Windshield Chip Repairs: The Comprehensive Guide To Top Auto Glass Chip Repair

Chipped Windshield in Need of Auto Glass Repair

Your windshield plays an even more important role than just blocking you and your passengers from the elements as you are driving. It also plays an integral role in maintaining the structural integrity of your vehicle during an accident, especially in the event of a rollover.

But your windshield is also one of the components of your vehicle that is most susceptible to damage. It is extremely common for a rock or other small piece of road debris to fly up, hit your windshield, and cause a crack or chip in the glass. If this has happened to your windshield, it is not something to ignore.

It should be addressed ASAP to prevent further damage and ensure that your windshield can properly keep you and your passengers protected. A small chip or crack  can get worse if ignored for too long, and then you’re looking at a need for a cracked windshield repair or replacement versus a simple windshield chip repair.

It is important, though, to have it professionally repaired by auto glass repair experts who have the experience, knowledge, and quality materials to do it right. To help ensure you do choose a top auto glass repair shop for chipped windshield repair, it is important to have more background on windshield damage and auto glass repair. For that, we’ve got you covered!

In this guide, we’ve addressed common questions on types of windshield chips, how to determine if windshield repair is possible for your chip, how to ensure your windshield is repaired by a high-quality professional, and exactly what happens during the repair.

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The Most Common Types of Windshield Chips and Cracks

Windshield chips can come in a variety of different forms or patterns. Some of them can be repaired fairly easily, while some types are much more difficult and could mean it is safer to replace the windshield.

Whether the damage can be addressed with professional auto glass repair or not will depend on the size, shape, and location of the damage. Here are several of the most common types of chips that occur in windshields:

Bullseye Windshield Chip

This is one of the most common types of chips that occur in windshields. A bullseye chip will appear as a small, fairly dark spot with small rings around it. These chips can usually be repaired enough to sufficiently prevent the damage from spreading further, though the original point of impact may still be slightly visible after repair.

Partial Bullseye Windshield Chip (aka Half Moon Chip)

Very similar to a bullseye chip, these chips will only have a half circle in the middle. A half-moon chip will happen when a rock or similar piece of road debris hits the windshield at an angle. Sometimes this can make them more difficult to sufficiently repair to prevent further cracking.

Windshield Star Crack

A windshield star crack generally has several small cracks outward from the center of a chip. The possibility of this windshield crack being repaired will depend on exactly how long these cracks are.

Combo Windshield Chip

If the windshield is hit hard enough, sometimes it can result in what is known as a combo chip or break. These will be a combination of two or more of the previously mentioned types of windshield chips. The exact size and location of the damage will determine if it can be adequately repaired.

How To Tell If a Windshield Chip Can Be Repaired

If a rock has hit your windshield and chipped it, one of the first things you may be wondering is if it can be repaired or not. The good thing is that not all windshield damage means a need for a total windshield replacement. In many cases, professional windshield repair will be able to restore the structural integrity of the glass.

But that will depend on a variety of factors, including:

  • Is the chip in your line of vision as you drive? If the damaged area is in your line of sight, then it is a safety issue, and the glass will need to be replaced. Even if it could be repaired, repaired glass can sometimes end up slightly foggy, which could still impair your vision while driving.
  • How large is the chip? For a safe and effective chipped windshield repair, the chip has to be no larger than 1 inch in diameter. The chipped area also can’t have any hairline cracks coming from it. In a hot climate, as we experience in Tucson during the summer months, small windshield cracks from a chipped area can grow quickly.
  • Is the chip deep? How deep the chip is in the windshield is also one of the largest determining factors. For it to be repaired, the damage cannot be deep enough to reach the middle layer of vinyl. And regardless of if there is no damage to the outside of the windshield, if the interior glass layer is damaged, the windshield will need to be replaced.
  • Is the chip near the outer edge of the windshield? If it is, the damage can quickly grow in size and jeopardize the strength of the vehicle’s roof structure, reducing the protection it will provide in the event of a rollover crash. So, the windshield will need to be replaced if there are any chips or cracks near the outer edge.

If you are still not sure whether your chipped windshield needs to be repaired or replaced, our team here at Max Auto Glass can help. Our technicians can assess the damage and advise on the best solution.

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Leave Chipped Windshield Repair to the Professionals

As with windshield replacement, when you need chipped windshield repair, you should leave it up to an experienced auto glass professional (like Max Auto Glass). It may be tempting to try to fix it yourself with a quick DIY solution, but this can worsen the damage and end up costing you more time and money.

You can be confident that your vehicle’s windshield is in competent hands when you use a trained windshield expert. They will have the specialized experience and knowledge needed to properly handle windshield damage and can determine the best course of action.

