Windshield Rock Chip Repair in Ottawa
We come to you and repair the chip in about 30 minutes, before Ottawa's weather turns it into a crack.
What chip repair actually does
A rock chip isn't just a dent on the surface. The impact cracks the outer layer of glass and leaves tiny air pockets inside the break. Those air pockets are what make a chip look cloudy, and they're also where cracks start.
Repair replaces that air with resin. Here's what happens on-site:
- 1
Clean and dry. We clear glass fragments and moisture out of the break. Water trapped in a chip is the most common reason a repair turns out cloudy.
- 2
Mount the injector. A bridge is secured over the chip so the resin goes straight into the damage.
- 3
Vacuum, then pressure. We cycle between pulling air out of the break and pushing resin in, working it into every leg of the chip.
- 4
Cure. UV light hardens the resin, bonding the glass back together.
- 5
Finish. We fill the impact point, scrape it flush and polish it, so your wipers glide over it.
The result is a windshield that's structurally sound again and a chip that's much harder to see. Most repairs leave a faint mark, but the damage stops spreading.
The type of chip matters
Every chip is a little different, and the type affects how well it repairs. Not sure which one you have? Add a photo when you book, or we'll tell you on-site.
Bullseye
A round, cone-shaped break, often with a dark ring. Usually repairs very cleanly.
Star break
Short cracks, or "legs", radiating out from the impact point. Stars spread the fastest, so these are the ones to fix right away.
Combination break
A bullseye with legs coming out of it, and the most common chip we see from highway gravel. These repair well when they're caught early.
Half-moon and partial bullseye
Part of a bullseye, usually from an angled hit. These are often the easiest to make almost invisible.
As a rough guide, chips up to about the size of a quarter, and star or combination breaks up to around 2 inches across, are good candidates for repair. If it's bigger than that, has started spreading into a long crack, or sits right in the driver's line of sight, we'll tell you honestly.
Why Ottawa chips turn into cracks
Ottawa goes through dozens of freeze-thaw cycles every winter, and every one of them works on a chip:
- • Water freezes in the break. Moisture seeps into the chip, freezes and expands, pushing the legs of the break further out.
- • The defroster shocks the glass. Blasting heat onto a frozen windshield makes the inside of the glass expand faster than the outside, and that stress concentrates right at the chip.
- • Potholes and frost heaves. Every hard jolt flexes the windshield, and a weak spot is where it gives.
A chip that sat quietly all summer can run across the windshield on the first –20°C morning. A chip repair from $75 is a lot cheaper than a full windshield replacement, especially on newer cars with cameras behind the glass that need recalibration.
Until we get to you: cover the chip with a piece of clear tape, go easy on the defroster, and don't pour hot water on frozen glass.
How we handle hot and freezing glass
Resin is sensitive to temperature, and good repairs come from managing the glass, not rushing it.
- • Hot summer glass: In direct sun, resin can thin out and start curing before it's fully worked into the break. We shade the windshield and let the glass cool down before injecting, so the resin fills completely.
- • Cold winter glass: In the cold, resin thickens and doesn't flow well into the fine legs of a break, and moisture is more likely to be trapped inside. We gently warm and dry the glass before starting. We never blast it with heat, because that can crack it.
That's the difference between a repair that holds and one that clouds up or spreads later. We learned the trade working in a professional windshield repair shop and repair to the industry ROLAGS standard. If conditions or the damage mean a repair won't hold, we'll tell you rather than take your money.
Chip repair near you, anywhere in Ottawa
We come to your driveway, your office lot or a plaza parking lot. All we need is a reasonably level spot with a bit of room around the windshield.
Areas we're in most often:
- Barrhaven
- Kanata
- Stittsville
- Orleans
- Nepean
- Bells Corners
- Riverside South
- Findlay Creek
- Greely
- Manotick
- Carleton Place
- Almonte
- Gatineau
See the full service area.
How it works
1. Book online.
Tell us where your car is and whether it's a chip or a crack. A photo is optional.
2. We confirm.
We reply fast with your price, including the mobile fee, and a time that works for you.
3. We repair it on-site.
About 30 minutes, start to finish. Pay by e-transfer or cash. A mobile fee based on travel time is added to the repair price and included in your quote. Prefer to skip it? Bring your car to us in Barrhaven and pay just the repair price. Each additional chip repaired on the same visit is $35, with no extra mobile fee. If a crack runs more than 2 inches from the chip, it's priced as a crack repair ($100). Shorter legs are included in the chip price. If we arrive and the damage isn't safely repairable, you pay nothing — no repair charge and no mobile fee.
Fix the chip now, not the windshield later.
Rock chip repair FAQ
How much does windshield chip repair cost in Ottawa?
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Chip repairs start at $75, plus a mobile fee based on travel time to you. Both are included in your quote. Bring your car to us in Barrhaven and you pay just the repair price. Each additional chip repaired on the same visit is $35, with no extra mobile fee.
How long does a chip repair take?
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About 30 minutes on-site, from setup to cleanup. You can drive the car right after.
Will the chip disappear completely?
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Usually not 100%. Most chips become much less visible, and bullseyes and half-moons often come out close to invisible. Star breaks and older, dirty chips can leave a faint mark. Either way, the glass is stabilized and the chip stops spreading.
Can you repair a chip in the winter?
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Often, yes. We warm and dry the glass carefully before injecting so the resin flows and cures properly. On very cold days, a garage or covered parking spot helps. Book a repair; a photo is optional and helps us confirm faster.
Should I wait until spring?
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We don't recommend it. Winter is when chips are most likely to spread, because of freeze-thaw cycles, defrosters and potholes. The longer a chip sits, the more dirt and moisture get into it, which also makes the repair less clear.
Does insurance cover rock chip repair?
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Many comprehensive auto policies cover chip repair, sometimes with no deductible. Every policy is different, so check with your insurer. We're happy to give you a receipt for your claim.
How do I know if my chip is repairable?
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Book a repair; a photo is optional. As a general guide, chips up to about the size of a quarter and star or combination breaks up to around 2 inches across are usually repairable. Long cracks, edge damage or chips right in the driver's line of sight may need a replacement instead.
What if the chip has a crack running from it?
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If a crack runs more than 2 inches from the chip, it's priced as a crack repair ($100). Shorter legs are included in the chip price.
What if the damage can't be repaired?
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If we arrive and the damage isn't safely repairable, you pay nothing — no repair charge and no mobile fee.