Windscreen stone chip repairs

[NiceCupOfTea]

Took a bit of debris to the windscreen on the motorway the other day, dead straight in front of my eyes, chip in the windscreen with slight spidering (1cm or so). I want to get it repaired as it’s probably a fail as it stands and it was a new screen 3 or 4 years ago.

Where’s the best place to go vs what’s the cheapest? Gavin at Autoglass purportedly used to inject his special resin into it for free via your insurance but is this still the case? They seem to quote £200+ on their website. Does most insurance still cover it for free or with a small excess? Do I have to use Autoglass or will a local company be better?

Cheers

Edited: just checked my policy and there is a a £75 excess on windscreen damage, assume this would be for a chip as well as replacement? Noted that they only pay the first £100 of any claim if it is not through their approved contractor (which is presumably Autoglass - how do any other windscreen companies stay in business?)

Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Thursday 19th October 15:15

[Shaw Tarse]

Where is local? https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?me...

[NiceCupOfTea]

Bromley / SE London.

[Shaw Tarse]

PM Glassman & check his reviews on here.

[Glassman]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Noted that they only pay the first £100 of any claim if it is not through their approved contractor (which is presumably Autoglass - how do any other windscreen companies stay in business?)

Some get called when the aforementioned balls it up.

[normalbloke]

I’ve never had a repair be truly invisible to the eye. If I have a chip in the screen in front of my eyeline, I usually encourage it to spread a little so that the screen is replaced.

[Glassman]

normalbloke said:

I’ve never had a repair be truly invisible to the eye. If I have a chip in the screen in front of my eyeline, I usually encourage it to spread a little so that the screen is replaced.

I suspect you've not had a good repair. That said, as good as a repair can be, it's impossible to get a 100% invisible finish. There will always be some evidence but one of the 'tricks' is to deceive the eye which makes it harder to find/spot.

[swisstoni]

Glassman said:

normalbloke said:

I’ve never had a repair be truly invisible to the eye. If I have a chip in the screen in front of my eyeline, I usually encourage it to spread a little so that the screen is replaced.

I suspect you've not had a good repair. That said, as good as a repair can be, it's impossible to get a 100% invisible finish. There will always be some evidence but one of the 'tricks' is to deceive the eye which makes it harder to find/spot.

While you are there Glassman, does temperature affect repairs ‘in the field’?

I had a couple of chips fixed at home a few years ago while it was cold and damp. The repairs are clearly visible.

[Glassman]

swisstoni said:

While you are there Glassman, does temperature affect repairs ‘in the field’?

I had a couple of chips fixed at home a few years ago while it was cold and damp. The repairs are clearly visible.

Yes, absolutely.

If attempted in the hot weather, the break must be cooled down. In the colder months, you don't necessarily have to warm the break up; if the repairer understands fracture mechanics, the correct working temperature can be reached when the break is dried out (using a heat source).

Rule of thumb: if the break looks the same before and after, it hasn't been repaired and someone has been conned.

[Bobupndown]

If its in line of sight its probably an mot fail. I'd be happier having the screen replaced.

[swisstoni]

Glassman said:

swisstoni said:

While you are there Glassman, does temperature affect repairs ‘in the field’?

I had a couple of chips fixed at home a few years ago while it was cold and damp. The repairs are clearly visible.

Yes, absolutely.

If attempted in the hot weather, the break must be cooled down. In the colder months, you don't necessarily have to warm the break up; if the repairer understands fracture mechanics, the correct working temperature can be reached when the break is dried out (using a heat source).

Rule of thumb: if the break looks the same before and after, it hasn't been repaired and someone has been conned.

That’ll be me then.

[66HFM]

I've got a chip in the middle of my windscreen which was due to be repaired by Auto Windscreens today, re-arranged to Tuesday due to fitter not being available.

£25 through my insurance, as they are their recommended glass supplier / repairer.

The £75 you've quoted on your excess will normally be for a new screen, a repair is between £10 and £25. Its in the insurance company's interest for it to be repaired as they don't wish to be paying for a new screen!

[normalbloke]

Glassman said:

normalbloke said:

I’ve never had a repair be truly invisible to the eye. If I have a chip in the screen in front of my eyeline, I usually encourage it to spread a little so that the screen is replaced.

I suspect you've not had a good repair. That said, as good as a repair can be, it's impossible to get a 100% invisible finish. There will always be some evidence but one of the 'tricks' is to deceive the eye which makes it harder to find/spot.

While that is possible, I’ve had a few done over the years, and as you say, they’re never truly invisible. Whilst I can put up with it elsewhere, if it’s in my line of sight, it’s unacceptable to me.

[Denis O]

Had a repair on my Abarth a couple of weeks ago. Total cost £48 not involving insurance. Was MOT’D with no advisories a week later. Advisory on screen last year. The glass guy said that if the original crack had been done prior to it raining it would still show. The water penetrates the crack and makes it seeable once repaired. Mine was much improved but was still seeable.

[sixor8]

10mm is the limit in driver's eye straight ahead, 40mm elsewhere:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sticker...

It may get worse if unattended to.

I, too have persuaded (ahem...) a small crack into a big one . The excess on screens has gone up quite a lot though recently due to the cost of some heated screens and cars with variable cruise control. My latest policy has a £125 excess on glass replacement. Have a repair first if you can I'd have thought.

[ro250]

Fix it yourself. I was always nervous about doing it but you can't go wrong and I improved a chip on my screen by loads. I used the RainX kit -

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186087118909?var=0&...

[sixor8]

I hope it's available locally, £60 P+P from the USA is a bit steep.

[ro250]

sixor8 said:

I hope it's available locally, £60 P+P from the USA is a bit steep.

I just linked it for the product. I bought it in Asda for about £8. There's loads on ebay and they're all basically resin with some sort of injector.

[Glassman]

ro250 said:

I just linked it for the product. I bought it in Asda for about £8. There's loads on ebay and they're all basically resin with some sort of injector.

The basic principle is to induce the repair resin with pressure and vacuum cycles. The DIY kits are designed to provide you with the absolute basic/minimum you need to attempt a repair. There is no advice on drying out (essential) and it doesn't instruct when/why you should intervene to manipulate the break.

You get what you pay for.