How It Works
The repair, end to end.
A windshield chip repair takes about 30 minutes and follows the same five steps every time. Here's exactly what happens, and what to expect after.
TL;DR — Clean → drill if needed → resin injection under pressure → UV cure → polish flush. ~30 minutes per chip. The chip site may remain faintly visible after — that's the resin doing its job, not a failure. The repair is permanent stabilization, not invisibility. We assess every chip on-site before starting and won't push a repair that won't hold.
The repair process.
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1
Clean the chip area.
We clean dust, dirt, and any moisture out of the chip. The resin only bonds to clean glass, so this step is non-negotiable. If the chip is wet, we wait or warm-dry it before starting.
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2
Drill if needed.
Some chips have a sealed impact crater that resin can't reach without help. In those cases, we use a small drill to open the cavity. Most chips don't need this — we only drill when physics requires it.
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3
Inject UV-curing resin under pressure.
Professional-grade UV-curing resin is pressed into the chip under controlled pressure. Pressure pushes the resin into every micro-crack radiating from the impact point. This is the structural part of the repair — it's what stops the chip from spreading.
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4
Cure under UV light.
A UV lamp cures the resin in a few minutes. Once cured, the bond is permanent — no waiting for it to set, no curing time after we leave.
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5
Polish flush.
Excess resin is shaved and polished flush with the glass surface. The structural repair is done. You can drive immediately.
What we use.
Professional-grade UV-curing resin and standard industry chip repair tools — the same equipment used by dealerships and insurance-approved shops across Alberta. Resins are formulated to match the optical and structural properties of automotive glass. Our process follows AGSC (Auto Glass Safety Council) repair guidelines.
How long it takes.
About 30 minutes for a typical chip. Star breaks, multiple chips at the same visit, or chips with extended cracks can take a bit longer — usually 40 to 50 minutes total. We won't rush a repair to hit a clock.
What to expect after.
The chip site may remain faintly visible. This is normal and shows the resin filled the damage properly. Repair is permanent stabilization, not invisibility. If we can make it disappear cosmetically, we will. If physics says no — chip too old, too contaminated, or already with a long crack — we'll tell you straight before we start.
Once cured, the repair holds up to Calgary's freeze-thaw cycles, Chinook temperature swings, car washes, and normal driving conditions. We don't recommend extreme heat (sitting in direct sun for hours immediately after), but otherwise the windshield is structurally sound.
Repair vs replacement.
We repair chips smaller than a loonie (~25mm), single cracks under 8 inches, and most star breaks. We don't repair: cracks longer than 8 inches, edge damage that has reached the windshield frame, multiple intersecting cracks, anything in the driver's primary line of sight, or any side or rear glass damage.
If your damage falls outside what we can repair, we'll tell you and recommend a Calgary shop that handles full windshield replacement. We don't sell what we don't do.
Why winter timing matters in Calgary.
Calgary's freeze-thaw cycle is the worst thing that happens to a chip. Water gets into the chip, freezes overnight, expands, opens micro-cracks. A small chip in November turns into a 30 cm crack by January. Spring gravel season on the Deerfoot, Stoney Trail, and Crowchild keeps the chip count climbing all the way through May. The math is simple: the longer you wait, the more likely a $50 chip becomes a $400 to $900 replacement.