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Imagine you’re driving along your favorite country road when your unsuspecting windshield is assaulted by a stray pebble.  Your windshield is left with a pesky stone chip etched in its glass. This scenario is a common one, with an often-simple solution, windshield repair.  Depending on the type of damage and the extent of the damage incurred, windshield repair may be a cost saving solution to total repair.

Understanding Damage Types

There are generally two types of damage created by debris on the road, rock chips or cracks.  Rock chips are generally small shatters created by the impact of various types of road debris.  A crack in the windshield is a different kind of damage consisting of a prominent line of separation.  This generally stems from the point of impact.

Understanding the Specifics of Rock Chips

Rock chips can be categorized into four separate categories based upon the manifestation of the shatter.  Rock chips dubbed the bulls eye or partial bulls eye is characterized by a damaged area surrounded by a separate circular layer of glass.  It gives the appearance of a bulls eye as the outer area is darker surrounded by the middle point of impact.  This is the type of rock chip most frequently seen by service centers.  It can be easily repaired providing the chip does not exceed a diameter larger than one inch.  Another type of chip is the star chip which manifests as multiple legs coming out from the center of the point of impact.  This chip can be repaired if the entirety of the damage is no more than 3 inches.  Other possible chips include the combination chip which derives its name from its multiple characteristics.  These chips can include a star within a bulls eye, short crack, or long cracks stemming from the point of impact.  These are also eligible for repair providing the totality of the damage is not more than 2 inches.  Lastly, it is possible to obtain a surface pit in your windshield.  This is merely a small nick that appears in your windshield due to normal wear and tear.  This damage will not damage the inner, plastic layer and can be repaired if the area is at least 1/8 inch in diameter.

Understanding Windshield Cracks

A windshield crack measuring 6 inches or less is referred to as a short crack, whereas a long crack is more than 6 inches in length.  Any crack reaching to the edge of the windshield is dubbed an edge crack, while a crack that does not reach the edge is called a floater crack.  The final type of windshield crack, a stress crack, is developed from an edge with no recognizable point of impact.  Typically, all five types are eligible for repair if they do not exceed 12 inches.  This excludes stress or edge cracks that crossover more than one edge.

Don’t Let a Small Problem Become a Nightmare

It is easy to procrastinate on a repair but waiting could cause the crack to become worse.  Simple conditions such as a hot summer or cold winter day could exacerbate the crack.  Don’t put off or overlook this necessary repair or you could end up costing yourself extra money for a total windshield replacement when a simple windshield repair would’ve sufficed had it not been left go.

While not all chips and cracks will be eligible for repair, a large majority will.  It is possible to improve the appearance of the crack between 60 and 99 percent.  Appearance aside, a job done correctly will restore 100% of the strength of your windshield after completion.  Speak to a skilled windshield repair specialist to answer any questions or concerns regarding your windshield damage!

The process of detecting and evaluating hail damage is subjective at best, and often everyone involved will offer a different assessment. Damage can range from large, highly visible dents and tears to almost undetectable indentations or invisible granule damage. However, even small amounts of damage can harm the surfacing material, leading to deterioration of the shingles months later. Normally, if a shingle indicates outward damage, the underlying components may be compromised and affected to some degree.

On damaged roofs, the hail impact may affect the embedment of the granular surfacing in the asphalt top coating. This loosens the granules, potentially allowing the granules to separate from the coating layer and wash off the roof. Without the granule surfacing, the asphalt top coating is exposed to ultraviolet radiation from ordinary sunlight and will eventually deteriorate, exposing the fiberglass substrate and creating the potential for a leak. On severe hail damage, the fiberglass substrate may be physically broken further, compromising the weather integrity of the shingle.Without visible damage there is no real way to be sure how much damage shingles have encountered. Outward damage may not appear until months or years later.In accordance with the terms of the Limited Warranty, there is no coverage for damage caused by hail. However, should the shingles be damaged by hail, there is continuing coverage for manufacturing defects.There is a definite distinction between a manufacturing defect and damage caused by hail.When evaluating hail damage, look for the following conditions:

Tears in the Shingle – Tears are normally worse on reproofs due to the irregular surface support. The main areas showing damage usually include hips, ridges, sides of dragon’s teeth, and butt edges of shingles.
Indentations in the Shingle – Indentations will be either round or half-moon shaped. Some damage may not be visible and will require you to feel for any indentations, or to break the bonds of the shingle and feel the backside for any irregularities.

Excessive Granule Loss – May be an indicator of possible damage. Check gutters or the ground around the house for loose granules. Accelerated granule loss will significantly reduce the life of the shingle.

Other Collateral Damage:

• Broken skylights
• Broken windows
• Tree or shrub damage
• Car dents

Hailstones vary in size, shape and hardness. They can create a random pattern of dents or depressions consisting of various sizes, shapes and depths. If you keep in mind the typical random pattern of hail damage when evaluating a damaged roof, you should be able to assess the situation properly. If you have any further questions regarding hail damage, contact your homeowner’s insurance company.

Information provided by: Remedy Roofing, Lakewood, CO www.remedyroofing.com