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Rock Chip Glass Repair

T

TourEnvy

Hard-core CEG'er
Joined
Oct 23, 2006
Messages
2,725
Location
Las Vegas , NV
Has anyone have experience with this? I had a chip that I didnt know of and now it has "starred" due to the extreme temps here. I want to get it resolved before it gets worst. It is smaller then a dime at this point.

I originally was going to go through Safelite using insurance or possibly a side job from a neighbor. However I was told there are DIY options.

Any Ideas?
 
well i've had to replace a couple windshields over the yrs...both times i was told that the crack could not be repaired due to how big (long) they had gotten

a small star crack you may be able to have repaired, but i personally would call a repairman to come out and take a look....i dont know how easy it is to do or how well it works to diy, so i'd go that route
 
I've had several rock chips and small "star" cracks repaired by Novus. No repair is going to be undetectible, but overall I've been very satisfied, and my insurance company waived the deductible, thus not costing me a thing. I've seen the do-it-yourself repair kits, but if I can get it done professionally, for free, I'm not going to experiment on my own windshield.
 
In Massachusetts, as well as some other states, I presume, comprehensive covers glass with no deductible. If you can go that way, it's probably your best option. If they can't fill it, you can just get a whole new windshield on the house, but check your state laws / specific policy.
 
Well my insurance is a $50 deductible, it use to be $0. I dont know what changed. Thats on an entire window. Im going to get it done by a pro, it will have a warranty and I know it will be done right.

Now I have to decide If I want a whole window or just have it repaired. Im leaning towards just having it filled because I have a tint drop on it and have my A Pillar Gauges. How much work do they have to do from the inside? I would hate to have things fudged up if they put a window in for chip. It might not be worth it, ya know?
 
Whichever route you go better do it now! If not done quickly it will start to crack and then new windshield is your only option. Especially in your area, blazing heat during the day and then at night drops quickly. That temperature shock will cause it to crack faster.
 
Generally speaking, most insurance companies will waive the deductible if you have the windshield repaired. They repair guy should be able to tell you if he can repair it satisfactorily and warranty the repair, or if its too far gone for him. If you don't find the repair satisfactory, most insurance companies will go ahead and replace the windshield. But since repair is cheaper than replacement, they will obviously opt for repair whenever possible.

Replacement isn't without its hassles. I had the windshield replaced in another vehicle of mine, and it took a second visit by the installer to fix a really loud wind whistle. Since most modern windshields are glued in, rather than being held by a rubber moulding, its difficult for the installers to get the old windshield channel cleaned out thoroughly and get a perfect fit and seal on replacement glass. It never seems like a replacement part fits exactly like the factory original.
 
I do not suggest any repair kit sold on the shelves. The resins used in them are of questionable quality. Not to mention that the injectors are not much better.

Before I ever touched a windshield, I was taught what to look for and how to do this. Then when I began my own company, I spent months in junkyards working on the worst possible cracks and chips that I could to know what I was working with.

A good tech can tell you within seconds if a good repair is possible. Restoring the structural integrity of the windshirld is the very first priority in windshield repair. The second is restoring clarity to the damaged spot.

Now, with your insurance, it will be claimed against your comprehensive policy. They will generally waive your deductible and send you to the company, in your case Safelite, to schedule an appointment. You do not have to go through them to be repaired. You can find an independent in your area, pay them and send the bill to your ins company. Or, if they are on the ins network, they can call it for you at the time of repair.

But yeah, don't use the stuff in the parts store. Once the resin is in, it can not be removed. And especially if the resin doesn't flow all the way through the crack and hardens, you're screwed. Most techs will not even bother to touch it after that. And I have left several upset customers after telling them that.


Also, nail polish, super glue or anything else other than the proper resins will not stop a crack. No matter what anyone says.
 
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Thanks Boss,
Your knowledge is very helpful, I can see how inferior products could cause more bad then good. I can say that in this case I believe it can be easily repaired.

Question: How well is visibility restored? We are talking dime size on the far passenger side, but Im still curious.
 
It depends. Some repairs can come out perfect. I've even had some that when I remove my equipment and clean up the mess, I completely lose it.

However, most of the time you will see a small scar from the initial impact point. And with cracks and stars, you might see a small line where the glass is cracked.

You can clearly see all the lines now. Once the resin fills in, it will be clear but there will be a clear line.

Take a look at these pics.

The first one has lots of water in the chip.

DSCF0037.jpg


This is after the water was removed.

DSCF0039.jpg


And after the repair. Not much visible damage to it.

DSCF0042.jpg


Then another rain soaked chip.

DSCF0099.jpg


And after.

DSCF0101.jpg


If you look closely to the right of the dime, you can see the pit filler resin. Because the impact point was so big and so much glass was missing, it is easier to see it.


One other thing and this will depend on the system or resins the repair tech uses. There may be two types of resin used. A thinner type that will be used to fill in the crack and another used to fill in the actual pit left by the missing glass.
 
I owned a NOVUS Auto Glass franchise for many years and honestly they are the only ones to call if you have a rock chip.

Boss 's repairs look like he has NOVUS training or their resins and they look very good. If he is not around your area then call NOVUS and get it done correctly.

And while you are there pick up some of their NOVUS Polish #2 which does an amazing job on polishing Paint, or Plastic parts to a shinny finish.
 
Getting a professional opinion is definately recommended. I had a very tiny break from a stone on the highway... about the size shown in those pictures. Guy from Safelite came over to repair it, looked at it, and told me the crack was somehow under the glass... inside of it basically. So he had to replace the entire windshield.
 
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