What type of windscreen / windshield chip do i have?

Windscreens can suffer unsightly chips usually from an object flying through the air and hitting the glass. There are many different types of damage depending on where the object strikes the screen and some can be repaired easier than others.

 

Chips usually occur when stones, rocks or gravel hit the screen at high speed. This can happen when tyres of other vehicles fling debris behind them, or objects are thrown up and across the road from a car passing in the opposite direction. Sometimes small rocks fall from trucks carrying loose construction material, landing on the glass and causing a small chip. This may be hard to spot, however, most drivers are usually alerted by the sound of a loud pop on impact.

 

Extreme temperature changes that expand and contract the glass on a continuous basis can often produce small chips. Chips can also be caused by a heavy hailstorm. You could be driving along without a care in the world when suddenly multiple strikes of large rock-like hail pepper the screen resulting in multiple chips. Although more infrequent than flying debris, hail damage can be more serious and more difficult to repair.

 

Driving with a damaged windscreen can be both dangerous and against the law.

 

The Different Types of Windscreen Chips

These are among the most common types of windscreen damage:

 

Bullseye

Bullseye breaks are named after the bullseye on a dartboard. They are caused by a rock or other object that is round in shape leaving circular damage, typically with a cone in the outer layer of the glass. It is similar to a chip, but is larger. This type of damage is easily fixed if repaired early.

 

Half Moon

A half moon (also known as a partial bullseye) is a semi-circle and is also caused by a circular object. The damage is similar to a bullseye, but is not completely circular. Cracks are unlikely to form from a Half Moon and it is easily repaired.

 

Star Break

Star breaks are small cracks leading away from where the object hit the glass, leaving a starburst pattern. If a star break is not repaired immediately, it can cause numerous long cracks spreading across the windscreen.

 

Combination Break

This leaves multiple types of chips and cracks in a windscreen. It is a mix of bullseye and star breaks resulting in extensive damage, often with missing chunks of glass. The damage is difficult to repair, even with today’s technology

 

We Can Help with All Types of Windscreen Chips

Here at Centre Glass we specialise in windscreen repairs for all kinds of damage. Our experts will be able to advise you on the most cost effective and safe method of repair, to ensure that where possible, a repair is undertaken rather than a full windscreen replacement.

 

 

Remember the rule of thumb is as follows:

A windscreen / windshield chip less than 3mm (smaller than a matchstick head) does not usually need to be repaired.

A windscreen / windshield chip less than 25mm (smaller than a £2 coin) is repairable.

A windscreen / windshield chip over 25mm is usually non-repairable.

 

Call Us Today

We offer repairs that are fast and convenient. If your windscreen / windshield has a chip we’re here to help. We cover the whole of the midlands – Birmingham, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Stoke on Trent, Sheffield, Solihull, Coventry, Mansfield, Chesterfield, Lichfield, Cannock, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Redditch, Newark on Trent, Uttoxeter, Stafford, Burton Upon Trent, Dudley, Nuneaton, Melton Mowbray, Bromsgrove.

For a repair that you know will be done right, call Centre Glass today. Call or WhatsApp on 07923 449354 email centreglass@mail.com visit www.centreglass.org