A vehicle owner should have the windscreen, and any other windows of the vehicle, repaired as soon as they are even slightly damaged. If glass suffers any type of crack or chip, this increases the risk that it could outright shatter if you were to hit a severe bump, or suffer even a minor collision. In many areas, you can also get ticketed and pay a steep fine for damaged glass on a vehicle. Note a few common misconceptions you might have about auto glass repair, so you can know what to expect with this process, and also know what to discuss with an auto glass repair technician.
All chips and cracks can be repaired
There are many times when a chip or crack is so severe that the windscreen or other glass needs outright replacing. If the chip or crack goes through the glass, for example, a resin or filler simply won't hold that spot together, and the glass should be replaced. In some cases, a glass repair technician may also notice that the glass itself is old and worn; if your car is often parked in very hot, direct sunlight, this can actually weaken the glass over time. Flying gravel and other such debris can also eventually weaken the surface of automotive glass. This can also be a reason that it's recommended you replace the automotive glass rather than repair it.
Resin looks cloudy and off-colour
When a repair technician uses a resin or filler to fix holes, chips, or cracks, you may think that the resin will be cloudy or off-colour. It might be true that the resin can be seen on very close inspection, but in most cases, it dries clearly and leaves very little marks or indications behind. Don't assume that your vehicle will have a long cloudy streak in place of the crack, or that the repair will be very noticeable to potential buyers when you're ready to resell the car.
Glass repair weakens the glass
A chip or crack in a windscreen or other glass in the vehicle is what causes it to be weak, as said. Filling in that area with resin or any type of gel will make it stronger against potential shattering, as the resin will help absorb some of that impact. This repair may not make the glass as strong as it was before the damage, but the repair itself doesn't weaken the glass or compromise its overall durability.