Windshield Chip Repair or Replacement: How To Tell Which Is Right For You
We’ve all been there; you’re driving through the mountains, and the vehicle in front of you hits the only patch of gravel on the highway, sending rocks flying at the front of your car! Once the dust settles, you notice damage to your windshield, a small chip in the middle of the passenger’s side. What do you do next?
How to tell if you need a windshield chip repair
Various factors determine if your damage can be repaired or not:
- Size and shape of the damage – A general rule of thumb is that up to 2 shallow chips less than 1.5” in diameter are repairable.
- Placement – If the chip is in the driver’s line of sight, it cannot be repaired and requires a full replacement.
- Length of time since the damage occurred – The longer a chip is left unrepaired, the worse it becomes. If left too long, a full replacement may be required.
If there is damage to your windshield, your best bet is to bring your vehicle in for windshield chip repair in Canmore as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more it will continue to spread.
When to have your windshield replaced
You will require a new windshield if:
- Both layers of glass are penetrated
- It is located in the drivers direct vision area.
- You develop too many chips
- Damage reaches the edge(s) of the glass
- It is located over a sensor or camera
- It is more than 18” long
The importance of maintaining your windshield cannot be stressed enough, it does so much more than keep you from getting hit with bugs and debris at high speed while you’re driving – it is a crucial piece of the safety equipment your vehicle is equipped with.
How a windshield keeps you safe
Structural integrity – Your windshield provides 45% (almost half!) of the structural integrity during a front-end collision. That number jumps up to 60% in a rollover! This means your windshield absorbs nearly half the impact in a front-end collision and OVER half the impact in a rollover. It also provides support to the roof during a roll-over collision preventing it from collapsing. Left damaged, your windshield becomes more likely to shatter on impact, increasing the likelihood of injury or fatality.
3-Point Safety System – Your windshield is a key part of the 3-point safety system your vehicle is equipped with to prevent passenger ejection. The seatbelt, airbag, and windshield work together to keep passengers safely inside the vehicle during a collision.
Airbag Deployment Failure – Your airbag is designed to bounce off the windshield glass to prevent the passenger’s head from colliding with the glass during impact. A typical airbag deploys at 100-200 mph; a damaged windshield can be shattered by force of this deployment, rendering the airbag useless.
As soon as you find damage on your windshield, make sure to book an appointment with a Windshield Repair Expert at Aspen Auto Glass in Canmore. Our trained and certified professionals will be able to help you get the most effective repair so you can get back on the road safely.
