Windshields on a construction site in Phoenix often suffer unsightly chips and cracks usually from objects flying through the air and hitting the glass. Damage can be of many different types and depends on where the object strikes the glass. Some types of damage can be repaired more easily than others while other types cannot be repaired and require windshield replacement that windshield replacement companies in Phoenix provide.
Extreme changes in temperature that contract and expand the glass continuously often result in damage that affects the entire length of the glass. Heavy hailstorms can also cause damage to windshields. While hail damage might be more infrequent compared to flying debris, it tends to lead to more serious damage that is harder to repair.
Here are 9 common types of damage that windshield replacement in Phoenix can help you with:
1. Chips
Chips occur when gravel, rocks, or stones hit the windshield at high speed. This usually happens when tires of other vehicles throw debris behind them or objects are thrown across the road from vehicles passing in the opposite direction. Small rocks sometimes fall from trucks carrying loose construction material, land on the glass, and cause small chips.
It might be hard to spot this but you can be alerted by the sound of a loud pop on impact. Chips make the windshield unsafe and unstable. Fortunately, the damage can be easily repaired. However, if you fail to repair it, it could lead to a crack and you may have to replace your windshield.
2. Cracks
Cracks also occur from flying debris. If an object lands on the outer edge of the glass, a long crack is likely to form. However, if it lands in the middle, a star break will form. A star break refers to a series of cracks that branch off from the point of impact forming a star-like shape. Cracks can also be caused by driving over uneven or rough ground.
3. Bullseye
The bullseye break is named after the bullseye found on a dartboard. It is caused when a round object such as a rock hits the glass and leaves circular damage, typically with a cone in the outer layer of the glass. A bullseye is similar to a chip but larger in size. It can be repaired easily depending on size, but windshield replacement may be required if too much glass has been removed or it is too large in size.
4. Half Moon
The Half Moon is also referred to as a partial bullseye and is semi-circle in shape and also caused by a round object. The damage here is the same as that of a bullseye but it is not completely circular. Cracks rarely form from a Half Moon and it is easy to repair the damage.
5. Star Break
The star break refers to small cracks that lead away from where the object landed on the glass, thereby leaving a starburst pattern. If you fail to repair a star break without delay, it could lead to numerous long cracks spread across the windshield, which necessitate a complete replacement of your windshield by the windshield replacement companies in Phoenix.
6. Combination Break
The combination break leaves multiple types of cracks and chips in a windshield. It is a combination of star break and bullseye that often results in extensive damage. A basic windshield repair can resolve your issue if there are only a few small but not too deep breaks. If the cracks are too deep, complete replacement of your windshield may be necessary.
7. Edge Crack
The edge crack is the most common type of crack. Due to how windshields are installed and made, the outer 2 or 3 inches usually have stress defects, which leaves the area more susceptible to fractures. The edge crack starts within 2 inches of the edge of a windshield and even small cracks can extend to between 10 and 12 inches in length. Unfortunately, it is not possible to repair an edge crack and windshield replacement is usually necessary.
8. Stress Crack
A stress crack occurs without anything actually hitting the glass and are usually as a result of large variations in temperature. For example, a hot car that is suddenly chilled such as turning on the air conditioning in a car that has been sitting in the sun or a very cold car that is suddenly exposed to heat such as using hot water to take ice off. It is possible to repair a stress crack but replacement might be necessary if the entire windshield is stressed.
9. Floater Crack
The floater crack begins at the central point of the windshield. If a crack is not located within 2 inches of the windshield’s edge, it does qualify as a floater crack. This area of glass is quite vulnerable to cracks that spread and the chips and cracks in this area can obscure the driver’s vision far more than a crack located around the edges of the glass. The length and depth of the floater crack will determine whether repair or replacement is the best option.
Repair Vs Replacement: Which is the Better Option?
Windshields are structurally designed to support damage. A windshield typically has 2 glass layers surrounding a third layer of safety glass known as lamination that holds the outer layers together in case of an accident. If you are wondering whether your windshield requires repair or replacement, you need to consider 4 things: the location, depth, size, and type of damage. If you still don’t know the right approach to take, visit one of the windshield replacement companies in Phoenix.
The Bottom Line
If your windshield has suffered damage, you should check the information provided here to determine the type of damage and whether or not it is repairable. If you are unable to determine the most suitable treatment, you should visit a windshield repair/replacement company in Phoenix.
The experts you will find at the repair shop will advise you on the most appropriate, cost effective, and safe option. If replacement is the best option, windshield repair/replacement companies will do it to restore the integrity of your vehicle and assure your safety. Get in touch with a windshield replacement companies in Phoenix today to find out more.
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