires a combination of expert skills and the use of the right tools to make sure the job is done right.

While you might feel tempted to get the repair done all on your own, the best advice is to hire an auto glass technician. Even if you get the repair done with a DIY repair kit,(link)
the job may not be done correctly. As a result of poor repair, the problem can return again or it can even get worse later. If the damage worsens, you will end up spending more money on the repairs. Professionals know the job like the back of their hands and carry out the repair right the first time.

9. Use the Wrong Repair Tools:

To repair a crack, having the right set of tools is of utmost importance. Essential tools required for a repair include sandpaper, primer, sealant, squeegee, etc. If you are doing it on your own, you will find all these tools in a DIY windshield repair kit.

An auto glass technician uses a complete set of highly effective tools to perform the repair job with great precision. They use specific tools to remove the dust and debris that may be trapped in the affected area. There are tools to inject the windshield resin as well as heat it up for curing. Before the repair work begins, it must be ensured that all the required tools are available. Don’t use the wrong tools to repair the damage, as it will only worsen and expand the damage.

10. Work on a Dirty Windshield:

The first step of the windshield repair process is to clean up the affected area. The procedure should never begin while the windshield and the chip or crack are still unclean.

If the damage is repaired without proper cleaning, the job will not be done right. Repair work done on a dirty windshield will result in reduced visibility. Cloudy vision or reduced visibility will prove to be dangerous while on the road. If the affected area lies in the line of vision, reduced visibility can lead to accidents. Therefore, never proceed with the repair unless cleanup is done.

11. Use Low-Quality Repair Materials:

Cheap windshield resin is a complete no-no for doing the repair work. Using low-quality resin will only ruin the quality of repair and the visibility will not be restored.

The problem with cheap windshield resin is that it fails to restore the strength of the auto glass after repair. In fact, cheap resin will result in the creation of bubbles in the affected area later. Also, cheap resin will become darker or fade after a couple of months. This will lead to reduced visibility. Beware of a hack job, which means the job is done in hurry with the use of cheap materials.

12. Cure the Resin Properly:

Successful windshield repair does not just involve the use of high-quality resin, but the resin also needs time to properly cure. So, don’t make the mistake of not letting the resin cure.

The windshield resin requires 15-20 minutes to properly cure. During this period, it is extremely important not to expose the windshield to high temperatures, cold or rain. If the resin doesn’t fully cure, issues will arise later. The resin might swell later due to being exposed to excessive temperature. As a result of this, the vision will become cloudy creating serious trouble. Professionals use a specific tool called UV ray lamp for curing the windshield resin.