The automobile windshield chip repair problem with ignoring the damage is that it will grow worse with time. Replacements have their downsides as well. Besides spending up to $350, you lose the original manufacture seal. Many replacements are done incorrectly and can leak and crack. What is the alternative?
For that reason, many companies will happily waive the deductible if the existing windshield can be repaired. So you may be able to have that chip or crack fixed without paying anything at all.
The main question when you are seeking to fix a cracked windshield is whether to replace or repair the glass. Most auto glass shops will opt to repair a crack or chip, as long as it is not directly in front of the driver. They will use a clear resin that is dropped onto the crack and then fixed with an ultra-violet light. The clear resin will then cure and the crack will no longer be visible to the human eye. Most cracks or chips can be effectively fixed in this manner. This method can fix small cracks as well as larger spiderweb style cracks. If an actual hole is formed in the windshield or the crack has traveled too far, your best bet is windshield repair.
As a windshield installer for the past thirty five years, let me give you three good reasons not to repair your windshield. As windshield repair is a gimmick in my opinion.
The windshield is also called a windscreen. Your car's glass is very similar to that of an aircraft, or a motorcycle's wind screen. Most cars made in modern times are usually fitted with a laminated kind of glass that is very secure and safe because it doesn't shatter into sharp shards unlike ordinary glass from mirrors and bottles. These laminated glass is a kind of treated glass. It is usually made up of a dual curved sheets of glass and a layer made of plastic sandwiched in between so that it will be safer. These are glued into the car's window frame.
There are certain scratches that are advisable to be removed by buffing. If the scratch is too deep however, it is best to use resin to cover up the scratch. The rest of the window will be protected from further damage if the spider cracks are stopped in time.