Long cracks and edge cracks can often be repaired.
Most long cracks start at the edge of the glass, and a lot of them can be filled and sealed instead of replaced. We look at three things: how long it is, where it runs, and whether dirt has gotten inside.
Why most cracks start at the edge
The outer two inches of every windshield carry extra stress: from how the glass is cooled at the factory, from being bonded to the car body, and from the black band that heats up in the sun. A small hit there can crack across the glass almost right away.
A crack that starts from a chip in the middle of the glass is called a floater. It usually spreads when the temperature swings: a hot car and cold A/C, or a cold morning and the defroster.
What decides it
- Length
- Short and mid-length cracks are routine for us. Longer cracks we judge case by case, from a photo or in person.
- Dirt inside
- The longer a crack sits, the more dirt and water get into it. A fresh crack is the best candidate. Call early.
- Where it runs
- A repaired crack leaves a faint line. If it runs through your direct line of sight, we’ll tell you how it will look before we start.
- Is it still growing?
- A crack that’s still moving needs attention fast. Keep the car in the shade and avoid blasting heat or A/C at the glass.
How a crack repair works
Stop the end
We make a small stop at the tip of the crack so it can’t keep running.
Open and fill
A crack opener gently flexes the glass while we fill the crack with resin, working from one end to the other.
Cure in sections
We cure the resin with UV light section by section, so the whole length is bonded, not just the surface.
Finish
The surface is scraped and polished smooth.
Edge protection
After an edge crack repair, we can coat the outer edge of the glass, the zone where most cracks begin, to make another edge crack less likely. Ask about it when you book.