Any of these stone chips can be repaired. Beyond looking for these types of common chips, it is important to take into consideration the size of the damage. If the damage cannot be covered by a half dollar, the chip is too large to be repaired. Another important piece of information to consider is the acute area. The acute area is the area of the automobile windshield chip repair directly in the drivers line of vision. It is the same size as a piece of paper being held horizontally in front of the driver. In this area, the National Glass Association does not recommend a repair being done unless it is no greater than .95 of an inch. An easier way to imagine this is that a quarter should be able to cover the entire area of damage in the acute area.
First things first the chip should be repaired before it gets filled with grit. To do this, the chip needs to be drilled while the cracks in it get vacuumed. An acrylic or crystalene resin is then inserted via syringe into the chip to restore the air trapped in the crack. Afterwards it is dried with UV light which hardens the substance and reinstates the original state of the glass. Acrylic resin is made up of carcinogenic acid which turns the chips yellow over time. Crystalene resin has better clarity and doesn't change color over time. It's available at ultra-low consistency and high consistency. Extra resin is scraped away and then polished for a finishing touch. This kind of treatment usually runs about $45-$100.
The main question when you are seeking to fix a cracked windshield is whether to replace or repair the glass. Most auto glass shops will opt to repair a crack or chip, as long as it is not directly in front of the driver. They will use a clear resin that is dropped onto the crack and then fixed with an ultra-violet light. The clear resin will then cure and the crack will no longer be visible to the human eye. Most cracks or chips can be effectively fixed in this manner. This method can fix small cracks as well as larger spiderweb style cracks. If an actual hole is formed in the windshield or the crack has traveled too far, your best bet is fix auto glass.
Use your defroster on high. Extremes in temperature are never a good thing for a cracked or damaged windshield. If you live in an area where you are required to use your defroster regularly, gently warm up the car over a period of time. It's also best to find a mobile windshield repair company that can do your repairs as soon as possible.
Still no big deal? In some states it's illegal to drive with a crack in the windshield that is in the driver's line of sight. In other states it's illegal to drive with a cracked windshield at all. I'd call that a big deal.
While there are many things that can go without fixing for a while these are just a few of the issues that should be addressed as soon as they arise. This type of automobile repair is crucial to keep vital systems running. So remember you may be able to make a couple hundred more miles with those worn out windshield wipers but when your tread runs low, or your windshield gets dinged get it to a mechanic right away.