If you’ve been driving for a few years, then you probably already know all about the various scrapes and scratches your car can get into when out and about on the roads. Windscreen scratches and chips can be the bane of drivers’ existence, and it’s important not to leave them for too long. In fact, the longer you wait before repairing your windscreen, the worse the problem is likely to get – and scratches can really start to affect your visibility after a while. There are, thankfully, a few steps you can take to repair minor scratches without having to get a professional in. Here are some suggestions you may want to bear in mind.
Clean things up first
The first thing you need to remember is that when repairing windscreen scratches, it’s best to use distilled water. This is because distilled water is generally free of contaminants such as chemicals or grit, and can therefore help to remove damaged sections of the windscreen whilst simultaneously maintaining the coolness of the glass. Also, when repairing your windscreen, make sure you keep your car’s paintwork properly covered up. This should help to prevent it from being damaged inadvertently while you go about removing scratches from your windscreen.
Tape off the the damaged area
Clean your windscreen by applying the distilled water with a soft cloth. Then, use tape to make a dam on the windscreen. Stick one side of the tape to the windscreen, then add a second strip of tape – of around the same size as the first – and stick them together. Do the same again, horizontally. Then, make sure you have a buffing machine at hand. Connect a polishing disk to it and gently buff the damaged area of your windscreen. If you need to use more than one disk, don’t be afraid to do so. Make sure you take a good look at the windscreen before you finish, so that there is no visible sign of damage present. Once you’ve done that, you can then remove the tape and clear away the various tools you used.
Call an expert if necessary
Of course, it may be that the scratch is too deep for you to repair, and in this case you should call out an expert to take a closer look at it. Chips are also very common out on the roads, with other vehicles kicking up stones and grit, thereby causing damage to those following behind. It’s essential that you don’t leave it too long before you repair your car’s windscreen. Remember, chips and scratches can deteriorate over time, and it may be that if you don’t get them seen to quickly you later find you have no choice but to simply replace the damaged windscreen.
Having chips and scratches repaired can save you a substantial amount of money, which is particularly important for many of us in the current financial climate. If the damage is relatively minor and you can carry out the repair yourself, then it might be worth doing so. However, if you’re unsure about whether or not you’ll actually be able to fix the problem on your own, it might be better that you avoid taking any risks.
This guest blog contributed by William Tavish a freelance blogger who suggest that if you are suffering a lot from paint scratches, then you should also check for a
cracked windscreen.