Woodland Park sits around 8,400 feet, and that's rough on a chipped windshield. A 15-degree morning that turns into a 50-degree afternoon is normal up here, and every one of those swings flexes the glass right where the chip is. Then most people warm the car up with the defroster cranked, which heats the inside of the glass while the outside is still frozen. That's the number one way a little chip up here turns into a crack across the whole windshield overnight.
If you've got a fresh one: defroster on low, clear tape over the chip, and call us before the next cold snap. A $60 to $110 repair beats a new windshield every time.
The pass
Everybody up here knows what Highway 24 does to a car. CDOT sands it heavily between Woodland Park and Manitou because the shady curves hold ice long after town is dry. Coming down the hill behind traffic on all that grit is where most of the damage happens. Daily commuters pick up chips at a rate people in the Springs don't believe.
So we come up to you. Woodland Park, Divide, and the neighborhoods off Highway 67 and Rampart Range Road.
Cold-weather installs take longer
Urethane sets up based on temperature and humidity, and the cold, dry air up here slows it down. A January install in Woodland Park needs more time before it's safe to drive than the same job in Fountain in June. We use a cold-weather urethane, work in your garage when we can, and give you a real wait time. Usually one to three hours, sometimes more.
Questions from Woodland Park
Is it safe to drive a cracked windshield down Ute Pass?
If the crack's in your line of sight or runs edge to edge, we wouldn't. It's a long, curvy drive with a lot of glare. Have us come up instead.
Do I need to clear a spot for you in the winter?
A shoveled, level spot with some room around the car helps a lot. A garage is even better. Snow blowing onto fresh primer is what ruins an install.
More on what we do and how we do it, or just call (719) 467-3190.