[Brent Deines]

I have not found all that many windshield cracks that were filled with dirt. In my experience the ones that are filled with dirt are also very wide open and generally have been there for a very long time, greatly increasing the chance that the PVB has begun to deteriorate.

I agree with splitpit on this one, stay away from all liquid cleaners and recommend replacement for dirty long cracks.

When I first started I wanted to repair everything, but somewhere along the line it got easier to be a bit more selective. Some windshield damage simply should not be repaired. If I can't make a windshield repair look very good I prefer to pass it by.

Of course having the option to offer a replacement may have had something to do with my attitude, but I always figured that my repair was my signature. Most customers don't care how much better it looks, just how good it looks. Although I've been talked into doing my share of long cracks, unless done below the wipers, in the shade band, or in the frit band, I recommend replacement.

For all you crack "specialists" out there, more power to ya. I just found that I made more money in less time repairing smaller damage, and didn't need to repair the long cracks. If you are doing cracks, please make sure you spend plenty of time practicing before working on a customer's car. Long crack repair is not all that difficult, but it does take some practice and more importantly some patience. Patience is something that I need to work on, which may also contribute to my attitude about long cracks. Time is money and unless I can get $100+ for a long crack I can't justify the time.

That said, I have customers that like long cracks because people like me will pass them by, so their is less competition in the long crack repair arena. It's all personal preference I suppose.