Remove Windshield Scratches: A Simple 3 Step Solution

Windscreens, like every other component of your vehicle, are subject to wear and tear over time. Windshield scratches are more than just an eyesore; they may also degrade visibility and even lead to accidents. A scratched windscreen can be created from a variety of events that occur on a daily basis.

What Causes Scratches on the Windshield?

It’s possible for a scratch to emerge out of nowhere on a windshield. Even though it’s unavoidable, scratches might appear while washing the glass of dirt and grit. Your windshield becomes scratched when a hard item strikes the glass’ surface. Possibly a stone or other debris that has been thrown up accidentally on the road.

Windshield wipers can also leave a scratch. Little stones or gritty dust trapped under the wiper blade can create abrasions on the windshield. Be sure to always use the windshield washer when you’re using your wipers. Scratches can also be caused by wiper blades that are ill-fitting or worn out. The metal components of the windshield wiper might come into touch with the windshield glass if the rubber wiper blade becomes dislodged. The surface can then be scratched.

Why Do Windshield Scratches Need To Be Fixed Immediately?

Scratches on the windshield are less noticeable than dings or cracks. Especially if the scratches are in the driver’s line of sight, you’ll have to find a solution to get rid of the annoyance to avoid driving distractions.

As soon as you see a scratch in your car’s paintwork, feeling a pang of fear is quite natural. Every time you get into your lovely automobile, the damage becomes more apparent. An expert can restore it to its original state with more perfection than your unprofessional attempt of DIY patching.

If there’s a little scratch on your windshield, this may potentially represent a safety concern to the user. Scratches that are left untreated might grow severe. Eventually, a chip or crack might become a major issue, requiring a full windshield replacement. Check for any windshield scratches and take prompt action if any are discovered.

DIY Remedies For Removing Light Scratches From A Windshield

Scratches on a windshield that aren’t too severe can be removed with an acrylic scratch remover. In the event that this does not work, or if the damage is more serious, you can increase the intensity of the therapy. Use cerium oxide paste if the scratch is less than 50 microns, but larger than a light scratch or haze.

To treat lighter scratches, start by thoroughly wiping your windshield using a microfiber cloth. Before treating it, make sure it’s totally dried off and absolutely free of moisture. Remove scratches from the glass by applying acrylic scratch remover to the damaged area of the glass With a moist microfiber cloth, rub it. Upon drying, it appears translucent and covers the surface, protecting it from the elements.

DIY Remedies For Removing Deep Scratches From A Windshield

Take a careful look at the damage first. If the damage is not that severe, Cerium oxide paste can be used to cure deeper scratches of up to 50 microns. As a glass repair kit, it can be purchased at an auto repair shop or auto parts store. However, the following guide might also assist.

The following materials will be required-

1. Normal vehicle cleaning products and equipment
2. Compound/paste of Cerium Oxide
3. Polishing wheel and soft pad for hand drill (optional)
4. Glass cleaning for your car
5. A soft, dry towel
6. A water spray for the hands

1st Step: Cleaning The Windshield

The windshield should be washed and cleaned with a standard auto detergent and water mixture. Attention must be paid to the region that needs to be treated. Using an auto glass cleaner, clean the glass. Remove any soap or vehicle cleaning residue by rinsing the area thoroughly. Completely dry the glass with a clean, dry towel.

2nd Step: Using Cerium Oxide Paste

If you have bought a kit, simply follow the directions on using the cerium oxide compound or paste. Observe all safety precautions and instructions written on the mini card.

1. Compounds should be applied directly to the area to be treated.
2. Spray it with water to turn it into a paste-like consistency.
3. Rub the compound with a cloth or a hand drill polisher.
4. Don’t use too much paste.
5. Uneven results might arise as a result of this practice.
6. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to finishing a scratched surface.
7. Keep sliding the polishing cloth or buffer over the glass.
8. Keep applying moderate pressure and be careful not to put too much pressure on.
9. 3-4 times, re-applying compound and polishing- these are all that needs to be done here.
10. Let your compound dry completely. A typical session lasts 30 minutes.

The chemical will seal the scratch and also bind it. In this way, the possibility of the scatch spreading and eventually breaking is reduced.

The final step is to wash the windshield one more time. Dry the glass and wipe it carefully until the haze is gone.

3rd Step : Do Not Forget Aftercare

Once the repair is complete, it doesn’t mean that you are free from all duties. You should keep an eye on it and perform regular maintenance chores. Remember to re-apply the compound every now and again to keep scratches off your windshield. As a result, there will be less chance for the same thing to happen again. It’s possible that if the scratch reappears, but you can get it repaired on your own.

Visit A Professional Windshield Scratch Removal Service

There’s no way to fix a severe fracture yourself at home. If your windshield is shaky, expanding, or plainly beyond repair, it’s time to replace it. When a scratch is deeper than 50 microns, it is considered a complex scratch. A DIY method may not work here and the damage is irreparable if it spreads. If you want a permanent solution, it is wise to take your car to a reputed automobile servicing shop. They have the right people with years of expertise and the right tools and products to repair the severe scratches from your windshield.

