Windshield Repair Forum

We all know that not all unrepaired rock chips eventually crack. Many times, the unrepaired rock chip is there for the life of the vehicle and never changes.
I consider wsr preventative maintainence, but sometimes I wonder how many of the repairs I do would not have cracked if left unrepaired? I have done in the neighborhood of 20 to 25 thousand repairs (including fleet and dealer work) in the course of my career. I wonder how many of these would not have cracked if left unrepaired? I know it's only speculation, but I'm guessing that it's somewhere in the neighborhood of 50%. Also, which type of damages do view as more likely to crack and which do you think are less likely to crack?

Like you said, it's all speculation. I would not even venture a guess. There are too many variables.....location of the break (near the edge or middle of w/s), the geographic location of your business (cold, wet, hot or dry), size of break, surface or sub-surface cracks and others that I haven't thought of! I've talked to customers that both had bat wing breaks. One had been there for 7-8 years (I repaired), the other cracked (needing replacement) within a week. I did not see the location of break that cracked, so that could have been a factor, but the description by the customer told me it was a bat wing type break.

Guys, another factor is the color of the auto. A lighter colored car could last longer without being repaired on a hot summer day as to a dark colored car of the same make.

Just anothr point to look at.

Don D.

Yeah, I know it's speculation but I happened to be thinking about it. Yes, there are dozens of variables that play into it but in general my guess is that half of what gets repaired would not have cracked further if not repaired.
Fortunately, a large part of the population aren't willing to play the odds!

Not all people who buy car insurance eventually have an accident; but you buy the insurance " just in case "
Windshield repair is another thing you invest in " just in case "

That's true. On that note...used to have a neighbor who was a very nice elderly man who recently passed away at 90 years old. One day we were talking about homeowners insurance. In the course of this man's lifetime, he never spent a dime on homeowners insurance. Said he would rather take his chances than pay in a fortune to an insurance company. He was a homeowner for 65 years and never paid a cent for insurance. If you look at the money this man saved by doing that, it's astounding!

However, the average Joe, including myself, isn't willing to take that big of a risk,

When I see a break and the customer says it's been there for years the break tends to be a bullseye. On the other hand, when I see a long crack it tends to originate from a star or combo - seldom a bullseye. So, I'd say that bullseyes tend no to spread as readily as other type breaks. Again, however, location, location, location.

I agree, most true bullseyes are not as high risk.

All I know is every big crack started off as a much smaller one. Most of my customers believe every small chip will spread rapidly if they do not get screenman in straight away. In my own opinion maybe they will maybe the will not.

The large companies work on an annual 10% breakage rate with a 50% repair rate measured against breakages. As to how many in total receive glass damage in a year is pure guess. My finger in the wind estimate would be 25 - 35%. I agree bullseye breaks have the lowest risk of cracking out, the key word is risk. Standard windscreens are getting more & more expensive, your customer needs to understand the risk.