Can a Windshield Chip Spread Overnight? (+ When to Repair vs. Replace)
You notice a small chip in your windshield on Monday evening. By Tuesday morning, it's turned into a spiderweb crack stretching across your field of vision. Sound familiar? You're not alone. Thousands of Mississauga drivers face this exact scenario every year, and the question on everyone's mind is: how fast can a windshield chip really spread? How fast does a windshield crack spread? The short answer: faster than you think. A windshield chip can spread into a full crack in as little as 24 hours under the right conditions. Temperature changes, road vibrations, and even cabin pressure from closing your car door can turn a minor chip into a major problem overnight. Here's what actually happens. Glass expands and contracts with temperature fluctuations. When you park outside on a cold night and then blast the heat in the morning, your windshield experiences rapid thermal stress. That tiny chip becomes a weak point where the glass can't handle the pressure, and suddenly...