Different Types of Safety Car Glass

Car Glass technology is a growing field. Different improvements and R&D leads to the development of different types of safety car glass for modern cars. These safety car glasses are unique from building glasses in terms of the protection they provide. Most of the countries mandate only using safety glasses that shatter into non-dangerous pieces and don’t harm car passengers in case of an accident.

Broadly there are 5 different types of safety glass used in automobiles based on the material and technology used to manufacture/fabricate the glass. These glasses include Front windscreen, door glass, body glass, rear defogger glass, and sunroof.

Types of Safety car glass

Let’s check, properties and uses of different types of safety car glass used in automobiles.

Laminated Glass

Laminated glass is the most common type of safety car glass used in windshields and sunroofs. It is by far the most-produced automotive glass partly due to its vulnerability and high breakage rate. Still, due to the properties of laminated film, it offers the best protection from glass itself as well as debris from outside. The laminated layer improves the penetration resistance ability of the car windshield without compromising its visibility.

Laminated glass is mainly made by putting a PVB layer in between 2 glass layers and some chemicals for strengthening or other properties like color, transparency, acoustic properties, etc. Laminated glass is used as a windshield in cars as it doesn’t shatter. PVB layer binds the glass together in case of damage and saves passengers. Even in case of a severe accident, a laminated car windshield acts as a cushion and protects the passengers. A laminated car windshield also keeps passengers safe by supporting airbag deployment.

Tempered Safety Glass

The second type of safety car glass is Tempered Glass. Tempered glass is used in rear windows, fixed body glass, doors, and the sunroof of your car. Tempered glass is stronger than laminated glass but it gets scattered on hitting hard or at the edges. For this reason, most countries do not permit its use as a windshield in cars.

Tempered glass is made by the heating glass at high temperatures and suddenly cooling it. Like laminated glass, specific chemicals are used to add properties to make special types of car glass-like solar control glass, acoustic glass, and colored glass.

Additionally, tempered glass in cars no longer harms you even after scattering. Tempered safety car glass is made such that it doesn’t have fine edges while scatter in pieces and hence doesn’t harm the occupant.

Defogging / Heated Glass

The third type of safety car glass is based on its use. A Defogging or Heated glass is used for defrosting the car glasses in the winter season. For cars used in cold countries, most car manufacturers offer defogging glasses. Car rear window glass is the most common defogging glass used in automobiles. You can recognize defogging glass easily by looking at the copper wires mesh on its inner surface. These wires heat the glass from inside and hence remove the fog and ice from the rear window.

Luxury or premium car brands like Mercedes, Jaguar, or Porsche also offer heated laminated car windshields. These heating windshields have very thin titanium alloy wires for defogging. Manufacturers need state-of-the-art defogging technologies to manufacture such heated windshields for cars, as they need to make sure that wire doesn’t affect drivers’ vision.

Windshield Store uses Saint Gobain and Pilkington heated car windshields. These are two renowned global car glass manufacturers for defogging windscreens. For instance, you can observe windshields of Jaguar XJL or Range Rover Discovery to check the quality and engineering required to make such a windscreen.

Also, such cars that use defogging windshield glass have an expensive windshield replacement cost. For example, Porsche Windshield Replacement is costlier than Hyundai cars who do not have the defogging feature.

Solar Control Glass

Solar heating is a prominent issue in most Asian, African, and American markets. It affects car cabins condition and causes discomfort to occupants. It also reduces car AC performance. Both solar UV and IR rays affect human health. So, car manufacturers like Mercedes, BMW, KIA offer a different type of safety car glass i.e. Solar coated car windshield.

The solar windshield has a special layer along with the PVB layer that absorbs about 99% of heat rays coming from the sun. It absorbs UV as well as IR rays coming from sun and makes car cabin cooler and pleasant. In most cases, a solar windshield is manufactured using an absorptive glazing method. Tinted and Privy glasses are the best examples of absorptive solar glass in cars.

PGW is well known for its SUNGATE and SOLARGREEN brands of solar control windshields. Mercedes S-Class uses SUNGATE windscreen, it is one of the most sold luxury sedan globally.

Acoustic Car Glass

Another special type of safety car glass that automotive glass manufacturer offers is Acoustic glass. Acoustic glass is most commonly used in car windshields. These special windscreens have layers that offer better resistance to sound and make the car interior more peaceful. Acoustic car windshields offer better protection from ambient noise.

Wrapping up: The automobile industry uses different types of safety car glass, the main purpose is to offer the best driving experience without compromising the safety of the occupants. You should select a trustworthy glass replacement company to guide you through the pros and cons of different types of safety car glass available in the market.

For more details or any inquiry regarding car glass repair and replacement contact your nearest Windshield Store or call +91-9278783578.