Blog

When to Repair vs Replace Your Windshield

September 27, 2024

Your windshield plays a crucial role in ensuring your safety on the road. It acts as a barrier between you and potential debris, provides structural support for the car, and is essential during airbag deployment. While many car owners may see windshield damage as a minor inconvenience, deciding whether to repair or replace your windshield can significantly impact your safety and the longevity of your vehicle. We’ll discuss the differences between windshield replacement and repair—and why, in many cases, replacement is the better and safer choice.

Small Chips and Cracks: Repair or Replace

Windshield chips and cracks are common issues, often caused by flying debris like small rocks or loose gravel on the road. The first instinct for many drivers is to have the damage repaired, especially when it’s a small chip or crack. While windshield repair for small chips and cracks is a faster and cheaper option, it’s not always the safest one.

Even a minor chip can compromise the integrity of the glass, and repairs only provide a temporary fix. As temperatures fluctuate and road vibrations occur, the repaired area can weaken, causing the crack to spread. This could happen at an inconvenient time, putting you and your passengers at risk.

Larger Cracks: Always Replace

If the crack in your windshield is longer than a dollar bill or extends across multiple areas of the glass, replacement is the only viable solution. Cracks of this size not only weaken the structural integrity of the windshield but also interfere with your visibility. Driving with impaired visibility is not only dangerous but can lead to accidents.

Many auto glass repair professionals will tell you that large cracks cannot be safely repaired, and any attempt to fix them is only a short-term solution. Additionally, the integrity of the windshield is vital for your car’s airbag system to function correctly. In an accident, a damaged windshield may not provide the necessary support for airbags to deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury. In these cases, it’s always best to replace the damaged windshield with a new one.

The Importance of Full Windshield Replacement

Some car owners believe that as long as the damage is small, it doesn’t require replacement. However, even minor damage can weaken the glass, and choosing repair over replacement can be a risky choice in the long run.

Here’s why windshield replacement is a better option:

-Ensures Maximum Safety

-Prevents Future Damage

-Clearer Visibility

-Better Functionality

Why You Should Skip the DIY Repairs

While DIY windshield repair kits are available, they rarely offer a permanent solution. These kits may fill in a chip or crack temporarily, but they often fail to restore the windshield’s full strength. Furthermore, without proper training, it’s easy to make a mistake during the repair, leading to further damage.

Rather than risking your safety and the functionality of your vehicle, it’s always best to leave windshield replacement to certified auto glass professionals who can install a new windshield correctly, ensuring all safety standards are met.

Don’t Wait to Replace Your Windshield

Whether your windshield has minor chips or larger cracks, opting for a full replacement guarantees that you and your passengers are protected.

If you’re facing windshield damage, don’t delay. Contact a trusted auto glass professional like Envision Auto Glass and replace your windshield today to ensure your car remains safe, functional, and ready for the road ahead.

Hello to you!

February 12, 2024

Hey! Thanks for visiting our site! We are so excited to finally open our new business which has been over 1.5 years in the making. Having worked for many years at a nationwide auto glass company, I’ve been ready to take that experience and start fresh, bringing the commitment to excellent customer service I’ve honed throughout my many years in retail. I’m driven by my passion for forging positive, long-term connections with our customers and business partners, which can be so hard to do when working for a bigger company.

Having lived in Oakland with my family for 27 years, I am proud to be part of such a vibrant and diverse community. I look forward to serving you, earning your trust, giving back to East Bay schools, and creating opportunities for our young people.

—The Flynns

Image of a man in a business suit interacting with a hologram of different settings and networking facets

What is recalibration?

February 8, 2024

Cars these days are being built to utilize more technology. Long gone are the days when a car aficionado could tinker around under the hood and safely get a car back on the road. Much of the technology that cars now employ is in the area of safety—sensors, mirrors, and airbags, oh my!

The traditional auto body repair industry is scrambling to catch up to these advances in technology in order to keep your newer car’s safety systems up to the manufacturer’s specifications. It’s tough for auto body repair shops to keep up with innovations, find the money for the expensive required equipment, as well as find the large amount of space needed to perform recalibration of the safety systems.

We at Envision are able to provide this service and the good news is that your auto insurance will cover these repairs if they are mandated by the manufacturer. Our recalibration services can be provided directly to the consumer or in partnership with a customer’s preferred auto body shop, who might not currently be able to perform these services on their own for the reasons above. We will make it easy for you to safely get back on the road toward life’s great adventure.