Repair or replace? Ask a Muskoka expert

A chipped windshield can turn a good day into a bad one in the blink of an eye.

Assessing the extent of the damage can be something of a guess but according to the experts, there are a few rules of thumb to go by.

“If the spot on your windshield is the size of a loonie or smaller, it can generally be repaired instead of replaced,” says John Blackall, who has more than 30 years of experience in the business and owns the Speedy Glass in Huntsville and Bracebridge, along with his wife Lee. “If you have a crack that extends from the damage or any other crack it’s time to replace it. Your windshield is 30 percent of your car’s structural strength so it’s important to repair or replace it as soon as possible.”

It’s also vital to deal with the damage quickly because a delay could turn a small problem into a big one, and a simple repair job into a full replacement.

If the damage is small and circular, it might be possible to have the windshield repaired. However, if the damage includes multiple cracks or is located directly in the driver’s line of sight, then it’s likely a replacement is in order.

“If we do a repair and it breaks from that spot, we’ll refund the cost of the repair towards the replacement,” says John.

Another factor that might indicate a full replacement is needed includes deep damage to the glass which penetrates the inner layer of safety glass. Likewise, if the damage is directly over a heating element or radio antenna, or the crack reaches into the windshield’s edges it will likely require replacement.

As an added reason to get your vehicle in as quickly as possible, Speedy Glass’s Muskoka locations also feature free windshield repairs for those who have glass breakage insurance.

“We always try to first repair your existing windshield before replacing it with a new one, usually saving you both time and money,” says John.

Speedy have been the experts in auto glass repair and replacement in Muskoka for more than 30 years. They can repair or replace any type of auto glass whatever the make, model and age of the vehicle. That includes vehicles with the latest technology like Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (otherwise known as ADAS).

“ADAS systems greatly contribute to improving your safety as well as other road users,” says John “When we replace a windshield with a camera it also has to be calibrated by attaching our machine and taking the car on the highway so the camera can read the lines.”

Speedy also offers a gamut of products to compliment your vehicle including truck caps, tonneau covers, mud flaps, vent visors, hitches, bike racks and almost any other accessory that you can think of.

For more information visit www.speedyglass.ca.