If you’ve been driving for a while, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the sinking sensation that comes with a pebble bouncing off your windshield. When you finally check it, one concern always arises: Can this be fixed, or do I need to replace it entirely? Unfortunately, it’s possible that the answer isn’t as simple as you believe! We’ll answer those questions and more today as we talk about when you should get windshield repair in Tulsa and when you should get windshield replacement Tulsa.
Windshield Damage Types
Windshield damage may occur from a multitude of causes, although not all damage is created equal. The damage produced by a little pebble or an animal accident may have a huge influence (pun intended) on your windshield and how you handle it. But before we get into the different forms of damage, it’s necessary to understand how a windshield is constructed.
Auto glass Tulsa, often known as windshield glass, is also known as “safety” glass. It is two parts with a laminated plastic layer in between, rather than a single piece. When an object strikes your windshield, the design enables it to shatter into many tiny fragments rather than bigger, potentially deadly ones.
Chips
A chip is a tiny imperfection that occurs when an impact breaks away a piece of the glass layer. If the damage is little enough, it may usually be restored. If the chip is severe enough to reach the inner layer of plastic, however, you may need to get windshield replacement Tulsa OK. Small chips may not seem like a big deal on their own, but they may frequently be the source of cracks.
Cracks
A crack, unlike a chip, is a line along which a single piece of glass has started to split entirely. While they may begin tiny, they may (and often do) expand with time.
Temperature changes can cause the windshield to expand and contract if subjected to the sun’s scorching rays or traveling through freezing air. Also, if your windshield has a crack, this procedure might cause it to expand over time.
Small bits of dirt can also make their way into the crack’s beginnings, causing it to worsen. Using a tiny piece of tape to cover a broken windshield might be a temporary remedy to keep it from spreading.
Finally, the daily wear and tear of your car might aggravate a fracture. The effect of driving over speed bumps, potholes, and uneven roadways is felt throughout the car. The damage might also spread as a result of the repeated tension.
Aside from these two primary groupings, it’s not unusual to see a mix of the two, as well as anything in between.
When Can You Get Windshield Repair Tulsa?
As you might expect, auto glass repair Tulsa is typically less expensive than Tulsa windshield replacement. The capacity of a car glass specialist to repair the damage is determined by several elements, including the type of defect, its size, and quantity.
Cracks that are small enough to fit beneath a dollar bill may generally be repaired. Fixing a tiny chip (under 2 inches) and shallow enough (under 3/8 of an inch) may be a possibility.
In most cases, the location of the damage has little bearing on your capacity to fix it. For example, it is typically possible to fix a break in the middle of the windshield (far from the driver’s side).
It’s preferable to restore damage as quickly as possible if it’s possible. Unfortunately, even a minor crack might grow over time, necessitating windshield replacement Tulsa OK.
When Should You Get a New Windshield If It Is Damaged?
There are times when it is clear that you need windshield replacement Tulsa. For example, if a truck transporting bowling balls loses one and knocks a hole in your windshield, you should have a fresh one.
However, it isn’t always as straightforward as in the preceding case. For example, smaller cracks and chips may need the installation of a windshield replacement Tulsa.
In general, if your windshield has three or more cracks anywhere at all, it should be replaced. This is because they gradually lose their capacity to endure future hits after taking a certain level of damage. If a crack is about or above 14 inches long, it may be essential to get a Tulsa windshield replacement.
Because repairs generally leave at least some residual marks. Damage to the driver’s side of the windshield usually necessitates a complete replacement. Additionally, breakage near or on the border of your windshield might compromise its structural integrity. Necessitating a windshield replacement Tulsa OK.
When exposed to the outdoors over an extended period, the inner layer of plastic might get discolored. As a result, even if auto glass repair Tulsa is possible, you may wish to replace it.
Should You Wait to Get Your Windshield Repaired or Replaced?
Damage to a windshield, irrespective of the kind, is severe and should be treated as quickly as possible. Windshields may appear to be an insignificant safety element, yet they are vital. When a windshield is broken, it loses its capacity to resist the force. Of a flying item and can become a significant sight obstructor. If the facility judges the impediment to be severe enough, you may fail your automobile inspection.
While a little chip or crack may not appear to be a major issue at first, they rarely remain that way. The weaker your windshield becomes when a crack or chip grows. The more likely it will fail and constitute a genuine driving danger. The longer you wait, like with most everything in the realm of vehicle maintenance, the more expensive it will be.
Don’t put it off until it’s too late! Then, turn to Glassworks Auto Glass if your windshield has been damaged. When it concerns windshield repair in Tulsa, we have a rapid turnaround time. Our staff of highly educated specialists will guide you through the process. Thus, you will never propose a replacement when a repair would suffice. You will get the best services in Tulsa, OK (Oklahoma), and other suburbs, including Broken Arrow, Owasso, Jenks, Bixby, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Glenpool, and Coweta.
