Your vehicle’s auto glass does much more than enable you to see outside your vehicle. The glass and especially the windshield are integral parts that add rigidity to the passenger cabin. Unfortunately, like all types of glass, even something as sturdy as a windshield is prone to damage. Let’s examine five types of commonly occurring damage that affects windshields and other glass.

1. Edge Cracks

The most prolific type of damage are cracks and chips that occur near the edge of windshields. According to Insurance Journal, about 80% of windshield replacement services are due to cracks along the edges. The reason is that there is less support structure near the edges, so damage is more likely to occur there.

2. Line-of-Sight Chips and Cracks

The most dangerous damage to auto glass occurs when chips or cracks affect your line of sight. Instead of having a clear view of the road, a chip, crack, or both could cause you to miss part of the roadway, which might be enough to miss seeing a pedestrian or maybe a motorcyclist. It also can cause you to look through another part of the windshield that is not damaged, which also affects your view of the road.

3. Bullseye Cracks

A bullseye crack might start off as a minor chip or a small crack that grows over time. The crack can create concentric cracks that circle it. It also might resemble a spider web with vertical cracks emerging and cutting across the concentric cracks.

4. Floater Chips and Cracks

When a chip or crack occurs away from the edge and is not in your line of sight, that is an example of floater damage. Such chips and cracks initially look harmless but might develop larger cracks that eventually require you to replace the windshield. When caught early, many floater chips and cracks are repairable.

5. Star Breaks

A star break is similar to a bullseye crack, but it spreads out in all directions. The central source of the damage might be a chip that creates several small cracks. If you ignore repairing it, those small cracks can grow and spread until they create a star-like pattern that might cover your entire windshield. It also might earn you a fix-it ticket.

A+ Plus Windshield Replacement & Windshield Calibration has all the tools to repair your auto glass. If you're concerned about cracking or chipping on your windshield, reach out to us today. We look forward to restoring your vehicle's beauty.