Windshield Damage Types: Star, Bullseye, Combination Cracks
If you're trying to identify star bullseye crack types on your windshield, this guide walks you through every common pattern — star breaks, bullseyes, half-moons, combination cracks, and long stress cracks — and tells you which ones a technician can repair versus which demand a replacement. Within the first read you'll be able to name the damage on your own glass, understand why Calgary's roads and chinooks create each type, and know whether to book a repair or a replacement next.
Why Knowing the Damage Type Matters
Not all windshield damage behaves the same. A bullseye stays put; a star break loves to creep; a stress crack appears with no impact at all. Knowing which you have helps you judge urgency and explain it clearly when you call an auto glass shop. It also affects repairability — some break patterns hold resin beautifully, others are borderline.
The Main Windshield Damage Types
What does a bullseye break look like?
A bullseye is a clean, circular dark cone caused by a rounded object — classic gravel-truck stone on Deerfoot Trail. There's a clear separation point in the glass with a ring around it, like a dartboard center. Bullseyes are among the most repairable breaks because the impact point is well-defined and resin fills the cone evenly.
What is a star break?
A star break has a central impact point with short cracks (legs) radiating outward like a starburst. These are the most likely to spread, because each leg is a ready-made path for a crack to run. Calgary's temperature swings — warm chinook afternoons after deep-cold nights — pump those legs open fast. Star breaks are often repairable if caught early and the legs are short.
What's a combination break?
A combination break mixes patterns: a bullseye with star legs, or a partial bullseye plus surface chips. Because it blends multiple stress points, repairability depends on the largest and most central element. Many combination breaks are still fixable, but the window closes quickly.
Half-moon and partial bullseye
A half-moon (or partial bullseye) is a crescent-shaped separation rather than a full circle — same idea as a bullseye but incomplete. Usually repairable when small and clear of the edge.
Surface pits and chips
Tiny pits are surface nicks that haven't penetrated deeply — common from years of highway sandblasting. They rarely threaten structure but can scatter light and bother night driving.
Long cracks and stress cracks
A long crack is a single line, often spreading from a chip or the edge. A stress crack starts from the edge with no impact — frequently triggered by extreme thermal shock, like blasting hot defrost onto an icy Calgary windshield. Stress cracks almost always mean replacement.
Get a free windshield quote if your damage has grown into a long or edge crack.
Which Types Can Be Repaired?
| Damage Type | Typical Outcome |
|---|---|
| Bullseye (small) | Usually repairable |
| Star break (short legs) | Often repairable if caught early |
| Half-moon | Usually repairable |
| Combination | Depends on size/location |
| Surface pit | Repair or monitor |
| Long crack (>15 cm) | Usually replace |
| Stress/edge crack | Usually replace |
Location and edge proximity still override type — even a small bullseye near the windshield edge or in the driver's sight line may push you toward replacement.
How Calgary Conditions Shape Each Break
Our gravel-truck corridors create the initial impact (bullseyes and stars). Then chinook-driven freeze-thaw cycles act on the legs and edges, turning a stable star into a running crack. Deep-cold mornings plus aggressive defrost create stress cracks from nowhere. This is why a break that looked harmless in October can be a full crack by January.
FAQ
Is a star break or a bullseye worse?
A star break is generally riskier because its radiating legs spread more easily. A bullseye is more contained and often the easiest type to repair cleanly.
Can a combination break be repaired?
Sometimes. It depends on the size of the largest element and whether it sits near the edge or in your line of sight. A technician needs to inspect it.
Why did a crack appear with no rock hitting it?
That's typically a stress crack from thermal shock — common in Calgary when hot defrost hits frozen glass. These usually require replacement.
Do surface pits need fixing?
Not structurally, but heavy pitting scatters oncoming headlights at night. If glare bothers you, replacement may improve visibility.
How fast should I act on a star break?
Quickly. Of all the common types, star breaks spread the fastest, especially with Calgary's temperature swings.
Name It, Then Fix It
Once you can spot a star, bullseye, or combination break, you know how urgent it is — and stars and edge cracks won't wait. Whatever pattern is on your glass, an inspection settles repair-versus-replace fast. Book an auto glass inspection in Calgary with ForbiddenGlass and stop a small break from becoming a full windshield.