A chip in your windscreen can quickly turn from a minor annoyance into a major safety concern. At Advanced Autoglazing, we’ve seen countless cases where early intervention could have prevented the need for a complete windscreen replacement. Let’s explore your repair options and help you make an informed decision about what’s best for your vehicle’s safety.
What’s Actually Happened to Your Windscreen?
Your windscreen is tough – it has to be! It helps hold your car together in an accident and makes sure your airbags work properly. That’s why even a small chip needs proper attention.
When you get a chip, it’ll probably look like one of these:
- Star Breaks: These look like a spider web, with cracks spreading out from a central point. Repairable if under 40mm in diameter.
- Bullseye Chips: Circular damage with a cone-shaped pit. Generally repairable if under 25mm across.
- Half-Moon/Crescent Chips: Similar to bullseye damage but semicircular. Typically repairable if smaller than 25mm.
- Stone Chips: Small, basic chips without spreading cracks. Most repairs are possible if caught early.
The Reality of DIY Repair
If you decide to tackle the repair yourself, you’re looking at a good two to three hours of work. First, you’ll need perfect weather conditions – not too hot, not too cold, and definitely not raining. The repair area needs to be spotlessly clean and completely dry. You’ll have to carefully follow a process of applying resin, creating vacuum pressure, and curing the repair properly.
Here’s what often goes wrong with DIY repairs: air bubbles get trapped in the resin, the repair bonds don’t hold under pressure, or the finish ends up looking cloudy. We’ve seen plenty of cases where a DIY repair actually made things worse, leaving the windscreen more vulnerable to cracking and making professional repair more difficult.
If you’re determined to try the DIY route, here are the best kits out there:
- Suitable for chips up to 25mm
- Includes UV curing light
- Known for ease of use
Blue Star Fix My Windscreen Kit
- Professional-grade resin formula
- Works on multiple damage types
- Comprehensive instructions included
Permatex Windscreen Repair Kit
- Specially designed for bull’s-eye damage
- Step-by-step video guide available
- Includes precision applicator
- Advanced UV curing technology
- Includes precision pressure chamber
- Compatible with all glass types
- Professional-grade German engineering
- Trusted brand
- High-quality resin formula
- Clear application process
When Professional Repair Makes More Sense
Think of your windscreen like your teeth – yes, you could probably fill a cavity yourself, but would you want to? Professional windscreen repair isn’t just about having better tools and materials (though we do). It’s about understanding how different types of damage behave, how weather conditions affect repairs, and how to ensure the repair will hold up over time.
At Advanced Autoglazing, we use industrial-grade resins and specialised equipment that simply aren’t available in consumer kits. Our vacuum injection process ensures complete filling of the damage, and we work in controlled conditions that guarantee optimal curing. Most importantly, we can spot potential problems that might not be visible to the untrained eye.
A Quick Comparison
| What You Get | Professional Repair | DIY Kit |
| Equipment | Industrial-grade | Basic consumer |
| Environment | Controlled conditions | Weather dependent |
| Guarantee | Full warranty | None typically |
| Insurance | Fully compliant | May void coverage |
| Time Investment | 1 hour (we do the work) | 2-3 hours (your time) |
| Results | Consistently high quality | Variable results |
Several situations warrant immediate professional attention.
Contact us if:
- The damage is larger than a £2 coin
- You notice the chip spreading
- The damage is in your line of sight
- Multiple chips or cracks are present
- The damage reaches the edge of the windscreen
The Professional Repair Process
When you book with us, we make things simple. Our technicians start with a thorough assessment of the damage. We look at factors like depth, location, and whether there might be underlying damage that isn’t immediately visible.
The actual repair process takes about an hour, and you can watch us work if you’re interested. We clean the area thoroughly, create a proper vacuum seal, inject our professional-grade resin, and cure it under controlled conditions. Once it’s cured, we polish the area to restore perfect clarity. The result? A repair that’s virtually invisible and, more importantly, structurally sound.
Get Your Free Quote Today
Worried about that chip? Let’s sort it out before it becomes a bigger problem. Getting a quote is free and easy – just request a quote online or speak to us at 01206 50 49 50. We’ll have your windscreen sorted in no time, and you can get back to driving with peace of mind.
Remember: The longer you leave it, the more likely that tiny chip will turn into a crack that needs your whole windscreen replaced. Don’t let that happen – get in touch today!
