Types of windscreen cracks
Drivers are urged to fix their windscreens as soon as they realise that they are cracked or chipped.
You will almost certainly have a cracked or chipped windshield at some point in your driving career.
When windshield damage occurs, you might be unsure if you should take your car to a mechanic, leave it alone or try to fix it yourself.
According to the sales director of MotorHappy, Johnny Pretorius, the answer depends on several factors, including the size and depth of the crack.
“A small crack that penetrates only the top layer of glass is usually repairable. It is therefore helpful to know the different types of windscreen cracks or chips.”
The following are the most common types of windshield cracks:
Bull’s eye crack
This is one of the most common forms of crack that develops when a small, blunt rock strikes the windscreen. Bull’s-eye cracks are circular and extend deeper into the glass than the top layer. An expert can usually quickly fix these kinds of cracks.
Star crack
A star crack, which resembles a star with several ‘hands’ is formed by a sharp rock or other object slamming against the windscreen. A star crack has a rapid capacity to grow and spread. To avoid more damage and higher repair costs, fix it as soon as possible.
Floater crack
This kind of crack begins in the middle of the windshield glass with the potential to spread. Repairing minor floater cracks, not in the driver’s line of vision is simple.
Edge crack
If ignored, this crack may quickly get worse. If there is too much pressure on the sides where the glass is installed, it usually begins on the edge of the windscreen.
Half moon crack
Bull’s eye cracks and half-moon cracks are identical. The only difference is that they do not form a full circle. A glass repair specialist can quickly fix these breaks.
Stress crack
An internal crack that cannot be felt by rubbing our fingers over it, is referred to as a stress crack. This entails passing a ballpoint pen over the crack to detect it. A stress crack is not brought on by impact, but rather by a rapid shift in temperature. Pouring hot water on the windscreen could result in a stress crack if your windows are covered in frost.
Combination break
This occurs when several different kinds of cracks show themselves at once, such as a star crack that develops into an edge crack. Has this fixed as soon as you can because it could quickly worsen and cause your windscreen to become unsteady.
Windshields that are cracked or chipped may tempt drivers to postpone repairs to save money. However, this could be a costly mistake because the crack can enlarge and get worse, costing more to fix.
The greatest expense, though, is the danger to your safety. A crack, no matter how small it appears to be, compromises the stability of your windscreen. This compromises the security of both you and your passenger.
The windscreen is important for maintaining the structural integrity of your car and may potentially affect airbag deployment.
• Information from MotorHappy
