Time for a New Windshield?: The Top Signs You Need to Replace Your Windshield

Cracks, pits, and even peeling lamination.

Are you thinking that it might be time to go for a windshield replacement?

Assessing the state of your automobile's glass can be hard enough, and some of the signs aren't as obvious as others.

For those who are on the fence, we've compiled this article to let you know exactly when it's time to make the call and get on the road to a clear, shiny new windshield.

Serious Physical Damage

You should always look over the windshield in its entirety.

There are two basic ways you should judge your windshield's damage.

Cracks, even relatively small ones, are a sure sign that you need to replace the windshield. They can spread through the laminated glass and cause a sudden failure of the windshield which makes them quite dangerous.

Indeed, it's even illegal to drive with a cracked windshield in many states.

Illinois is a bit lenient, as long as you're within Federal limits. The crack or chip must be less than 3/4" in diameter and not within 3" of another defect. And any cracks or chips must not obstruct your view.

On the other hand, the size doesn't matter at all if it directly impacts your view of the road. Driving requires split-second decisions and even a small chip or crack can cost you precious hundredths of a second when you need to make a sudden maneuver to avoid a crash.

Even if your view isn't obstructed and the crack or chip is relatively small, you may want to begin to plan for replacement in the near future.

Minor Damage

If you have damage that you think is minor, you may want to rethink how you're looking at your windshield.

Small chips and cracks can often be repaired instead of requiring a complete windshield replacement but many people skip the process.

That's a big mistake, especially when it comes to cracks. Cracks have a tendency to spread, particularly if they've gone through more than the top layer of the safety glass your windshield is made of.

They're basically a guarantee that you'll need to replace the windshield soon. Once a crack is big enough, sudden failure is a real possibility. This can be caused by driving, temperature changes, or even something as minor as closing the door of the car too hard.

Essentially, cracks weaken the whole structure of the windshield.

Chips spread less and repairs tend to take better. You may not need to replace the whole windshield just because you caught a pebble thrown by the truck in front of you for instance.

Massive Scratching

Scratching usually occurs through negligence. Wipers are a common culprit for those who are absentminded, once worn down to the steel turning them on for even a moment can cause some pretty serious scratching.

While scratches on the surface of the glass may not disrupt the integrity of the whole windshield they cause another hazard. They make it harder to see out of your windshield.

That's not only a ticket. It's also putting your life and the lives of anyone who choose to ride with you at risk. Consult a professional, while repairs are sometimes possible with minor scratches when things have gotten out of hand it's often time to go through the whole replacement process.

A Changed Feel After Winter

After particularly harsh winters, micro-fissures and other problems can occur in windshields that weren't well protected for the cold season.

You'll often notice the difference in a minor way, a changed look through the glass or a difference in texture on the outside.

When this occurs it means the windshield is damaged on a microscopic level and is going to simply get worse as time goes on. You should seek a replacement as soon as the cold season is over to avoid the problem becoming serious.

Failure of Windshield Repairs

Sometimes a chip or crack might be easily fixed and save you the cost of replacing the whole windshield for some time.

Other times the structure of the glass has been damaged too badly for repairs to stay in place for long. If repairs just won't take on your damaged windshield then you're going to need to seek out a replacement as soon as possible.

Failure of a repair can also indicate it wasn't done properly, which is often a problem with areas that have a large concentration of auto glass repair shops in one area.

The average layperson won't be able to tell the difference, unfortunately. The result is the same regardless — lessened structural integrity that's going to lead you down the road to a complete replacement of the windshield.

Upcoming Vehicular Inspection

If you have an upcoming safety inspection of your vehicle you'll need to ensure that you'll pass otherwise you may face fines and fees. Any damage on the driver's side of the windshield is a no go, as are anything that interferes with the wipers or is over 3/4" in diameter.

It's a better safe than sorry sort of situation. While some minor damage may pass it really depends on the inspector if you're a borderline case.

We recommend getting the entire windshield replaced anytime there's damage and the car is going to be under the lens of an inspector.

Get Your Windshield Replacement Done Right

Glass repair and replacement aren't as easy as they look. If your windshield is in a serious state of disrepair then it's time to take action before someone ends up getting hurt.

Our company has served the Addison, IL area for over fifteen years and one look at our online reception should be enough to convince you that we're the right people to get your windshield replacement done promptly and properly.

If you're thinking that it's about time to get a shiny new windshield or any other auto window, then it's time to contact us and see what we can do for you.