What to do when a rock hits your windshield in Alberta

You're driving on the Yellowhead, a gravel truck passes, and thwack — a stone hits your windshield. There's a tiny crater the size of a pencil eraser. Looks harmless, right?

In Alberta, where temperatures can swing 30°C in a single week, that "harmless" chip is the most likely thing to ruin your week. Once thermal stress takes hold, a $37.99 repair becomes a $500–$900 replacement — sometimes overnight. Here's the playbook our journeymen recommend.

The first 60 seconds

If it's safe, pull over and look at the damage. You want to answer three questions:

• How big is it? Chips smaller than a Canadian quarter are almost always repairable.
• Where is it? Damage in the driver's direct line of sight, or right at the edge of the glass, often means replacement rather than repair.
• Are there cracks running out of it? A pure chip is great news. A "star" with legs over an inch long is more urgent.

The first 24 hours: don't let it spread

Until you can get to a glass shop, your job is to keep the chip stable.

1. Cover the chip. A piece of clear packing tape over the damage keeps dirt and moisture out.
2. Park in the shade or in a garage. Direct sunlight heats the glass unevenly.
3. Skip the car wash. Cold water hitting a sun-warmed windshield is one of the fastest ways to turn a chip into a crack.
4. Avoid the defroster on full blast. Use a lower setting and let the cabin warm gradually.
5. Drive gently. Big bumps and door slams flex the glass.

Getting the chip repaired

A modern resin injection repair takes about 30 minutes. At Progress Glass, rock chip repair is $37.99. If you carry comprehensive coverage on your auto policy in Alberta, most insurers waive the deductible for chip repair specifically — so your out-of-pocket is often $0.

When repair isn't an option

Signs you're past the repair window: crack longer than about six inches, damage in the driver's primary viewing area, edges of the windshield, dirt or moisture deep inside, or multiple star breaks within a few inches of each other. In these cases you're looking at a full windshield replacement.

The bottom line

The single biggest factor in whether a chip becomes a crack is how quickly you get it repaired. If you're in Edmonton, Spruce Grove, St. Albert, or the surrounding area, you can book a chip repair online or call us. Walk-ins welcome at our Spruce Grove shop.