Whether it is determined that repair is possible or a replacement is needed, they will follow all the necessary safety measures and perform the service up to industry-best standards.

How to Choose a Quality Auto Glass Shop

Carefully choosing the auto glass repair shop you go with will ensure you get high-quality windshield repair service that you can trust. To do that, there are some important questions you should be asking, including:

  • Are high-quality products/materials used? True auto glass professionals know that inferior resins and adhesives won’t perform well. Using anything but high-quality products could endanger you and your passengers.
  • Are the shop’s technicians certified? An auto glass repair shop that follows strict training, service, and quality guidelines will have technicians that are certified by both the AGSC (Auto Glass Safety Council™) and Dow Chemical Co.
  • Is their work warrantied? A high-quality auto glass repair shop will stand behind their work, so ask about their warranty coverage. This will help you be sure that you’ve found a shop that you can trust.
  • Does the shop have workers’ compensation and liability insurance? This coverage will protect you if something happens while your windshield repair is being done.

What Happens During a Windshield Chip Repair Service?

During a windshield chip repair service from Max Auto Glass, the industry-favored vacuum pressure repair process will be used:

  1. In the damaged area, the tiny glass particles will be carefully scraped out, or a tiny hole will be drilled through the top layer of glass to release any trapped air.
  2. A glass resin injector will be secured around the damaged area.
  3. Once the injector tool is sealed around the area, it will cycle between pressure and vacuum to infuse a clear, UV-curable glass resin into the chip on the outer glass layer. This restores the appearance and structure of the glass.
  4. Any excess resin is removed from the repair area.
  5. A UV light is used to cure/harden the resin, changing it from a liquid to a clear solid.
  6. The area is cleaned up and polished, if necessary, making the repair nearly invisible.

This process usually takes no more than about 30 to 40 minutes, but it is extremely effective in helping to restore the safety and structural integrity of the windshield.

Trust the Tucson Auto Glass Repair Experts

It’s easy to take for granted the important role your vehicle’s windshield plays when it’s in good condition. But when you end up with a chip or crack, it’s not something you can wait to have addressed. Having professional windshield crack repair done ASAP will prevent damage from getting worse and ensure the safety of you and your passengers.

Whether you need auto glass repair or replacement, here at Max Auto Glass, you can count on our expert technicians to only use high-quality materials and equipment and follow international safety standards.

Contact us today to schedule your service, and we’ll have you back on the road as safely and quickly as possible.

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Frequently Asked Windshield Chip Repair Questions

Why shouldn’t you drive around with a chipped windshield?

When you decide to drive with a chipped windshield, not only are you risking it becoming cracked, but it may also result in a traffic ticket. Because a chipped windshield can impair your view of the road, it’s a safety hazard.

Once your windshield becomes chipped, it should be fixed as soon as possible to prevent further damage and protect the vehicle’s occupants in case of a crash. The windshield and its frame are built to protect the driver and passengers if the car is involved in a crash and rolls over. Any flaw in the glass weakens this structural safety feature.

Here are some other reasons to have your windshield repaired as soon as possible:

  • The flaw can grow into a larger area of damage. “Spider webbing” describes what happens to a chip over time. The windshield glass expands and contracts in extreme heat and cold, and the chip grows as this happens. Instead of a windshield chip repair, you’ll be faced with a cracked windshield repair or a complete window replacement, and that will cost more.
  • Your vision through the glass may be limited. Windshield chips and cracks create blind spots that can prevent you from seeing pedestrians, cyclists, traffic signs, and even other cars. Don’t risk it!
  • A defective windshield may prevent the car’s airbags from deploying. Airbags depend on the structural integrity of the windshield and its frame. If that structure is already damaged when a crash occurs, the airbags may not inflate properly.

A chipped windshield repair needs professional attention. Max Auto Glass windshield repair specialists have the training, experience, and quality materials to do the job right. We’ve got you covered for any windshield glass repair or replacement!

How big of a chip in a windshield can be repaired?

The general rule among experts is that to be safely repaired, a chip must be no larger than 1 inch in diameter. However, there are several types of windshield chips, and that has to be considered, too.

Here are some other guidelines to follow in making a decision about the chip in your windshield:

  • Is your vision impaired by the chip? If so, the glass will need to be replaced because it’s a safety issue. Repaired glass can be slightly foggy, which still impairs your vision while driving.
  • How large is the chip? In order to be safely repaired, a chip must be no larger than 1 inch in diameter. It can’t have any hairline cracks spreading out from it. Small windshield cracks often grow quickly. Don’t get a windshield repaired only to need a total windshield replacement a short time later.
  • What is the depth of the chip? To qualify for a safe repair, the damage shouldn’t reach into the middle layer of vinyl in the structure of the glass. Even if there’s no damage to the outside of the windshield, it’ll need to be replaced if the interior glass layer is damaged.
  • Is the chip close to the outer edge of the windshield? Chips close to that edge can quickly grow, which can jeopardize the strength of the vehicle’s roof structure. This further reduces the protection the windshield will provide in the event of a rollover crash.

