A ball off the bat, a slammed door, a branch in a storm or a sudden cold snap can all leave you with a cracked or broken window. Once the glass is damaged, the window does not keep out the weather the way it should, and broken glass is a safety problem for anyone nearby. Here is what to do first, and what the repair usually involves.
First, make it safe
Your first job is to keep people and pets away from the glass and keep the weather out until it can be repaired.
- Keep children and pets out of the room until the broken glass is cleaned up.
- Wear heavy gloves, long sleeves and closed shoes when you handle broken glass, and eye protection if any pieces are loose.
- Do not pull loose shards out of the frame by hand. They can drop or shatter. Leave them for the repair unless they are about to fall.
- Sweep and then vacuum the area, since small slivers travel farther than you think.
If a sharp piece is hanging in the frame above head height, or the window is on an upper floor, leave it alone and call a pro.
Covering the opening until the repair
If the glass is only cracked, clear packing tape on both sides of the crack can help hold it together and slow the crack from spreading. It is a stopgap, not a fix.
If the glass is broken through, cover the opening from the inside. Heavy plastic taped to the frame, or a piece of cardboard or plywood cut to fit, keeps out wind and rain. Do not climb a ladder to cover a window on an upper floor.
Why a small crack still matters
It is tempting to leave a small crack alone. Cracks tend to grow, though, as the glass warms in the sun and cools at night, and the swing between Michigan seasons is hard on damaged glass. A cracked pane also lets in air and moisture, and it can break the rest of the way at the worst time.
Single pane or double pane makes a difference
Older wood windows often have a single pane of glass held in with glazing putty or wood stops. When that glass breaks, the old glass and putty come out, a new pane is cut to size and set in, and the window is reglazed.
Most newer windows have a sealed double-pane unit. When either pane of a sealed unit cracks, the seal around the edge is usually compromised too, so the whole sealed unit is replaced rather than one pane. The frame and sash usually stay. This is the same repair used for foggy window glass, and it is part of our broken glass replacement service.
Tempered and safety glass
Some spots call for tempered glass, which is made to break into small pieces instead of sharp shards. Doorwalls, glass doors, and glass close to the floor or next to a door are common examples. Tempered glass cannot be cut after it is made, so it is ordered to size. If your broken glass was tempered, the replacement needs to be tempered too. We check this when we measure.
What happens on the day of the repair
For a sealed unit, we measure the glass first, and the new unit is made to that size. When it is ready, the stops or glazing that hold the old unit are removed, the old glass comes out, the new unit is set and sealed, and the stops or glazing go back on. For a single pane in an older wood sash, the new glass is set in fresh glazing. Any plastic or plywood that covered the opening in the meantime comes off once the new glass is in.
What affects the cost
We do not price glass without seeing it. The cost depends on:
- Single pane or a sealed double-pane unit
- The size of the glass
- Whether it needs to be tempered
- Tint, coatings or grids
- Whether the sash or frame was also damaged when the glass broke
- How easy the window is to reach, especially on upper floors
If the frame or sash was damaged too, we will tell you what needs to be repaired along with the glass. Doorwall glass is handled the same way, and doorwall rollers and handles are in our shop if those took a hit as well.
Getting it fixed
We replace broken and cracked glass for homes and businesses across Metro Detroit (Macomb, Oakland and Wayne Counties). Call (248) 250-8000 or request a free quote, and we will come out within 24 to 48 hours to measure the glass and give you a price. New glass comes with our 10-year glass warranty.
Common Questions
- Can a cracked double-pane window be repaired?
- The usual repair is replacing the whole sealed glass unit, not one pane. When either pane cracks, the seal is usually compromised too. The frame and sash can often stay.
- Is it safe to leave a cracked window for a while?
- Tape can hold a small crack for a short time, but cracks tend to spread and the glass can break the rest of the way. Get it looked at soon, and keep people away from it.
- How should I cover a broken window?
- From the inside, tape heavy plastic over the opening or fit a piece of cardboard or plywood. Wear gloves, and do not climb a ladder to cover an upper floor window.
- Does the new glass need to be tempered?
- If the old glass was tempered, or the window is in a spot that calls for safety glass, such as a door or glass near the floor, yes. We check when we measure.
- Can I replace the glass myself?
- Single-pane glass in an older wood window can be a homeowner job if you are careful and wear gloves. Sealed double-pane units are heavy and have to be measured exactly, so most people have them done.
- How fast can I get a quote?
- We give a free, in-person quote within 24 to 48 hours. Call (248) 250-8000 or use the free quote form.
Have a window that needs work?
Free, in-person quote in 24 to 48 hours.
Serving The Metro Detroit Area