Generally speaking, most small cracks and chips in your windshield can be easily repaired by a qualified auto glass technician. In regards to the size of the damaged area, a good rule of thumb is that if the crack or chip is smaller than the size of a dollar bill, it can most likely be repaired without requiring the windshield to be replaced.

By law, if the damaged area is within the direct line of sight of the driver, the windshield must be replaced. Also, a repair should be considered only if the damage affects the top layer of glass. If the damage has affected the PVB layer, then the windshield should be replaced, as this would cause the structural integrity of your windshield to be compromised.

6% of windshields require replacement each year in the United States, and it is important to hire a qualified auto glass service technician when the need arises. Whether needing repair or replacement, it is vital to hire a qualified professional to perform any services regarding your vehicle’s windshield. All newly manufactured vehicles are required to comply with standing FMV safety standards for auto glass before being sold in the United States. The same guidelines do not apply to replacement windshields. National Glass Association (NGA) certified technicians should provide an installation that is comparable to these standards upon request.

One example of how your vehicle’s windshield protects you in the event of an accident can be illustrated in the way the windshield is made. Every auto windshield is constructed of two sheets of glass, separated by a thin layer of polyvinyl butyrate in between. This transparent sheet of plastic is fused between the layers of glass in an adhesion process which utilizes pressure and heat to bind the layers together.

In the event of a collision, the glass may break; however, the thin layer of adhesive plastic in the middle will keep it together. This serves a dual purpose. First, the adhesive will prevent the majority of the glass from shattering and causing cuts and scratches to the occupants. Secondly, it allows the windshield to provide somewhat of a cushion to the passengers, should they strike the windshield. The polyvinyl butyrate is flexible, reducing the amount of force exerted to the occupants upon impact with the windshield. This is why windshields are constructed from glass the way that they are, rather than being constructed from plastic. Plastic does not provide the same amount of flexibility and cushion during an accident.

Seatbelts, airbags and impact absorbing materials found in and on your vehicle, including the windshield, are all part of a safety network, commonly referred to as the vehicle’s Safety Restraint System, or SRS. All the individual components of the Safety Restraint System are dependent on each other, so if there is a compromise in just one aspect of the SRS, it will likely lead to a complete failure of the rest of the system.

It is well known that seatbelts and airbags are dependent upon one another in order to provide full support in the event of an accident. Additionally, most of your vehicle’s safety features are also dependent upon the windshield. For example, the windshield provides support for your vehicle’s airbags (the passenger airbag in particular). Without this support, the airbag would be incapable of being fully deployed and any protection the airbag was meant to provide would be compromised. Alternatively, the windshield plays a major role in the structural integrity of your vehicles passenger compartment, especially in the event of a rollover. If the windshield is unstable, it may very well fail in the event of a rollover accident, causing the passenger compartment to fall in on itself, putting the vehicle’s occupants at extreme risk of injury or death.

13-14 million windshields are replaced annually in the United States, most commonly caused by flying debris, vandalism, and collisions. It is important to realize that windshield replacement is a complicated, challenging process that should only be performed by properly trained professionals.

Replaced windshields must be perfectly positioned and installed as to not compromise the integrity of the vehicle’s cab. The windshield provides essential support to the passenger compartment in the event of an accident, especially in rollovers. Think of the windshield as the keystone of an arch.

Modern windshields can contain many features including heating mechanisms, sensors, tints, coatings, and radio antennas. They may even contain more sophisticated features including heads-up-displays (HUD) and satellite uplinks. With these kinds of features, it is not hard to understand why windshields can be expensive. This is also why windshield repair is a common solution to cracked, scratched, and damaged windshields.

During a windshield repair, the technician uses a specially formulated resin, injecting it into the damaged area of the glass. The resin is then cured, restoring the windshield’s integrity, and polished to restore the clarity of the glass. If the windshield has become damaged to the point where the PVB layer is compromised, repair should not be considered and complete replacement is required.

Windshields are constructed from laminated glass. This laminated glass is composed of two or more layers of glass, with a thin plastic sheet in between. This transparent sheet of plastic is actually called polyvinyl butyrate, or PVB, and is fused between the layers of glass in an adhesion process which utilizes pressure and heat to bind the layers together.

The PVB film keeps the glass from shattering in the event of an accident. On impact, most of the glass is kept from entering the vehicle’s cabin, and can even act as a retainer to keep objects, including you, inside the vehicle.

When having your windshield repaired or replaced, always use the services of a reputable and competent auto glass service technician. Replacing a windshield is actually a very exact science and is not as simple of a service as you may have first considered. Proper installation of your vehicle’s windshield is crucial to the performance of your vehicle’s safety systems and is the best way to ensure your vehicle is as safe as it can be.

When having your windshield replaced, there are a few things you can look at to help ensure a quality installation. During the installation, make sure that you service technician is using protective gloves while handling the windshield at all times. This prevents oils and dirt from contaminating the bonded surfaces of the windshield. Similarly, the technician should thoroughly clean and prime the windshield and the application area before installation.

Be sure the windshield is perfectly centered on the vehicle. A misplaced windshield will not provide a structurally sound passenger compartment in the event of a collision or rollover. Also inspect the weather stripping to ensure it fits tightly against the vehicle’s body with no bumps, waves, or gaps. If the replacement windshield on your vehicle is not completely bonded to the vehicle, the windshield may become detached in the event of an accident, leading to even greater chance of serious injury or death.

A qualified auto glass service specialist will be able to clearly make known whether your windshield needs to be replaced or repaired. In general, a windshield should only be repaired if the damage is not too extensive or if distortion will not result from the repair.

Most importantly, if the windshield’s inner layer of polyvinyl butyrate has been affected in any way, the windshield should be completely replaced. This adhesive layer is the most important aspect of any vehicle’s windshield, and is what keeps the windshield from shattering into many pieces when impacted.