When to Replace Windshields?
Car windshields are actually composed of 3 layers of materials – a plastic middle layer sandwiched between two glass layers. Unlike the mirrors we have in our closets or the glasses we use for drinking, windshields are more durable and can be repaired. A simple stone or rock that produced a crack on your windshield may not damage your windshield to a great extent. It usually will just cut through the first layer and tools which you can use to repair your own windshield are easily available on the Internet and some items like the resin may even be bought from your local windshield repair shops.
Note also that if you are going to repair your windshields, you will be needing a lot of tools. You will need a bridge with a piston, which may cost you anywhere from 350 to 400 dollars; a drill with a set of carbide bits for 60 to70 dollars; a torch for 70 to 80 dollars; cellophane and glass cleaner for 10 dollars; and resins for 25 to 30 dollars. All of these can be bought from suppliers online, but some may be bought from auto repair shops, especially those that specialize in glass repair like windshields.
If you are on a tight budget, you must still carefully plan what to do before you actually repair it on your own. You may ask various windshield repair shops for quotes on how much will it cost you to get it repaired, or have it replaced with a new one. If the quoted repair fee is just about the same as buying one of those cheap windshields, you may also just consider installing it on your own.
However, the most practical thing for you to do is let a professional just replace the windshield using one of those cheap windshields. It might even cost you more to repair it on your own, especially buying those tools which you may not need again in the next few years. Indeed, both for time and for the money involved, it is better to just seek professional help when getting your windshield replaced.
cheap windshield