If you’ve got a chip in your windscreen – even the tiniest little chip – and summer is on its way, don’t wait to get it fixed.
Hot weather is one of the worst enemies of a chipped windscreen – and when the temperature starts rising, what seems like an innocuous little chip can quickly turn into a fast-moving spider web across your windscreen.
The fact is, extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, can cause a chip to grow and what would have been a simple and quick windscreen repair can escalate into a time-consuming and possibly costly, full windscreen replacement.
Here’s how it works. Modern windscreens are made up of a plastic sheet sandwiched between two glass panes – and are designed in such a way to tolerate some degree of flexing as they are built to be part of the structural strength of a vehicle. However, whenever there is expansion, contraction, flexing or other forces on the windshield such as hot summer temperatures which cause changes in the structure of the glass panes, a chip can grow into a crack. Modern windscreens are also thinner and are therefore more vulnerable to damage.
So if you’ve noticed a small chip on your windscreen and the mercury is starting to rise, don’t delay. Call your local windscreen repair company and either make an appointment to go to them, or better still, get them to come to you and do the job on site.
In the meantime, however, here’s what you should do:
Protect against dirt. Tiny dust particles can get into the chip and not only make it more difficult to repair, but make it worse too. Simply stick a piece of tape across the chip (translucent so you can see through it of course!).
Keep out of the sun. As we said, heat is an enemy of windscreen chips, so keep out of bright, hot sunlight and park your car in the shade or under cover.
Don’t wash your car. Bet you never thought that a windscreen chip could be used as an excuse for a dirty car, but the truth is that if moisture gets into the inner layer of the windshield, it could compromise the effectiveness of the repair. The resin used by your local windscreen repair company could be prevented from sticking properly, or it could be discoloured by water contamination further down the track. A wipe with a dry lint-free cloth is all you should do.
So, if summer is on its way and temperatures are rising, the advice from Windscreen Replacement Perth, a specialist in windscreen repair in Perth (where the mercury regularly rises over 350C) is to not let that little chip on your windscreen make you hot under the collar. Fix it before it starts to grow.
Jason Squire started Autoscreens in 2010. With over 35 years of experience gained in both the UK and Australia, the company is well established as a leading provider of windscreen replacement and autoglass repairs in Perth.
His journey to becoming a certified repairer license holder status with DMIRS (and business repair license MRB3703) began many years ago. He was born and brought up in the UK – the country where his long career in the automotive industry began. In common with many of the world’s best tradespeople it all started with an apprenticeship. For Jason, this was in vehicle bodybuilding and a specialisation in vehicle conversions.
He followed that up with several additional professional qualifications, including a Grade A Vehicle Body Building Certificate from the Road Transport Industry, a GQA level 2 in NVQ Automotive Glazing and a Level 2 qualification in Joining Materials by Welding from the UK Engineer Training Authority.
During his studies, Jason was also a part-time volunteer in the Royals signals with the Reserve Territorial Army. Between 1991 and 1995, Jason completed his Phase One Signallers Course with the Royal Armoured Corps and was awarded a Certificate of Trade Proficiency as a Territorial Army Driver Electrician Class 3. Training exercises took him all over Europe. He also represented the Signals in Rugby.
From there, he joined the armed forces on a full-time basis with the Queens Royal Lancers and continued to impress with his leadership skills and willingness to broaden his skillset, during which he lived in Germany. In 1996, he graduated from the Queens Royal Lancer Leadership Academy where he was named best recruit. His time with the Queens Royal Lancers he qualified as Tank Driver, Crew Medic and Gunner.
In 1999, Jason left the armed forces to join RAC Auto Windscreens. His skillset enabled him to fast-track his career to base supervisor and lead technician working with premiere dealerships in Crewe, Cheshire.
He also continued to volunteer in a number of different areas, including as a first responder with the West Midlands Ambulance Service and a scout leader with the Scout Association.
He relocated to Australia in 2008 with his young family and spent his first two years down under as a head technician for a national windscreen company.
However, with all his experience, extensive qualifications and his abiding passion for the automotive industry, it was inevitable that he would start his own company and make his mark as an industry leader.
He started Autoscreens in 2010 and has grown the business into the leading windscreen repair and replacement company in Perth, servicing both domestic and commercial customers. Autoscreens has a certified Motor Vehicle Repairers Licence MRB3703 issued by the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.