Just like any other type of glass, a windshield can develop scratches in it. Animals may have been walking across your car, a rock may have slid across the windshield or branches from a low lying tree may have rubbed across the windshield. Scratches may seem like a minor flaw until you begin to drive and realize that they may be impeding your sight line while driving. Fortunately, many scratches in glass can be corrected. Here is some information you will need to know about scratches and your windshield.
Don’t Repair It On Your Own?
There are kits out there that allow you to repair windshield scratches on your own. However, it is advised that you leave this type of repair to a professional. If you are unsure how to properly remove a windshield scratch, more damage can be done making the repair. You can cause more scratches and damage to the windshield by attempting to polish or buff the glass if you are not properly trained.
How Can an Auto Glass Repair Shop Fix Scratched Windshield Glass?
An auto glass repair shop can fix a scratched windshield. The first thing a repair shop will do is determine the depth of the scratch. As a general rule of thumb, if you can run your finger over the scratch and your finger does not stop or become stuck over the scratch, the scratch is superficial and can be polished or buffed out. If your finger gets stuck, the scratch is too deep to buff out. In this case, it needs to be filled in, the same way a chip or dent from a rock would need to be filled in.
How is Buffing or Polishing Done on Windshield Glass?
When you have a scratch on your windshield, buffing or polishing is typically done to remove the scratch. A metal compound is used to buff or polish the scratch out. Depending on the size of the scratch, this may be done by hand or with a polishing tool. Only the affected area is polished or buffed. The metal compound buffs away that small layer of glass that is scratched, revealing a new, unscratched layer. It is important that this is done slowly and carefully as the compound can scratch the unaffected layers of glass or remove too much glass if done incorrectly.
A flaw or imperfection in your windshield can prevent you from seeing the road and possible obstacles as clearly as you should. If you have a flaw in your windshield, bring your car to Only 1 Auto Glass in St. Paul, MN. We can help fix scratched windshield glass, perform rock chip repair or replace your windshield as needed. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to have your windshield inspected and repaired by our highly trained staff.