FAQ
Why repair a rock chip asap?
Why repair a rock chip asap?There’s nothing better than having a clean windshield. It can make your car or truck look amazing, plus it will offer a clearer view experience. So it’s not a surprise that a windshield chip would feel tragic. If you happen to find yourself in such a situation, booking a windshield repair should be at the top of your list.
Below are some reasons you shouldn’t delay, when it comes to getting a windshield chip repaired:
1. To Avoid More Significant Problems
It’s almost assured that any damage caused to your windshield will worsen with time. Heat, wind and moisture from the blazing sun will pressure the glass and make the cracks extend and grow. The same case applies to chips as well; it won’t take long for a relatively small chip to change into a large crack.
2. Save money
If you allow the cracks to continue growing, you may find yourself replacing the whole windshield. We are more than happy to offer a helping hand, plus we really want to help you save some of your hard-earned dollars.
3. Enjoy an appealing windshield
Auto Specialists Credit Capital says,“if you do the necessary repairs ASAP, the area that has been fixed will stay almost seamless. This way, the car windshield will maintain its safety and strength.
Sadly enough, drivers who delay too much on this will see dirt get trapped underneath the glass, which will make the windshield appear dirty even after the repairs.”
4. Guarantee a stronger repair
Any debris, dust and liquid that has been trapped in the glass weakens the strength of the windshield. By doing the necessary repairs immediately, your windshield will look great and last for ages.
5. Ensure road safety
Cracks can be distracting and can even affect your visibility while driving. A clear windshield will allow you to react to emergencies quickly. The upside is that doing a windshield repair is an inexpensive and straightforward process. To put it differently, there’s no reason you shouldn’t book an appointment right away.
What are the types of Windscreen Cracks?
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Crater
A small, circular chip or pit caused by direct impact, often without spreading cracks. It may feel rough to the touch and is usually the point of initial damage. -
Horseshoe
A curved or semi-circular crack that resembles a horseshoe shape. It typically forms around the impact point and may expand outward with time or pressure. -
Star Crack
This crack has a central impact point with several short cracks radiating outward like a star. It often results from a sharp impact and can expand quickly if left untreated. -
Bullseye
A circular damage pattern that looks like a target or dartboard. It consists of a dark spot surrounded by one or more rings and is usually caused by a round object. -
Straight Crack
A linear crack that may stretch horizontally or vertically across the glass. It can start small but spread over time due to temperature changes or stress. -
Combo (Same Type)
A combination of multiple cracks of the same type (e.g., two star cracks or two bullseyes) close together, usually caused by repeated impacts or stress in the same area. -
Combo (Different Types)
A mixture of different types of cracks (e.g., a star crack and a bullseye) around the same impact point. These require careful inspection due to their complexity. -
Combo (Same & Different Types)
The most complex damage—multiple cracks of both the same and different types in one area. These may include craters, star cracks, and horseshoes all stemming from a single or multiple impacts. Repair may be difficult and replacement is often recommended.
When To Do a Windshield Repair?
The majority of cracks and small chips can be inexpensively and easily repaired. Here are some guidelines when chip repair is the best action to take.
-There are one or two cracks or small chips
-They are small enough and can be covered by a dollar coin
-They’re not in your view
-They’re not located close to the windshield edge
In this scenario, the windshield can be fixed without a replacement being needed.
If the damage cannot be safely repaired, please contact our trusted partner MotorGlass for expert windscreen replacement services. 0432 013 969
When To Replace Windshield?
When to Replace Windshield
Here are some of the circumstances you will require a full windshield replacement.
-You’ve got over seven chips / cracks
-The chip/crack is too large to be covered with a dollar coin
-The damage is in your direct view
-The damage is close to the windshield edge
-The windshield’s covered with divots and scratches that may possibly impair vision
If the aforementioned scenario applies to your windshield, you’ll have to get it replaced if you want to drive safely.
Benefits of Professional Headlight Restoration?
Compared to lens replacement, professional headlight restoration is fast becoming a much cheaper and preferable option. Headlight restoration helps to significantly improve the driver's safety, minimise long-term maintenance costs, and enhance the overall appearance of the vehicle's exterior. While you can find some popular DIY kits at your local store, it is still highly recommended to have a professional perform this task as you can easily cause further damage if you fail to follow the proper procedure. So, why is it important to have your headlights restored?
1. Economical
Allister Clare, a car loan expert from Credit Capital, says, “If you are looking to sell or trade your car, then having your headlights restored professionally is the most economical option. Headlight replacement isn't an ideal choice since it is costly. Headlight restoration not only offers you significant time and cost savings, but it also gives you safe headlights while enhancing your vehicle's external appearance.”
There are plenty of compelling reasons why you consider having your headlights restored. This process helps to get rid of scratches and restore cloudy and foggy lenses. Besides improved functionality and performance, restoration also helps preserve and even enhance your car's value.
