Windshield Chip & Crack Repair in Wichita, KS

Fix the chip before it becomes a crack

A rock chip is a small break in the outer layer of a laminated windshield. It may not look like much, but the glass around it is under stress, and every bump, pothole, door slam and temperature change works on it. In south-central Kansas, where a frosty morning can turn into a warm afternoon and hailstorms roll through in spring, chips have plenty of chances to spread. Once a chip "runs" into a long crack, a repair is often no longer possible and the windshield has to be replaced. Repairing a chip early is usually much cheaper than windshield replacement, and many insurance policies treat repairs favorably because they cost less than a new windshield.

Types of windshield damage

• Bullseye: a round, cone-shaped break with a dark circle, often from a stone hitting the glass head-on.
• Star break: a small impact point with short cracks radiating out like legs.
• Combination break: a bullseye and a star together, very common from highway gravel.
• Half-moon or partial bullseye: a semicircle-shaped break.
• Surface pit: a tiny nick that does not go into the glass much. These are often left alone, though some shops fill them.
• Short crack: a single line, sometimes starting from a chip, that has not reached the edge of the glass.
• Edge crack or stress crack: a crack that starts at the edge. These usually spread and are typically a replacement job.

Which chips and cracks can be repaired?

Every shop makes its own call, but there are common guidelines:

• The quarter rule: chips smaller than a quarter are usually good repair candidates. Many shops will also repair somewhat larger bullseyes.
• The dollar-bill rule: cracks shorter than a dollar bill (about 6 inches) are commonly repairable. The industry repair standard (ROLAGS) allows some single cracks up to 14 inches, but long-crack repair takes special skill and not every shop offers it.
• Location: the repair standard limits repairs in the driver's primary viewing area, a strip about 12 inches wide centered in front of the driver within the wiper sweep. Damage there over about an inch generally is not repaired, because even a good repair leaves a small mark.
• Depth: if both layers of glass are broken, or the inner layer is damaged, it is a replacement.
• Cameras and sensors: damage in front of a windshield camera or rain sensor is often replaced rather than repaired, because a repair can affect how the camera sees.
• Contamination: chips that have been packed with dirt and water for months may not fill as cleanly, which is another reason to act quickly.

How resin chip repair works

1. Inspect and clean. The technician checks the size, type and location of the break and cleans out loose glass and debris.
2. Set up the injector. A small tool is mounted over the chip to create a seal.
3. Remove air and inject resin. The tool pulls air out of the break and pushes a clear, low-viscosity resin into every leg of the chip.
4. Cure. An ultraviolet light hardens the resin.
5. Finish. A thicker pit resin seals the surface, it is scraped flush and polished.

Most single-chip repairs take well under an hour, and you can usually drive away right after. A good repair restores strength around the break and keeps it from spreading, and it usually makes the chip much less noticeable. It will rarely make it invisible, so expect to see a faint mark up close.

What to do right after you get a chip

• Cover it. A piece of clear packing tape over the chip keeps out dirt and water until it can be repaired. Avoid colored tape or anything that leaves residue.
• Go easy on temperature swings. On cold Wichita mornings, start the defroster on low and let the glass warm gradually. On hot days, avoid blasting cold air directly onto a sun-baked windshield.
• Skip the car wash until the chip is repaired. Pressure and temperature changes can make a chip run.
• Do not press on it or poke it with a key or fingernail.
• Avoid slamming doors and rough roads when you can.
• Schedule soon. A chip repaired in days is far more likely to stay a repair than one left for months.

DIY repair kits vs. a professional repair

Store-bought kits use a similar idea (resin plus a simple injector), and some people get decent results on small bullseyes. The downside is that you usually get one shot. If air stays trapped or the resin does not reach the ends of the legs, the chip can still spread, and a botched DIY repair can make a later professional repair harder or impossible. Professional repair equipment pulls a stronger vacuum and the technician can judge whether the damage is repairable in the first place. If you have comprehensive coverage, check whether repairs are covered; if they are, a kit may not save you anything.

Insurance and windshield repair

Chip repair is typically handled under comprehensive coverage. Some policies reduce or waive the deductible for repairs because a repair costs the insurer much less than a replacement, while others apply your normal deductible. Every policy is different, so check yours. In Kansas, your insurer can give you a list of glass shops but cannot require you to use a particular one (K.S.A. 40-2,155). See the insurance section of the cost guide for more.

Repair at the shop or where you are

Chip repair needs very little equipment, so it is one of the easiest auto glass jobs to do at your home or workplace. Repairs work best when the glass is dry and not extremely hot or cold, so outdoor repairs on rainy or very cold days may need to move into a garage or be rescheduled. See mobile windshield service for what to expect.

Quote requests are welcome from Wichita, Bel Aire, Park City, Valley Center, Maize, Goddard, Andale, Cheney, Clearwater, Haysville, Derby, Mulvane, Wellington, Andover, Rose Hill, Augusta, El Dorado, Newton and Hutchinson. For typical repair prices, see the chip repair section of the cost guide.

What to expect at a chip repair

A chip repair is one of the simplest auto glass jobs. The technician inspects the chip, cleans out loose glass and moisture, mounts an injector over the break, and uses pressure and vacuum to draw resin into it. The resin is cured with ultraviolet light, and the surface is finished smooth. A single chip often takes well under an hour, and you can usually drive right away. Expect the mark to fade rather than vanish. If the technician sees that the damage is too deep, too large or in a spot where repair would leave a distracting mark in your view, they should tell you and explain why replacement is the better choice.

How to choose a chip repair

• Ask about the standard. The industry repair standard (ROLAGS) sets limits on which damage can be repaired and where; a shop that follows it should be able to explain them.
• Ask what happens if the chip spreads. Some shops credit some or all of the repair cost toward a replacement if a repaired chip later cracks. Get the terms in writing.
• Ask about insurance. Some policies cover repairs with no deductible; others apply the full comprehensive deductible. See windshield insurance claims in Kansas.
• Ask whether several chips can be done on one visit, and how they are priced.

Read more: rock chip repair, how much is windshield chip repair? and what to do after a rock chip on the highway.

What does it cost? See published Wichita-area and national ranges for chip and crack repair costs in the cost guide.

Related guides

• How Much Is Windshield Chip Repair?

Good to know: Requesting a quote is free and there is no obligation. Ask for a written quote that lists the glass, any calibration and the warranty terms.