Windscreen Chip Repair
What chips or cracks can be repaired?
Rules Behind auto glazing standards for AS/NZS2366.2:1999
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Maximum length of a windscreen crack repair is 10 centimeters.
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If a crack starts and finishes at the edge of windscreen it cannot be repaired and the windscreen must be replaced.
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Damage within the critical vision area (CVA) cannot be repaired if the size exceeds 10mm or approximately the size of a 10c coin.
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Damage that effects more than the outer layer of the laminated safety glass cannot be repaired.
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Chip or crack repairs cannot be carried out on a windshield that has delamination.
How Maverick Auto Glass can help:
Urgent repairs
If you're worried about a chip or crack spreading and need it fixed in a hurry, drop by our shop in Henderson during advertised hours and one of our auto glass technicians can assist you. walk in customers are welcome.
Free chip saver stickers and quotes at our shop.
Visit our shop during advertised hours and get a free windscreen chip saver sticker to help prevent cracks from spreading and even get a free quote from one of our experts at the reception.
Mobile windscreen chip repair service
Give us a call toll free on 0800242000 and book a technician to come out to you at home or at work for your convenience.
Windscreen repair certificates for WOF checks and lifetime warranty
If you've failed a WOF the inspector is going to require you to provide a certificate as proof the windscreen chip has been repaired professionally. Unfortunately, DIY jobs are not satisfactory. Your Windscreen repair also comes with a lifetime warranty for the repair. If your repair doesn't pass a WOF or fails to prevent spreading, you're entitled to a refund on the price you paid for the repair.
Common questions about the chip repair process:
Will it completely disappear?
The short answer in no. The darkness you see in the chip or crack is actually an air-filled pocket, which causes light to reflect differently than on the undamaged area of the glass. This is why it can appear more prominent depending on what angle you're looking from. What actually happens during a windscreen chip or crack repair is a technician drills a small hole into the damaged area, which is then used to inject a thin clear resin into the crack or chip. UV light is then used to harden the injected resin inside the damaged area of the glass. This process removes the air from the crack or chip, which is why the damage appears to go away. However, the glass still has fractures. Think of it just like a tooth with a filling. On some occasions there can be small amounts of dirt or debris that can get into the cracked area and can hinder the chip/crack repair process and as a result a less appealing cosmetic look. This is why most auto glass shops offer small stickers to cover up windscreen chips.
Is it dangerous to drive with a cracked windscreen?
The danger is only in the event of an accident, as the windscreen has lost its structural integrity once damaged. In the case of a WOF check, chipped windscreens are only failed if in the CVA (critical vision area) as they can obstruct or distract the driver's vision.
As far as the windshield collapsing in on you or shards of glass coming off, you need not worry. All vehicles are required to have laminated safety glass for the front windshield in order to be deemed roadworthy under the NZ Land Transport Authority. This is two layers of glass sandwiched together with adhesive and a laminated layer in the middle.
Do DIY windscreen repair kits work?
The problem is not necessarily with the repair kit; it's more the lack of tools in the repair kit. What makes it even less likely to work is the lack of knowledge from the user, if you aren't aware of how the windshield repair process actually works, you won't know what you're missing or doing wrong, and you only get one shot at it.
So, $40 or $50 extra spend for a professional windscreen repair isn't so bad once you take everything into perspective. For a more in depth read into the difference between a DIY windscreen repair vs professional check out our blog post from our operations manager Paula McCoy.
