If you have at least one kid in your house, there is a good chance that you have experienced at least one broken window in the past - if not, there is probably one in your future. Do you know what to do if a window or glass door is broken in your home? How you clean it up, who replaces it and how you handle the entire situation will all have an impact on the outcome. My site contains tips for dealing with a broken window or glass door in your home. Hopefully, you will be able to learn from my many experiences and avoid the mistakes that I have made.
Broken window glass seems to happen at the most inconvenient time. You may be entertaining outdoors and a ball hits the glass or you may see shattered glass when you pull into the driveway in the evening. No matter when it happens, you need to take action right away to keep someone from getting hurt and to secure your home. Here are some suggestions for dealing with your broken window.
Consult Your Insurance Agent
Deciding whether to file an insurance claim for a broken window is an individual decision. If there's a risk of it raising your insurance premiums, you may want to pay out of pocket because you could end up paying less than you'll pay in higher premiums in the coming years. However, if you decide to use your insurance, you'll want to call your agent to make sure you do everything according to policy so your claim won't be declined.
Board Up The Window
Unless you can get repairs right away, one thing you'll want to do is secure the glass and board up the window. This keeps broken glass from falling out any more than it is, and the boards keep your home secure when the glass is out of the window. Before you cover the window, take photos that show the damage so you can show them to your agent and the glass replacement company when you describe the damage.
Call A Contractor
If you have experience with DIY projects and prefer to do things yourself, you can take the window from the frame and take it to a glass store or just measure the frame and buy the glass yourself. This is somewhat easy if you have standard single-pane windows. However, if you have modern windows with multiple panes and gas between them, you'll want to call in a professional. Even if you have single-pane windows, it is more practical to call a contractor than do the work yourself in most cases.
The contractor comes to your home to determine the type of glass you have and its dimensions. If the glass is in stock, it may be possible to repair it on the spot so you won't have to delay. In some cases, especially when you have custom windows, the contractor may need to order the new glass panes, which means you might have to wait a few days for repairs. If you have multiple panes, you may only need one pane replaced, or you may need all panes replaced and the gas filled between them. The contractor will make sure the window is secure enough to last a few days while you wait for repairs to be completed.
When it's time for window repairs, the contractor pulls out the rest of the damaged glass, cleans the frame and puts in the new pane or panes. The work can be done at your home and it can be completed in a single day when all the supplies are on hand. While it's never pleasant to deal with a broken window glass, accidents do happen from time to time. Fortunately, even with modern windows, the work can usually be done quickly with little inconvenience to you.
Share7 April 2017
