Few things are worse than the moment when you’re driving and you see a rock come flying toward your windshield and there’s nothing you can do about it. You see it hit your windshield and take a chip out of the glass. When this happens, it’s best to get this chip repaired as soon as possible so it doesn’t spread and crack your windshield. You can always bring your car to Simbol Auto Glass and we’ll do it, or you can do it yourself. We’ve outlined the process for you below.
Buy a windshield repair kit
If you don’t already have a windshield repair kit, you can buy one online, at an auto parts store, or at most big-box stores that have an automotive department. Before purchasing, make sure that it has everything you need. Your kit should contain:
Clean the area around the chip
In order to ensure that the resin properly adheres to the glass, you need to thoroughly clean the chip and the surrounding area. Use the cloth and any supplies that come with your kit to ensure a good cleaning. You can use alcohol or glass cleaner but don’t apply it directly to the area. Put the liquid on the cloth then wipe down the area.
If the area isn’t properly cleaned, you could seal in dirt particles under the resin, which could eventually wear down the glass and create an even bigger problem. This also removes any moisture from the crack to prevent cloudy spots on the glass as well as a risk of moisture expanding and cracking as it freezes.
Apply the adhesive patch and plastic pedestal
The adhesive patch should be placed with the rock chip in the middle. Once you have the adhesive patch on the glass, place the pedestal on top of the patch so that the chip is completely covered. This is where you’re going to insert the epoxy resin to fill the chipped glass.
Inject epoxy resin
After inserting about three-fourths of the tube of epoxy resin into the pedestal, insert the tip of the syringe into the top of the pedestal. Make sure that you have a tight seal or there won’t be enough pressure to remove the air from the crack and pedestal. Pull the plunger all the way to the top. There should be a locking mechanism to hold the plunger in place. This needs to sit for about 10 minutes so all the air bubbles in the resin and crack have time to disperse.
After you’ve waited the appropriate amount of time, press the syringe plunger down about halfway. This will then sit for about 20 minutes to allow the resin to cure.
Let it cure, remove the pedestal
After the resin has cured, carefully remove the adhesive and pedestal using a razor blade. Once you’ve removed the pedestal, use the rest of the tube of resin on the area to seal it. Place the plastic curing sheet on top of the area and use your razor blade to smooth out the area and get rid of any bubbles. This should be done in direct sunlight for 15 to 30 minutes (depending on your kit) to cure the epoxy.
Remove excess epoxy and clean the glass
Once your epoxy is cured, remove the curing sheet and use your razor blade to remove the excess epoxy on top of the glass. Run your blade as close to parallel to the glass as possible so you scrape off the epoxy without scratching the glass. Clean the glass and your repair is complete. It’s normal to see a small speck where the crack was repaired.
Call Symbol Auto Glass
Save yourself the time, money, and effort of repairing a chipped windshield and contact Simbol Auto Glass instead. Our team can repair rock chips for free with qualifying insurance. We specialize in auto glass repair in Detroit and will make sure that any chips in your windshield get properly repaired and don’t lead to larger cracks.
