How should you handle a chipped windshield near the edge?

• A. Edge chips can always be repaired with resin.
• B. Edge damage can be ignored if small.
• C. Edge damage is often not repairable; evaluate for replacement due to risk of edge failure.
• D. Replace only if crack extends to center.

Answer: (C)

Damage near the edge is treated differently because the edge area carries more stress and the bond there is more vulnerable. Repairs that use resin work best for small, contained defects away from the edge, where the glass and lamination can be restored without creating new weak points. When a chip or small crack is right at or near the edge, the resin may not be able to restore the structural integrity, and the crack can propagate more easily under temperature changes, vibrations, or loading. For that reason, edge damage is often not repairable, and an evaluation for replacement is advised to ensure the windshield maintains its strength and safety features. A technician will assess how close the damage is to the edge, the size and shape of the defect, and any additional cracking to decide if repair is possible or if replacement is required. Ignoring edge damage or assuming it can always be fixed by resin could leave a latent weakness that risks edge failure.