You notice a 6-inch crack in the windshield of your car. A windshield replacement is not possible on your present budget. Can the damaged windshield be repaired?
Auto insurers differ on how they deal with cracked windshields. Most policies that cover glass breakage will approve a repair if the crack can be covered with a dollar bill. That's about 6 inches. For cracks larger than 6 inches your insurance provider may require a full windshield replacement.
Higher damage deductibles might force you to consider repairing a crack longer than 6 inches. New repair technology can mend cracks up to 24 inches in length depending on who performs the repair and the method used.
A small hole is drilled at one end of the crack. Special tools inject a glass healing resin into the crack forcing it the full length of the crack. The access hole is also filled with resin. When the resin cures it is polished to finish the process. Repair kits are available at auto parts stores for the do-it-yourselfer.