2. Increased Road Visibility
Extreme weather conditions such as rain, snow, fog, and sleet can set in unexpectedly. However, having your headlights restored provides increased safety for the passengers. The oxidised plastic is crucial in dispersing and refracting the sunlight passing through the cover of the lens. This will help to lower the amount of light being illuminated to the road by nearly 75%. Through headlight restoration, your car's headlights will once more let all the light through just like new.
When driving during the night with cloudy and foggy headlights, the amount of light emitted can be lowered by over 70%. Sometimes you can even fail to tell whether your headlights are even switched on. When this happens, you often find yourself fiddling with the high beams or start squinting at the road ahead of you, both of which are hazardous. Professional headlight restoration is a less expensive, long-term solution that will enable you to view the road more clearly in these conditions.
3. Enhanced Beauty
Besides restoring your car headlights' functionality and performance, the professional restoration process also achieves an important aesthetic role; it improves the external appearance of your car. Compared to replacing your lenses, it is a much cheaper and effective way of giving your car's exterior a facelift. This is particularly beneficial for car owners planning to sell or trade their vehicles. You can significantly raise your car's asking price by spending just a small fee on professional headlight restoration.
4. Professional Restoration over DIY Kits
While you have the option of getting a DIY kit from the local auto parts store, these kits still require you to have some highly technical skills to use them correctly. It is much harder to access modern vehicles' headlights than in the older models, even if the gap is just a couple of years. And because computerised technology is fast becoming a standard in the automobile industry, many DIYers quickly realise how complicated the process is. Although these DIY kits are commonly marketed as a fast and simple solution, in reality, it takes around one and a half to two hours to finish the entire process once you've removed the headlights, finished restoring the headlights, and reattached the lights with all the correct wiring back in position.
With these benefits in mind, it is clear to see why professional headlight restoration is important and much more practical. It is crucial to consider your car headlight restoration options early enough before your visibility deteriorates further.
Does Headlight Restoration Last A Lifetime?
As your car ages, aside from worn parts, another issue may arise—foggy headlights. More with the age range of cars on the road approaching ten years, headlight restoration or cleaning fogginess as soon as it occurs is a significant safety maintenance concern.
"The deterioration of "vision" in cars manifests aging headlight lenses that resembles cataracts. These plastic lenses which typically cover headlight bulbs grow clouded and foggy with time, reducing the level of illumination. Risk of accidents which may jeopardise safety may arise if foggy headlights were left unaddressed," says car loan specialist Mason Burt of Askfunding.
What Triggers Headlights To Turn Yellow And Foggy?
Headlights get dimmer with age because the protective coating deteriorates. So, when the lens is yellow or foggy, the light behind it becomes less apparent.
Furthermore, deteriorated headlights not only affect the car's appearance but also makes night driving riskier.
Although headlight repair kits have been available for decades, they are not always the answer to this issue; in reality, you must first determine the severity of the problem to your headlights.
Why Have Your Headlights Serviced For Restoration?
When the headlights begin to show signs of 'crazing' (minute cracks), the only way to get them back to their excellent shape is headlight restoration. Nowadays, a set of new headlights might cost hundreds or thousands of dollars—or more for luxury brands. Thus, restoring existing headlights and minimising deterioration before the lenses break is a wise option.
How To Restore Headlight Lenses?—A Step-By-Step Guide
Step 1: Wipe off the lens's surface.
Step 2:Use abrasives to take the top coating of oxidation. Sand the lens using wet sandpaper, starting with 600-grit paper and working up.
Step 3:Use rubbing compounds to clear the subsequent coating of oxidation.
Step 4:Apply polish to the lens to make it shine.
Step 5: Finish off with a thin layer of UV protection.
Why Seek The Help Of A Professional In Restoring Your Headlights?
Restoring your headlight can be your next DIY project at home if you've got the time, the right equipment, the patience, and the skill.
You can buy abrasive material, rotary buffers, polishes, and everything. After that, sand and shine the headlight lenses till they sparkle like new.
However, do note that sanding and polishing must be done carefully, systematically, and patiently: otherwise, the headlight lenses will be scuffed. If you mess up this task, you can wind up having to buy new headlights.
It would be a wiser decision to have a professional restore your headlights for you. You save money and time, and more notably, you're confident that the job is done right.
Does Headlight Restoration Last A Lifetime?
Unfortunately, restoration of headlights will not last a lifetime. Such claims can be attributed to the intense UV rays emitted by the bulb and many other factors.
Moreover, headlights restorations are not lifetime guaranteed, much like the paintwork on your car. Therefore, it would be best to have routine maintenance and upkeep—polish and restore headlights regularly to maintain clarity.
Where To Find The Best Headlights Restorations Services?
The Chip Doctor offers professional chip repairs and headlight restorations.
We specialise in chip repairs and restoring dull, foggy headlight lenses to their original state.
Contact us at 0498 203 200 or book online, and our mobile crew of highly qualified technicians is on call to meet your needs.
Written By: Chloe Harris