The automobile windshield chip repair problem with ignoring the damage is that it will grow worse with time. Replacements have their downsides as well. Besides spending up to $350, you lose the original manufacture seal. Many replacements are done incorrectly and can leak and crack. What is the alternative?
If you live where it snows, consider what ice, snow, salt, and loose gravel can do to your car. The radiator can corrode without you even knowing it, minor scratches and nicks can turn rusty, and the windshield is subjected to the extremes of interior heat and exterior cold. These factors, and others, affect your vehicle when the weather changes from winter cold to summer hot.
A lot of people are confused between repair and replacement. There are those that opt for ready home kits to repair their windshields only to find out that they could not fix the problem. In essence, simple damage such as chips or cracks that is less than 3 inches can be repaired. However, when it becomes severe, you need to have it replaced. Also, damage within the critical vision area cannot be repaired so no matter how small it is, automobile windshield chip repair is the only solution.
Do-it-yourself repairs are the cheapest option but if not done correctly, it may cost you more. If you plan to do it yourself, it is important to choose the best kits. Research or seek the advice of experts so you would not be sorry. There are two types of windshield repair kits. The first is the less expensive syringe-type. The kit includes a syringe and the resin, intended for one-time use only. It contains just enough resin to repair one chip. The second type is the more expensive bridge system that includes the resin's and a plastic bridge. This type can be used several times because it is refillable.
The hole in the adhesive disc should be pushed out and the paper backing has to be peeled off. The disc has to be centered over the area proposed to be repaired, press it on the windshield using a tab present on the disc facing upwards.
To further strengthen the windshield, the auto glass is subjected to a tempering phase. The sheet is heated to a temperature of 1565 degrees Fahrenheit or 850 degrees Celsius. It is then subjected to blasts of cold air. A piece of PVB plastic is sandwiched between two pieces of auto glass. The sandwich is heated inside an autoclave. This bonds the components together tightly and removes any trapped air.