What do you do following an impact on your windshield ?

Having your windshield damaged is always a frustrating experience. The fact is your windshield is an important component of your vehicle.  First, it protects you from dirt, rain or road debris. Second, it is designed to provide you the clearest view possible of the road ahead so that you can see other vehicles, pedestrians and a variety of obstacles that could get in your way unexpectedly. Third, it ensures the structural strength of your vehicle.  So it is essential that you consult with a glass repair technician for a damage assessment as soon as it is struck by an object lifted off the road by the tire of another vehicle, for instance. This assessment will determine if your windshield can be repaired or if it will need to be replaced. See below on how to deal with a damaged windshield:   

The windshield: Why is it so important?

A vehicle windshield is essential to ensure the safety of its passengers. In fact, most people are surprised to learn that windshield design minimizes the risk of injury to passengers in the event of an accident. One example among others, the deployed vehicle air bags use the windshield as a support to better restrain passengers inside the car. So the windshield actually assists the air bag to lower the impact in the event of a collision; it also provides roof crush protection should the vehicle overturn.  

Repair or Replace your Windshield Without Delay

A damaged windshield must be repaired or replaced without delay since a minor chip can easily grow into a large crack due to motion-related vibrations or a thermal shock (when the glass is subjected to sudden temperature changes due to the vehicle’s air conditioning or heating unit.)  Once glass resistance is already compromised by an initial impact, any additional stress can cause the entire windshield to crack. So always have your windshield repaired or replaced as soon as possible by trained experts, as they have the specialized tools and the experience to carry out the work flawlessly.

Ensuring your Windshield Is In Good Condition Is a Legal Obligation

In Quebec ensuring that your windshield is in good condition is a legal obligation under the Highway Safety Code. You are subject to a fine ranging between $90 to $175 should your windshield fail to be compliant with the regulations in force. Always check with your insurance company to see if they cover windshield damages. Our certified Point-S windshield repair team actually handles the filing of such a claim for you, thus freeing you from having to deal with this formality.

What are the Criteria that Determine when a Damaged Windshield Can Be Repaired Instead of Replaced?

Generally speaking a crack must be less than a dollar coin (2.5 cm) in diameter and must not be squarely in the driver’s line of sight, i.e.  in front of the steering wheel. The windshield must also have only one crack and it must not have grown closer than 4 cm from the windshield edge.

How Do Our Technicians Repair a Windshield?

To repair a windshield a technician usually injects a transparent resin in the crack to fill in the entire damaged area and ensure no air is trapped inside. He then bakes the resin with a UV ray. When the resin cools, the windshield is practically new and the repair is hardly visible. The windshield has been returned to its original strength.

In most instances, a windshield repair can be completed in as little as 10 to 15 minutes, but the drying of the resin will take an additional 45 minutes following its application. A full windshield replacement can require up to two hours.  A windshield recalibration will take 30 minutes to ensure the optimal performance of your advanced driver’s assistance systems.

For cracks across the entire glass surface, or when the damage is in front of the steering wheel, or too close to the windshield edge, a replacement becomes necessary. The technicians will take into account the model, the year and other specifications of your vehicle, (tinted window, tinted strip, etc) to proceed with the replacement. The take away message here is that it is essential to never delay a repair, since one more impact can cause the entire windshield to crack and cease to offer optimal protection. Never jeopardize your safety on the road.

Tips to Minimize Glass Damage Costs

• Check your windshield daily. Upon finding a chip or a crack, take immediate action to avoid any expansion of the glass damage.  Your garage mechanic will assess if a repair is possible or if the windshield needs to be replaced. Take note that windshield damage is typically discovered in the fall when the vehicle’s heating system stresses the integrity of the glass.
• Keep a safe distance between you and other vehicles ahead on the road to decrease the risk of having a rock or other debris kicked up and strike your windshield.

You now know how to deal with windshield damage. Whether your windshield can be repaired or needs to be replaced, don’t put off for several weeks or several days contacting an expert. Take immediate action. You are not sure that the Point-S dealer the nearest your home does windshield repairs or replacements? All Point-S garages are easily found on our web site. Check their respective Dealer Profile pages. We wish you a safe journey. And don’t forget to look after your windshield at all times.