The windshield in your car can withstand a lot of things, but once a crack develops in the glass, you need to repair or replace the glass. A crack in the glass weakens the integrity of the windshield, and in most areas, a cracked windshield can get you a ticket.
Repairing the Glass
If the crack is small enough in the glass, you can have the windshield repaired. If the crack in the glass is less then about two inches long, and only through the first layer of glass, a technician can fill the crack with a resin that is clear and will bond the glass and fill the crack in completely.
The glass will be as durable as when it is new, and the crack will not spread any further. The repair will only take a few minutes, and the resin cures very quickly so the car can be driven right away after the repair is made. Many glass companies now offer mobile repair services as well as mobile glass replacement, and they will come and make the repair where your car is at.
For people that are busy and don't have time to go to the glass shop, the mobile repair is an excellent option to have available to you.
Replacing the Windshield
If the crack in the windshield is too large or is traveling into the driver's view, repairing the glass is not an option. The glass shop will get a new windshield for your vehicle, and once it has arrived, they can arrange to bring your car into the shop to replace the glass or have a mobile technician come out and replace the glass while you are at work, or even in your driveway at home.
The technician will remove the old windshield from the car and determine if the seal needs replacing or not. Newer cars have a urethane sealant that holds the glass on the body and creates the seal around the glass. The technician will remove the old seal when he removes the glass from the car. Once the seal is off the car, the tech will check the surface around the windshield opening for rust and then replace the seal.
The new seal will cure very quickly, so the car can be driven as soon as the tech is finished with the job. In most situations, the glass will last the rest of the life of the car. You do not need to do anything special to it or treat it any different than the original glass that was replaced.
If you have other questions you want to learn about, try visiting windshield replacement sites to learn more.