The decision of whether to repair or replace can be difficult. Our team at Max Auto Glass can assess the damage and advise you on the safest solution.

Should I worry about a small chip in my windshield?

Don’t worry; simply choose a course of action based on the best information available to you and get the chip repaired. A chipped windshield might seem like a low priority on your to-do list, but that small divot in your windshield glass can turn into a more serious issue very quickly.

A small chip can spread into a crack that goes across the length of the glass. Smaller cracks then grow outward in a process called “spider webbing.” This web of damage can compromise the structural integrity of the window and eventually requires a complete windshield replacement. Get the chip repaired right away!

The age of the damaged glass is a factor, too. Each time the crack or ding gets bigger, it allows dirt and dust to get down into the damaged area. This will complicate a repair, so the glass should be repaired as quickly as possible.

Some people delay repairs of any kind because they worry about the time or cost. We can assure you that your windshield repair or replacement can be done in less than a day. In fact, the average time is 30 minutes or less to repair a windshield. Windshield replacements often take 60 minutes or less, with another hour after service to let the window set properly.

As far as the cost is concerned, we have good news! If you have car insurance with comprehensive coverage, your insurer may pay for repair or replacement and may even cover advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) windshield camera recalibration if required. Find out if your insurance covers windshield repairs or windshield replacements and if you should file a claim for the damage.

So, no need to worry! Max Auto Glass will repair your windshield chip quickly, and the cost might be minimal.

Is it worth it to repair a windshield?

Yes, in most cases, it’s worth it to repair a windshield rather than have a complete windshield replacement. A windshield replacement may cost hundreds of dollars, while a repair costs much less. The most important consideration, however, is the safety of the repair. Will it return the windshield to its original strength as one of the integral safety features of the vehicle?

Here are some points to consider as you determine if a repair is worth it:

  • Does the damaged area meet the criteria for a repair instead of a full replacement?
  • What are the insurance laws in your state regarding windshield repair and replacement coverage?
  • Do you have access to professional auto glass repair services that’ll return the window to its original strength?

As a car owner, you should take the time to consider these questions. The answers will help you determine if a repair of the windshield is worth it to you. We can certainly help you answer the last question! Max Auto Glass is the standard-bearer in auto glass repair! Call us today so we can assist you as you make this decision.

Can a chip in a windshield get worse?

Yes! The damaged area may start out as a chip, but as time passes, the chip often turns into a spiderweb of more damage. In fact, it probably will, so it’s better to deal with it quickly.

Here are some things that can make a chip in your windshield get worse:

  • Heat: Extreme heat causes the glass to expand, and the chip will expand right along with it. The chip may then become unrepairable, and a total windshield replacement will be needed. Get the chip repaired before this happens.
  • Movement: Sudden slams or bumps can move the windshield enough to cause the chip to expand. It’s not easy to keep your car still, so get the chip fixed as soon as possible to prevent a chip from getting larger.
  • Rocks or debris: It happened once, so it can happen again! A rock or some other debris can be kicked up off the road, hit your windshield again, and the chip worsens from the impact.

Contact Max Auto Glass before the chip gets any worse!

Is it better to replace or repair a cracked windshield? What should I avoid after windshield replacement?

If the crack in your windshield isn’t in your line of vision, and it’s just a tiny crack in the glass on the passenger’s side, it’s better to have it repaired. Just do it quickly, before the crack expands. Our professional technicians will use the latest technology, including the industry-favored vacuum pressure repair process, which will restore the damaged glass to its original strength. The cost of the windshield repair may be covered if you have comprehensive car insurance, and the time spent on the repair will be minimal.

If the crack in the glass is impairing your line of sight or it’s started to get longer, it’s better to go ahead and have the windshield replaced.

If you decide to have the windshield replaced, there are some things you should do to protect the work that was just done:

  • Wait about 24 hours after the job is finished to drive the car any significant distance.
  • Don’t remove the tape around the frame of the window.
  • Stay out of car washes for 24 hours.
  • Leave the car windows open slightly in hot weather.
  • Don’t put a cover on the car or use the inside sunscreen for at least 24 hours.
  • Avoid roads with potholes or bumps.
  • Drive carefully!

The Max Auto Glass Difference

  • High-Quality Products
  • Technicians Certified By The Auto Glass Safety Council™
  • Excellent Customer Service
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