Do you have a scratch on your windshield? This scratch could have been caused by a rock that hit your windshield or from the windshield wiper. If your scratch is very large, you should go see a professional so they can ensure the job is done correctly. They will be able to make sure no further damages occur during this repair. If the scratch is smaller, you might be able to fix it on your own at home. There are different repair kits that you can use to repair a windshield scratch.
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When you realize you have a windshield scratch, you will want to fix it as soon as possible. This will prevent it from getting bigger and worse problems occurring. When you first notice the scratch, you might be thinking how much money is this going to cost me? Additionally, you might be wondering how long will it take to repair the windshield? All of these questions can be answered by a mechanic. They can give you a price estimate and a timeline of exactly what needs to be done. If you need to repair a scratch in your windshield, you should plan on spending anywhere from $30 to $60.
What Is The Depth Of The Scratch?
Any type of windshield scratch can affect the visibility of the road. If you can’t see correctly out of your front windshield, accidents could occur. You don’t have to replace your windshield if your screen is scratched. It can be a simple repair to remove the scratches from your windshield.
The first thing you will want to do is find out how deep the scratch is. You might be wondering how can I do this on my own? You can try running your fingernail over the scratch. If your nail is not snagged when you move it along the scratch, then you know you have a superficial scratch. This type of scratch is very easy to repair and you will be able to do it by yourself.
Let’s say you are doing the fingernail test and your nail does get snagged on the scratch. What does this mean? You will need to take a more professional approach in fixing this windshield scratch. This means you have a deeper scratch. In many cases, these scratches require a windshield replacement. Unfortunately, these types of scratches spread incredibly fast. There is a change this scratch could spread throughout your windshield and greatly obstruct your view. There is not a repair kit that could fix this or prevent any scratch from becoming a crack. A crack will happen over time if your scratch is not repaired. A mechanic will be able to tell you whether your windshield scratch can be repaired or if it needs to be replaced because it’s too deep.
It is important to always get a professional's opinion before you try to fix it on your own. You can take your car into a repair shop and they will be able to give you a diagnosis. This is a great idea so you don’t spend money trying to repair a windshield scratch that actually needs to be replaced. Always go see a mechanic as soon as you notice the issue so it can get fixed immediately. This will prevent further issues from occurring.
What Materials Will I need?
So now you have determined you have a scratch on your windshield that needs to be repaired. You can try to repair this on your own if it is a small windshield scratch. You will need special materials to complete this task on your own. To repair a scratched windshield you will need to get an auto glass repair kit. This kit has everything you need to fix the windshield. Once you have purchased the kit, you will need to make sure that it includes a rubbing compound that has cerium oxide in it. This is very important because that substance bonds to the scratch and forms a seal over it. That seal will prevent the scratch from getting worse. It will also help it from cracking or breaking the windshield.
If you don’t have cerium oxide, don’t worry there are other products you can use. There is something called acrylic that is an alternative to cerium oxide. This product will do almost the exact same thing. It works great on light windshield scratches. If you have minor scratches, you should use acrylic because it will seal the scratch so it does not get worse over time.
It is important to note that if you use cerium oxide you need to wear protective gear because it is a very strong substance. You will need to wear a mask, a pair of rubber gloves, and goggles. This product is harsh so it is important to cover yourself up before you open up the bottle and put it on your scratch. Make sure you take the correct precautions to keep yourself safe during this repair process.
How Do I Prepare My Windshield?
Before you repair a windshield scratch, you need to make sure your windshield is prepared. The first step is to wipe down the glass. You want to make sure you get rid of any dirt and debris on your windshield. You might be wondering what you should use to do this? The best thing to use is a soft microfiber cloth. This will get rid of all the dirt on the glass. Next, you will want to spray glass cleaner on the windshield and wipe the entire thing down. This will ensure that you have no dirt on the glass before you repair the scratch. Make sure that you don’t apply the scratch remover until the windshield is completely dry. If you do it while it is wet, the process won’t work as it is supposed to.
