When you think of car trouble and maintenance, you probably think of the big things that affect its functionality. Things like your tires, engine, fuel injector, lights, and other things that it simply can’t run without.
This is a decent way to go about it, but it’s also the reason so many people drive around with damaged windshields that produce major safety risks.
Today, we’d like to go over how to get your windscreen replaced in a couple of ways, and then we’ll cover when you need to do it. Don’t neglect this vital part of your vehicle.
How to Get Your Windscreen Replaced
Getting your windscreen replaced isn’t really something you can sit down and do at home.
Much like shock absorber replacement, it requires specialized equipment to move the windscreen around and work with its seal properly. Plus being glass it is very easy to crack or damage the new windscreen.
That leaves you with two main ways to get your windscreen replaced, and they both involve calling a professional.
Getting it Replaced at a Shop:
Obviously, you can set an appointment and take your vehicle to a proper shop. They’ll have the tools and expertise necessary to ensure they get this complicated part of your car installed properly.
However, a shop can take a while to get the job done, and that leaves you without a way to work, the grocery store, or any other place you might need to go.
Depending on whether it’s completely ruined or lightly damaged, you might even have to have it towed or set an appointment to have the work done. Either way, that’s more money out of your pocket and more time spent without a car.
Calling a Roadside Windscreen Professional:
There is an alternative to the inefficient mechanic shop route. You can call a roadside windshield repair technician.
Don’t let the name fool you. This type of service is for much more than just roadside emergencies. You can also set appointments for them to come to your home on the same day you call, and they can perform repairs in the comfort of your driveway.
These services can be looked at as on-call windscreen professionals. When you need them, they show up within about an hour, perform the repair on-site, and get you back on the road.
They can also be used for things other than totally shattered windshields. If you have a concerning crack you want to be repaired before it grows and becomes a bigger problem, you can set an appointment and have that performed on the spot, too.
Obviously, windscreen repair services aren’t going to fix your blown tire or work on your transmission, but when it comes to windscreens, you can see they’re obviously the most desirable choice.
When to Get Your Windscreen Replaced
A windscreen replacement isn’t exactly cheap. It’s based on the make and model of your car, the availability of windscreens that match your car, and of course, the service you call. It’s safe to say you can expect to pay a few hundred dollars at least for a full replacement, though.
Luckily, some car insurance policies will cover windscreen replacements in certain instances, and you can also save money by preventing the need for a replacement by having minor problems promptly repaired. First, we’ll look at when you should get the windshield repaired, and then we’ll get into replacements.
When a Repair is Necessary:
A repair is possible on many of the common issues a windscreen faces. Let’s take a look at a few of the times you’ll need to get it repaired.
Embedded Objects:
Windscreens frequently have objects such as rocks and road debris flung at them. That debris can lodge itself in your windscreen and create a small pit with minor cracking around it. Well, that is, if the object is small. If it’s a large object, you have a very different problem.
These small embedded objects can create bigger problems. If another impact occurs nearby, the cracks can combine and punch a hole in your windscreen, or they can spread much further than the original cracks.
When you notice these embedded objects, call a professional service to have them removed and the damage filled with high-quality windscreen repair materials.
Minor Cracks and Spider Webbing:
Impacts or intense pressure can cause minor "spider-webbing". This is exactly what it sounds like. Tiny, but numerous, cracks form a small spider web on your windscreen. Every time it gets impacted or rattles too much, that spider web grows.
Eventually, neglecting a spider web or minor cracks can lead to them spanning the entire windscreen. This makes it impossible to drive safely, and it leaves you exposed in the event of a –very likely considering your lack of visibility- accident.
You can have this filled early on for much less than it costs to replace the windscreen entirely when it inevitably spreads across the entire thing.
Replacements:
Sometimes, the damage is just too much to repair, and you may need a full replacement. This is common with accidents. So, make sure the car isn’t so damaged that it’s better to find the best way to sell the damaged car instead of just focusing on the noticeable windscreen.
After a Wreck:
A wreck is pretty traumatic for your car. Even when it just looks like a fender bender, you might have damaged the seals around your windscreen that keep it functioning properly.
Remember, your windscreen doesn’t just function as a protective shield. It also functions as an emergency exit when the doors don’t work. If the frame bends around it even slightly, it may become impossible to kick it out.
If you get into a wreck, have your windscreen inspected just like everything else, and get it replaced if there is even the slightest hint of serious damage.
Large Impacts:
Similar to when pebbles or little bits of road debris get lodged in your windscreen, a large truck ahead, or an overhanging cliff, might send a sizeable chunk of debris directly into your windscreen.
If that happens, repairing it simply isn’t an option. Call a windscreen replacement professional immediately for a roadside fix.
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