Many types of stone damage can be successfully repaired. Whether the windshield can be repaired always depends upon four factors: the size, type, depth, and location of the damage.
Size and Depth
Repair of cracks up to 24 in is within permissible limits, Auto glass with more severe damage needs to be replaced.
Type
Circular Bullseyes, linear cracks, crack chips, dings, pits, and star-shaped breaks can be repaired without removing the glass, eliminating the risk of leaking or bonding problems sometimes associated with replacement.
Location
If the damage is in the driver’s line of sight or very near the windshield’s edge, usually it cannot be repaired.
Some damages are very difficult to repair, or cannot be repaired:
- on inside of the windshield
- deep damage on both layers of glass
- damage over rain sensor or internal radio antenna
- damages that reach into the driver’s critical viewing area
- complex multiple cracks
- very long cracks (i.e. over 18 – 24 inches long)
- contaminated cracks
- edge cracks and chips
In cracked windshield repair, air is removed from the damaged area on the windshield with a specified vacuum injection pump. Then using the injection pump, clear adhesive resin is injected to replace the air in the windshield crack. The resin is then cured with an ultraviolet light. When done properly, the damaged area’s strength is restored, as is 90–95% of the clarity. Auto glass chip repair usually take about 15–20 minutes.