Free windscreen chip repairs - any good?

harryhound

As someone who threw a wet swimming towel onto a windscreen to dry;
I would recommend repairing even a tiny little chip with the "star" effect.

The nearer the chip to the edge, the more of a problem it seems to be.

The professionals squirt a fluid into the chip and then cure it. They used to use heat to speed the cure, but now use ultra violet light.

That said I always repair chips in my headlights with Araldite and would be tempted to do the same with a chip in a windscreen, outside the main area infront of the driver, or the passenger.

Harry.

peterbaker

What's the wet swimming towel story??

I have had two chips repaired by Autoglass in the last year on two different vehicles. It is important to realise that the repairs are rarely invisible, but they are supposed to stop further cracking. That's why if the crack is too big or in the main line of sight the screen has to be scrapped.

Autoglass spent around 15 or 20 minutes on each repair using some kind of cleaning process to get the dirt out, the injection process to get the repair material into the crack under pressure, the ultraviolet process to harden it and finally some kind of polishing to flatten the repair I think. One of the screens has since been replaced because it cracked rather more convincingly on the opposite side.

As I said, the repair is often still visible, but then again it saves me a £60 excess and it's convenient.

zippyzippy_2

I actually repair windscreens for a living and I'd like to put a few things straight. You can have any chip in your windscreen repaired for free if you have a fully comprehensive policy with glass cover. The repair will not affect any no claims bonus and will not incur an excess either. The insurance companies do this as they know in most cases, the chip will become a crack, eventually resulting in them having to cough up several hundred pounds for a new windscreen. Most chips can be repaired but the success of the repair depends on a number of things. First, if the chip has been there a long time it may have dirt inside the glass or the laminate has been discoloured a milky colour caused by water getting inside the break and contaminating the laminate. These chips can be repaired but the end result will usually not be as good as a fresh break. However most of my repairs have an improvement of about 95-99% of clarity after repair.
Unfortunately using a replacement firm to repair your windscreen is not ideal as they make far more money on a windscreen than on repairing one so are far more likely to push you into having one if they can find an excuse. I see this happening on a daily basis, people telling me that Autoglass said it cant be repaired for any number of ridiculous reasons (too close to the edge, 2 chips too close together, too big etc) which are all rubbish and I usually end up repairing them fine after which the customer then complains to Autoglass for trying to push them into having a new screen. The stupid thing is that most insurance companies reccommend either of the 2 big windscreen companies not realising that in most cases it is costing them more money in windscreens than is necessary.
I like to think I am good at my work and it makes me angry when I see bad repairs all done by replacement firms that could have been so easy to repair properly with a bit of time and care.

harryhound

peterbaker wrote: »

What's the wet swimming towel story??

I lobbed the wet towel onto the screen. The sun came out, heating the screen that was not kept cold by the breeze blowing over the wet towel; thus creating expansion stress in the glass. Bingo a SMALL chip in the windscreen, that had been there for YEARS, cracked across the screen to get to the nearest edge.

I think that towel cost me 125GBP and a discussion about "would a Ford black dotty edging look OK on a patterned part fitted to a Toyota !"

The professional writing above is talking sense; don't suppose he works in S.Essex ?! I think I'll ask a local taxi driver if it happens again.

Harry

PS I used to import the plastic interlayer (in a former life) on behalf of Du Pont, who made it. It was shipped wrapped in special silver film to keep the moisture out and covered in warning instructing people NOT to open the package, but 'phone a help line; just guess what those ******* at Customs & Excise seemed to take a delight in doing.

stamford

Mr Autoglass filled 3 chips last week, very good service, one phone call and one job sheet to sign. As per previous posters the guy told me it won't make them vanish but it will prevent them from spreading.

dilip

I had a bad experience with morethan. I had my windscreen repair done by one of the companies offering a free repair in april. Two months later when it came to renewing my policy I was shocked to find that it was added as a claim to my policy. I was told by more than it would not affect my NCB with them but other insurers would count this as a claim. I feel cheated as I never made a claim and morethan would not remove this claim even if I reimbursed them with the £71-00 which they have apparently paid to the repairer. Always check with your insurer before the work. IT IS CERTAINLY NOT FREE AND I WISH I HAD PAID FOR IT RATHER THAN GOT IT FOR FREE

Nick_Morgan

Thanks, I'd be interested to know more. Cheers Nick

cyclonebri1

It doesnt sound as if it's going to be a free insurance service for much longer.

My OH works for one of the 2 large windscreen producers/fitters in the UK.
It seems that over the next 12 months most if not all insurers will start to charge for this service, Directline, for example, £10 per chip I understand. Get 'em done now.;)

TheJudge_2

zippyzippy wrote: »

I actually repair windscreens for a living and I'd like to put a few things straight. You can have any chip in your windscreen repaired for free if you have a fully comprehensive policy with glass cover. The repair will not affect any no claims bonus and will not incur an excess either. The insurance companies do this as they know in most cases, the chip will become a crack, eventually resulting in them having to cough up several hundred pounds for a new windscreen. Most chips can be repaired but the success of the repair depends on a number of things. First, if the chip has been there a long time it may have dirt inside the glass or the laminate has been discoloured a milky colour caused by water getting inside the break and contaminating the laminate. These chips can be repaired but the end result will usually not be as good as a fresh break. However most of my repairs have an improvement of about 95-99% of clarity after repair.
Unfortunately using a replacement firm to repair your windscreen is not ideal as they make far more money on a windscreen than on repairing one so are far more likely to push you into having one if they can find an excuse. I see this happening on a daily basis, people telling me that Autoglass said it cant be repaired for any number of ridiculous reasons (too close to the edge, 2 chips too close together, too big etc) which are all rubbish and I usually end up repairing them fine after which the customer then complains to Autoglass for trying to push them into having a new screen. The stupid thing is that most insurance companies reccommend either of the 2 big windscreen companies not realising that in most cases it is costing them more money in windscreens than is necessary.
I like to think I am good at my work and it makes me angry when I see bad repairs all done by replacement firms that could have been so easy to repair properly with a bit of time and care.

zippyzippy,
now in situation as you described thanks to some hooligan who threw a stone at the car while the wife was driving. got intouch with insurance company who passed my details on to their "approved" co's, described damage to screen, chip & crack, approx 8" long, both said can't repair, can only replace, costing me £60 excess (obviously amke more money that way !!!), anybody in the west midlands you can recommend for possible repair ?

TheJudge_2

ozvaldinho wrote: »

I've had about 15 screen repairs on my fleet in the last year. Several of these were on screens that RAC autoglass would have refused to repair. They repaired two chips for me, but did such an awful job I wish I hadn't bothered.

One day I saw a guy in the leisure centre car park opposite who had one of these screen repair franchises, so I decided to give him a try. He does a superb job, a lot of the time you have to look really hard to see the repair. He's also repaired a couple of cracks up to 6 inches long, which surprised me.

Anybody needs a recommendation, PM me for the details...I'm in East Anglia.

ozvaldinho,
in a similar situation, anybody you can recommend in the west midlands area for a chip & subsequent crack about 6" long caused by some little hooligan throwing a stone at the wife's car ? insurance co. passed my details on to big 2, both claim can't be repaired, needs replacement costing me £60 excess