Rock Chip Repair in Winter
Rock chip repair matters in all seasons. Flying rocks, gravel or debris are bad enough in summer. Add freezing temperatures, ice, hail and low visibility to the mix, and rock chips become very hazardous in winter.
When is rock chip repair necessary?
Repairing a rock chip in your windshield is especially important during the winter months. While some rock chips may be simply cosmetic, many can seriously affect your ability to see well enough to drive or compromise result in serious windshield cracks.
During the cold winter months, rock chip damage to your windshield can spread as a result of the cold temperatures, storm conditions and moisture.
Why is rock chip repair necessary?
When the critical vision area of your windshield (right behind the driver’s seat) is damaged your windshield may need to be replaced. Rock chip damage outside of this area can usually be repaired. In either case, you should have an auto glass specialist evaluate your windshield as quickly as possible.
- Driving with a chipped windshield during the winter can be especially hazardous. Strong winds and flying debris can further damage an already weakened chipped windshield.
- Gravel sometimes used to gain traction during icy conditions can easily fly up and cause further weakening of the windshield.
- Moisture from ice and snow can get trapped inside the crack. As temperatures drop, the moisture freezes and expands, thus increasing pressure on the windshield and causing serious cracks.
- A chipped or cracked windshield affects the structural integrity of the car making it more difficult to withstand the potential bumps and dings from icy winter driving.
- Extremes in temperatures trying to defrost the windshield or physical impacts from trying to scrape off ice and snow place additional stress on an already compromised windshield.
What about DIY rock chip repair?
There are do-it-yourself repair kits on the market. They are not safe unless you are already certified to fix chips, however. In short, it is best to let a certified rock chip repair expert solve the problem.
Resin materials are injected into the chip. Failure to do this properly can lead to further damage. More damage means you, your passengers and any items in your car are at risk of damage. Why take the risk?
