Windshield repair or replacement? How to tell which one you need

The size, location, and depth rules that decide whether a chip can be repaired or the windshield has to be replaced.

Most drivers in Fort Collins want the answer to one question when they call: can this be fixed, or does the whole windshield have to come out? The rules are fairly consistent across the industry.

Repair is usually possible when

• The chip is smaller than a quarter, or the crack is shorter than about six inches.
• The damage is at least two inches from the edge of the glass.
• The damage is not directly in front of the driver, where even a well-done repair can leave a faint mark.
• Only the outer layer of glass is broken.
• The chip is fresh and has not filled with dirt or water.

Replacement is the right call when

• A crack runs more than six inches or reaches the edge, where it weakens the bond holding the glass in.
• There are multiple cracks or a spiderweb pattern, which is common after hail.
• The inner layer is cracked, which you can often feel from inside the car.
• Damage sits in the camera's view on a car with driver-assist systems.

Why fast matters along the Front Range

Our temperature swings are the enemy of a chip. A 40-degree difference between a sunny afternoon and a clear night is normal in Fort Collins for much of the year, and each swing stresses the glass around the damage. A chip repaired within a few days almost always holds. A chip left for a month often becomes a replacement.