Media post: 9 Types of Windshield Cracks and How to Identify Them
Your windshield is a very tough customer! It’s made of several layers of glass stuck together with sheets of plastic. It is designed this way to prevent shattering into tiny pieces of sharp glass in the event of an accident.
The sudden impact of a stone or rock on your windshield is quite a daunting experience. It’s unexpected but sometimes inevitable. Chip, crack, pit, break…unfortunately, once this happens, an immediate trip to the windshield repair specialists is recommended to get yourself and your vehicle back on the road.
Don’t wait! A tiny chip can become a large crack, and the costs will escalate, and the integrity of your windshield will be compromised.
Keep on reading and find out about the different types of chips and cracks.
The Most Common Types Of Windshield Chips
Frequently, chips occur when a stone or small piece of rock hits the glass from the rear wheels of the car in front of you. Traveling on the motorway at high speeds can also dislodge road debris that can damage your windshield.
These types of chips can usually be filled by a windshield repair technician unless cracks have started to form.
Let’s look at the different types of chips:
1. Pit Chip
The ‘pit’ is the area where a piece of glass is missing from the windshield, normally in the center of the chip from a blunt stone or rock.
2. Bulls-eye
A chip that is larger than a ‘pit’ is circular in shape with a cone in the outer layer of the glass. This type very often occurs when a small blunt rock impacts the windshield. Bulls-eyes are usually repairable, depending on the size of the damage.
3. Half moon or a partial bulls-eye
This shows as a dark-colored area but is not completely circular.
4. Combination break
A combination break is a chip with cracks coming out from the center of the chip – a combination of the different types of chips.
- Stars
A common chip, the impact develops into a star-shaped cavity, usually caused by a sharp object striking the windscreen.
Windshield Cracks: A Step Up From A Chip
Unlike chips, cracks can be caused by sudden changes in temperature or pressure, excessive heat, and installation defects. Even the back windshields are not exempt from this type of glass damage.
There are several different types of cracks. Let’s have a look at the most common of these:
- Edge crack
This crack starts close to the edge of the windshield and can escalate to a long crack if not taken care of.
- Floater crack
A floater crack starts anywhere in the middle of the windshield.
- Long crack
As the name implies, it is a long crack, often measuring more than six inches in length.
- Stress crack
This crack occurs after a dramatic change in temperature, usually if hot water is applied to the windshield to melt ice off the glass in the cold season.
Don’t Wait To Get Your Windshield Repaired
In many cases, a crack or a chip is ignored because it doesn’t seem like a big deal, but ultimately, the longer you leave it, the worse it will get.
Avoid unnecessary costs by having your vehicle assessed by windshield repair specialists. A windshield repair can solve most types of damage, however, if your line of vision is affected, it is recommended to do a full replacement.
Another good reason for having your chip or crack assessed is to avoid receiving a ticket. It’s a violation to drive with a chipped windshield, especially if the driver’s vision is obscured.
