Is a broken window an emergency, or can it wait?

Treat it as one if the house is left open, there's glass where people walk, or rain is getting in. A crack that isn't spreading can usually wait for a regular appointment. When in doubt, cover it, take photos and send the request.

Should I board up a broken window myself?

On the ground floor, often yes: plywood over the outside or heavy plastic inside, with gloves and eye protection. Skip it if it means a ladder in the wind, a large pane still hanging, or storefront glass over a sidewalk.

What should I photograph for insurance?

The whole room, the outside wall, the broken pane close up, anything damaged inside and whatever caused it, whether that's a branch, a ball or a rock. Take them before you clean up and again once it's covered. Note the date and what happened while it's fresh.

Will home insurance cover a window broken in a storm?

Often, but your policy and deductible decide it. Wind and falling-branch damage is commonly covered; a window that failed from age usually isn't. Call your broker with the photos, and ask the glass pro for an itemized quote so the adjuster sees the board-up and the glass separately.

How soon can permanent glass go in after a board-up?

It depends on the glass. Plain single glass can sometimes be cut quickly. Sealed units and safety glass get measured, then ordered, and the board stays up in between. Expect a date once it's measured; after a big storm, there's a queue.

Emergency glass · Windsor-Essex

Broken window after a storm or break-in? What to do right now

Take a breath. Once people and pets are out of the room, most broken windows are a mess rather than a danger. The order is always the same: safety, photos, a temporary cover, then real glass. We're a referral service and don't board windows ourselves. The request goes to a glass pro in your area who handles board-ups. They're independent; we check in so nothing stalls. We won't promise an arrival time.

Safety, photos, cover, then glass
Board-up or same-visit glass
Storm and break-in paperwork

Get a free quote 519-916-0599

One sheet of plywood buys time until the new glass is ready.

Right now

The first half hour: safety, glass and photos

Clear the room

Get people and pets out and close the door. If rain is reaching an outlet, switch off that circuit. Shoes on.

Photograph before you tidy

Wide shots of the room and outside wall, close-ups of the frame, and whatever came through.

Pick up the glass carefully

Heavy gloves, a broom and a cardboard box. Tape loose shards in the frame or lift out ones that are falling.

Keep the weather out

Plastic taped inside the frame, or plywood screwed over the outside, will hold for now.

Tonight vs later

Board-up or same-visit glass: what's realistic

A board-up is plywood fastened over the opening, usually from outside. It keeps out rain, bugs and people while new glass is made.

Plain single glass in a common size can sometimes be cut and fitted on the first visit. Most windows today aren't that. Sealed units (the thermal glass in double-pane windows), tempered door glass and laminated glass all have to be ordered to size, which is why the cover goes up first. A crack that hasn't spread can wait for broken window glass repair.

Storm season

Why summer storms are the peak season here

In Windsor-Essex, broken glass is mostly a summer story. Thunderstorms roll through more often than in Toronto, and it's wind that does the damage: limbs off big trees, patio furniture on the move. Hail is rare.

The region remembers its tornadoes by year: 1946, 1974 and 2016. The 1974 storm crossed south Windsor near Devonshire Mall, and the 2016 one came inland at LaSalle. Most storm damage is far smaller, one pane and a lawn full of branches, and it's handled the same way.

Break-ins

Break-ins at homes and storefronts

If someone may still be inside, leave and call the police. Either way, report it before you clean up and keep the report number for the insurer.

For a shop, keep the doorway safe for passers-by and tell the pro it's a storefront, since that glass is often tempered or laminated. See storefront glass for the permanent repair, and ask about security film once new glass is in.

Pricing

Pricing the cover-up and the permanent glass

Expect two parts, the visit to make it safe and the permanent glass. These move each:

When the visit happens: evenings and weekends usually cost more
Size of the opening and how high it is
Plywood or a temporary pane
Glass type for the permanent fix: single, sealed unit, tempered or laminated
Frame damage, a bent sash or broken hardware
Clean-up and disposal of broken glass

Have the board-up and the glass listed on separate lines. Adjusters like to see them apart.

Request board-up or glass

Free to request. It's passed to an independent pro nearby.

Insurance

Insurance: photos first, an itemized quote after

Call your insurer or broker once the room is safe. Insurers generally expect you to stop further damage, so ask whether the board-up is included.

Keep the photos, any report number and every receipt, and ask for an itemized glass quote. Whether to claim depends on your deductible.

Next steps

From temporary board to permanent glass

The pro who boards it up can often measure for the new glass on the same visit. The plywood stays until the glass arrives; check it after heavy rain.

If the frame is split, ask whether replacement makes more sense than glass. For other problems, start at window repair.

Questions

Broken window questions

Explore your options

We pass board-up and glass requests to local pros across Windsor and the County, including South Windsor & Devonshire, LaSalle, Tecumseh & St. Clair Beach, Forest Glade and Riverside.

Safe now? Send photos of the damage

Say which window, its rough size and if it's covered. We send it on and check that someone picked it up.