4 Types of Windshield Damage You Cannot Afford to Ignore
It’s a sad reality, but even the most careful drivers can end up with some form of windshield damage. While you may not be able to prevent it from happening entirely, there are things that you can do to limit your risks for future damages and keep your car looking great. Read on to find out about four types of windshield damage that you should not ignore!
1) Edge cracks
An edge crack starts at the two inch point from your windshield’s edge or may even extend all the way to it. These cracks usually develop as a result of excessive pressure around your car window and typically exceed 10-12 inches in length.
If you have an insignificant six inch long crack, repairs should be addressed with utmost priority since they could easily spread under minimal force if not promptly repaired by qualified specialists; If this is more than 6″ then replacement must occur instead due to its potential for longer spreading without immediate attention.
2) Bullseye cracks
As their name implies, the bullseye crack is circular and appears much like a dartboard. This type of break can form as a result of direct impact to your windshield or from pressure and additional impacts that occur afterward – even if they are smaller than before! These little cracks will not only affect your field of vision but also compromise structural integrity in the glass. Luckily for you, this kind of damage can be repaired provided it meets certain guidelines:
- Are not directly in the driver’s line of sight
- Have a diameter of one inch or less
- Do not have dirt or debris ground into the crack
For small bullseye cracks, prompt auto glass repair is required to avoid incurring further windshield damage. If your windshield suffers a severe bullseye crack, you should replace it immediately because the risk of repairing such an issue far outweighs replacing it altogether.
3) Star breaks
If a star break occurs in your windshield, you’ll need to choose between repairing the damage or replacing it. Smaller stars can be repaired; but if they extend further than one inch across and have tentacles extending outwards from them (these are called “star breaks”), then auto glass replacement is unavoidable because repair would require breaking other parts of the window frame as well.
It’s never safe to go back on the road with a crack in your windshield. Some drivers might think they can get just one more trip out of their cracked glass before finally tossing it, but this is bad for safety and should be avoided at all costs. This minor repair may not seem like an emergency right now, but if you don’t take care of that little problem now then soon enough there could be even bigger ones looming ahead.
4) Floater cracks
When you live in a cold or hot climate, it is easy for your windshield to develop cracks. These are called floater cracks and they look just like edge cracks but do not occur near the perimeter of the window. Floaters are typically considered irreparable if their length doesn’t exceed six inches. Replacement becomes necessary when this does happen–so prompt windshield repair today.
If you’ve noticed a crack in your windshield, don’t wait to get it fixed! We offer quality and affordable work for all types of auto glass repairs. Contact Windshield Replacement San Jose today at or send us an email so we can discuss the best option available for you.