Glass, glass uneven...

Damage to car windows, especially windshields, is a serious problem for a vehicle owner. However, it is not always necessary to immediately replace a damaged element. In some cases, it can be repaired, thanks to which we will save on the purchase of a completely new glass. This can be done in case of small cracks or chips. The problem, however, is that they cannot be too large.

The coin will judge

Contrary to appearances, the above subheading is not without meaning. According to experts, only damage that does not exceed the diameter of a five zloty coin can be repaired. In practice, these are small fragments created, among other things, after being hit by a stone. Also, the damage must not be too close to the edge of the glass. The fact is that then it will not be possible to use the tools necessary to carry out the repair. An important point is also the quick detection by the driver and the simplest way to fix it, for example, using adhesive tape. This is very important, because in this way we will protect the damaged area from air, moisture and various kinds of pollution. Caution will also result in the consequences of the repair itself - after removing the chips, the glass in this place will regain its normal transparency.

With hardened resin

A damaged area that is positively qualified for repair should be thoroughly cleaned. This is done using a meat grinder and then a vacuum pump. The task of the latter is to suck air out of the gaps between the layers of glass and force the moisture accumulated there to evaporate. Now you can proceed to the correct repair of the damaged area. With the help of a special gun, resin is injected into them, which gradually fills the crack. When its quantity is sufficient, it should be properly quenched. For this, several minutes of UV irradiation are used. The final step is to remove excess resin from the repaired area and thoroughly clean all of the glass.

What and how to repair?

In this way, minor damage can be repaired, mainly on windshields. Last glued, i.e. consist of two layers of glass separated by foil. In most cases, hitting a stone, for example, only damages the outer layer, leaving the inner layer intact. However, damage to the side and rear windows cannot be repaired. Why? They are hardened and break into small pieces on impact. A separate problem is the possible repair of damage to windshields with a heating system installed inside them. In many cases, it is impossible to remove chips in them, since the heating system placed between its layers makes it difficult or even impossible to thoroughly clean the damaged area and introduce resin.

Here (unfortunately) only exchange

Finally, it is obvious: a severely damaged or broken windshield can only be replaced with a new one. The old glass is removed from the gasket, or - when it is glued - cut off with special knives. After removing the damaged windshield, carefully clean the place of its installation from the old glue, and in the case of older cars, from the accumulated rust. After that, you can proceed to install a new windshield. After applying special glue to its edges, the glass is carefully applied to the installation site, and then pressed with the appropriate force. The adhesive sets after a few hours and the car should not move during this time. Failure to comply with this condition may lead to the risk of improper fit of the glass to the body and the formation of leaks through which moisture will penetrate into the vehicle interior.