Any damage to the windscreen caused by stone chips must not be ignored as it might worsen. But not all damage to the windscreen requires it to be replaced.
Based on the damage’s location, size, and depth, a windscreen repair is possible, mainly when the problem is attended to early enough. This applies in most cases of stone chip damage.
What is stone chips damage?
As suggested by the name, it is damage caused mainly by pebbles or stones hitting the windscreen, but other kinds of debris can also be causal. Typically, a vehicle in front or passing by can kick up stones or other small debris, which will hit the windscreen.
Mostly, the object is moving fast and too small to notice, but a sharp crack sound can be sensed as it hits the glass. If you are lucky, there may not be any serious damage. But it pays to inspect your windscreen after an incident of this sort since damage might be too tiny and invisible from the vehicle’s insides. With regard to the impact of stone chips on the windscreen, small is as much of a problem as big.
Can stone chips damage to the windscreen be repaired?
Repairing several kinds of windscreen damage, including stone chips, is possible. The factors that determine whether stone chips can be repaired are the location, depth, and size of the damage.
Based on the nature of the damage- which could be of shapes and sizes like crater, star, or bull eye-location and size of damage are key factors determining whether stone chip repairs are possible.
For instance, repair may not be possible if the stone chip damage is too big, within the CVA (Critical Vision Area) of the driver, and too close to the windscreen’s edges. Likewise, the chip or crack’s depth is another factor determining whether it is repairable. If damage has reached the glass’s second layer or laminate, it is impossible to repair the glass.
But the bad news is that most kinds of damage to the windscreen might grow or expand if ignored with changes in temperature, moisture ingress, the internal pressure of the vehicle’s cabin, and vibrations caused by its driving. Hence, what began as a 15mm chip that could have been repaired with ease may become a 120mm crack that is impossible to repair.
Other factors include the compromise of the chip with dirt and water trapped inside that causes distortion in the glass and more visible repair causing damage to the structural integrity of the vehicle. It is possible to reduce damage to the minimum and enable repair of glass by getting stone chips damage to the windscreen assessed by professionals as soon as possible.
The danger
No matter the size, stone chips are dangerous because:
- The chips can reflect light, blinding the driver briefly and distracting him from the traffic on the road.
- They result in blind spots preventing clear vision of the road ahead.
- They compromise the structural integrity of the glass, which is dangerous for occupants in the event of a collision.
How to prevent stone chip damage?
- Drive safely
Adopt the tactic of defensive driving to protect the vehicle from potential damage. How you drive determines the risk of stone chip damage to the vehicle.
Firstly, avoid driving behind large trucks and lorries since they are more likely to throw up stone chips toward your vehicle while in front or passing you by. Even while driving behind standard-sized vehicles, it is good to maintain a safe distance, like two vehicles space in front.
Drive also at a safe speed. After all, the faster you drive, the greater the damage will be when a rock collides with the windscreen glass. Avoid driving in inclement weather like storms or rain. Try to park your vehicle safe from the weather. Refer regularly to weather reports before driving anywhere.
- Invest in mud-flaps
Consider investing in mud flaps to reduce the risk of stone chip damage to the windscreen. Mud flaps protect the vehicle from all kinds of things, from mud to stone chips to dust and debris. They help protect pedestrians on the road from these as well. They add to the protection offered by the fenders of the vehicle.
- Get film for windscreen protection
Add a protector film for rock chips on the windscreen glass. Such a film is completely invisible but will contribute to the strength of the windscreen and make it more resistant to cracks and chips, even when struck by rocks.
This film is totally safe to use even when the car is taken frequently to a car wash. However, if you are finicky about this, you can get the film removed temporarily when required.
A protective layer is also useful to keep the damaged glass in place before professionals fix it. It helps prevent rock chip damage from growing worse.
In sum, though there are many things you cannot control, like rock chip damage to your car windscreen, you can use the above tips to ensure minimal damage risk. But in such damage, the best tactic is to consult auto-glass professionals at the earliest.