It is important to note that you should not use dish soap to clean off your windshield. It is better to mix water and white vinegar and wipe down the glass. You can also use normal glass cleaner if you don’t have any of those other products. The main point is you just need to get the dirt off your windshield so that you can add on the scratch remover.
You will want to put painters tape over the edges of your windshield. You might be wondering why this is necessary? The purpose of this is to prevent this mixture from getting on to other parts of your car. The take will keep the mixture on the windshield which is where it is supposed to be.
Apply Scratch Remover
Now that everything is clean, you are ready to apply the scratch remover. Remember that you will need to wear goggles, a mask, and put gloves on before you do this. The cerium oxide is very strong so you need to protect yourself. You will want to be in an area that is well-ventilated so you don’t get stuck inhaling this substance.
First, you need to apply the cerium oxide on the scratched windshield. You will want to this with a piece of cloth. The compound will look like toothpaste. It has the same consistency as toothpaste. It is important to know what it should look like so you know that you are doing this correctly. The compound is easy to apply. Once you have put on the compound, spray it with a little bit of water and then gently rub the compound. Make sure you don’t apply too much pressure and take off all of the compounds. This compound is used to fill the small cracks in your windshield.
Once you have accomplished that, you will want to get a buffing machine. The buffing pad will need to be designed for glass surfaces. These are easy to find at any repair shop. When you first turn the machine on, start out slow. You don’t want to remove the entire compound and have to start all over. You can always increase the speed the more you do this. This is an important step in repairing a scratched windshield because it makes the glass smooth.
After you have used the buffing machine, make sure to wipe away any excess rubbing compound. You should always use a microfiber cloth anytime you are wiping your windshield. This is a special cloth that will not scratch up your windshield. Now that you are finished, you need to inspect the windshield to see if you notice the scratches. If there are still noticeable scratches, the rubbing compound did not get into the small cracks. You will want to do this process over again so that the mixture can get into the small cracks and get totally repaired.
Can I Reapply The Compound?
Are you wondering if this compound will wear down over time? The answer to your question is yes, it will. You might want to consider reapplying this compound on a regular basis. There is no harm in filling in the small cracks regularly. This will prevent cracks from getting worse and causing bigger issues. You don’t want your entire windshield to crack so reapplying this compound will help prevent that from happening. You will want to follow the same steps above when you are reapplying the compound to your windshield scratch.
Remember repairing a scratched windshield is pretty simple if the scratches are not deep. If they are very deep scratches, you will want a mechanic to inspect the scratch. Let them decide what the best option is. There is no point in adding the compound if they don’t think it will last long or fix the problem. They might tell you the entire windshield needs to be replaced. It is always a good idea to have a mechanic repair deeper cracks and replace your windshield if necessary.
Polish The Glass
You should always polish the glass when you are finished repairing the cracked windshield. This is the best way to refinish the entire windshield. When you polish the glass, you will remove light scratches, swirls and other marks that are on the windshield. This will leave your glass looking brand new and very clean.
When you are polishing your windshield you should never work in the direct sunlight. This can mess up how the polish dries on your windshield. Another thing to keep in mind is to never let the polish touch any of the painted surfaces on your car. This polish could take the paint off of your car. You can tape the edges of your windshield to help keep the polish where it is supposed to be. The tape will help ensure that the polish doesn’t splatter on other parts of the car and take the paint off. If some of the paint starts to peel, this will cost you more money to fix and a mechanic will have to help you with that. It is too hard to match the paint on a car. Mechanics have a special system that helps them match paint to ensure the color is the same throughout your car.
Conclusion
Do you have a scratch on your windshield? If so you will want to get it repaired as soon as possible. If you continue to drive, the scratch could turn into a crack and eventually get bigger. The bigger this gets, the more it will obstruct your view. It is always smart to fix a scratch on your windshield the moment you first notice it.
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