Learn to Blow Glass

Glass blowing is a wonderful hobby that results in some beautiful artwork for your home. My name is Natalie, and I started in glass blowing as a hobbyist, but now I teach classes in this skill. Some people think glass blowing is difficult or dangerous. That's not the case at all. As you build your skill level, you will find that you learn very quickly. In this blog, I will examine the misconceptions about glass blowing and teach you some of the techniques. I will also give you helpful tips about where to find a glass so you can practice this new skill yourself.

Sudden Starburst Crack Or Chip In Your Home Window? Possible Causes And How To Fix It Affordably

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Looking at your once-perfect home window and realizing that the glass now has a sudden chip or starburst crack in it can be alarming. You may worry that it was caused by an attempted break-in while you were away from home and begin worrying that the glass will cost a small fortune to replace. Before you panic, read on to find out what the most common causes of chips and starburst cracks in windows are and why the fix may be very affordable, or even free!

Common Causes of Home Window Chips and Starburst Cracks

If you didn't see the damage to your window occur, then you can never truly rule out that it was an attempted home intrusion. However, if nothing else inside or outside of your home is disturbed, there are far more likely causes of the small amount of damage than an attempted home invasion. Chips are most commonly caused by the impact of a small object hitting the window, such as a rock. Lawnmowers that encounter small rocks often send them flying and hitting windows, and strong storms can also cause rocks to fly. Of course, if there are unruly children in the neighborhood that often throw rocks, then that could be where the flying debris came from as well. 

A starburst crack, also called a star break, can be caused by flying debris hitting the window. The small cracks projecting from the main chip are just an additional pattern of trauma that can occur due to a larger piece of debris striking the window or a stronger impact. 

Now that you know the common causes of window chips and cracks, you likely are still worrying about how much replacement can cost. 

Tips for an Affordable Home Window Crack or Chip Fix

Before you panic about replacement costs, first realize that many home window cracks can be repaired, and the entire pane of glass may not have to be replaced. A repair is typically much more affordable than replacement. Also, you may not have to pay a penny out-of-pocket for the repair, or only have to pay a small deductible if your homeowner's insurance covers it. Window chips and cracks can often be considered "acts of god" or related acts that are covered by many homeowner's insurance policies. 

How is a window crack or chip repaired? Every professional has his or her own technique, but the basic steps, that are similar to repairing a small windshield crack or chip, involve the following:

  1. Removing any remaining loose pieces of glass by sanding or shaving the chipped area and cleaning it well with a solvent. 
  2. Mixing up and applying just enough of a special clear epoxy resin to fill the damaged area well. 
  3. Allowing the mixture to dry and touching up with additional resin or a special coating. 

Depending on the window repair professional's technique, he or she may use a special pressure device to apply the resin to ensure that air bubbles do not occur in it before it hardens. The final result is a window that looks like it was never damaged!

If a small chip or starburst crack suddenly appeared in your home window, then don't panic. It was likely caused by some type of flying debris and may be much easier and more affordable to fix than you think!

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11 July 2016