Often, South Africa’s motorists will delay repairing chips or cracks in their car’s windscreen, assuming they do not compromise safety, or that it would be too expensive to repair or replace.
Once the small chip becomes a crack and makes its way further across the windscreen, motorists can no longer ignore the issue.
Dewald Ranft, Chairman of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), told Arrive Alive that when cars go for a service, they get a bumper-to-bumper check, and problematic chips tend to be identified.
He went on to explain that windscreens are typically made up of two layers of glass, with an inner layer of safety film between them, which holds together the broken outer layers in the event of a crash.
This is also why windscreens crack when struck, but don’t fall apart or cave in on the driver, in most circumstances.
When determining whether to repair or replace your car’s damaged windscreen, Ranft notes that it is important to note that your windscreen is your protective shield in an accident.
“A crack or chip compromises the efficiency of a windscreen. Cracks can be repaired safely, but there are certain rules,” he said.
“You shouldn’t repair your windscreen if there are more than 3 cracks in totality and this includes past chips; the chip should not be too close to the edge of the windscreen, and they shouldn’t be in the A zone, which is the area in front of the driver’s side.”
He further notes that vehicle technology is highly advanced, including the windshield, which can be equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that help drivers prevent and mitigate serious accidents.
“Cars with this technology will require special windscreens that need to be recalibrated during the replacement process. In general, however, most chips and cracks can be repaired,” he noted.
Knowing when to replace your car’s windscreen
Ranft explained that four factors are used to assess damage, including the size, type, depth, and location of the damage.
“This assessment needs to be done by a qualified auto glass repair technician who can then decide whether the windscreen is repairable,” he said.
Workshops and vehicle glass fitment centres that specialise in windscreen repairs should be able to repair chips of about 2.5cm in diameter and cracks about 7cm long.
Most cracks longer than this won’t be repaired and would necessitate a complete replacement; however, newer technology has made it possible to repair wider chips and longer cracks.
Taking note of the type of crack is also important, as there are different types, with some possible to be repaired and others not.
“In general, chips and cracks that can be covered with an R2 coin can usually be repaired,” said Ranft.
That being said, even good repairs may leave behind discolouration, mistiness or unevenness, making the location of the damage important during consideration.
“If the damage is in the driver’s line of sight, a repair could distract the driver,” explained Ranft.
“Also, any chip or crack that is at or very near the windscreen’s edge where it meets the metal frame weakens the windscreen and compromises passenger safety.”
Repairing a crack takes around 30 to 40 minutes to repair, while windscreen replacement is done within a few hours.
“Depending on how busy the workshop or vehicle glass fitment centre is, you may need to book your car in for the day, or if it is already in for a service, allow for some extra time,” Ranft explained.
The key to dealing with a chip or crack is to do so as soon as possible, so speaking to your insurer soon after damage occurs is crucial.
“Cracks lengthen before you know it. This is exacerbated by sudden changes in internal and external temperature, such as when a vehicle’s heater is switched on during a cold winter period,” noted Ranft.
“Another common mistake drivers who leave their cars outside in winter make is pouring hot water over the windscreen in the morning to melt any frost. This is sure to lengthen an existing crack.”
He added that dust tends to settle inside chips, which can cause further damage and make repairs difficult.
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