Introduction
Glass is one of the most fragile materials used in construction and as a result, it is also one of the most commonly damaged materials. When glass is damaged, it can pose a serious safety hazard and it can be very expensive to repair/replace.
While some damage to glass can be repaired (very special cases), other damage may require the replacement of the entire pane of glass (most of the cases). If you have damage to your glass, it is normally to assess the severity of the damage and determine if replacement is necessary.
If you have minor chips or cracks in your glass, repair may be not necessary. However, if the damage is severe, such as a large crack or hole, a replacement must be done.
Since the glass is about your household health, safety and security, fix the damaged glass is in your first priority of day one.
Types of glass damage
There are four types of damage that can occur to your glass: shatters, cracks, chips, and scratches.
Cracks are the serious type of damage and can cause the glass to break-scattered/shattered glass. Or something happens which smashes your glass straight forwards. Chips are smaller and can be repaired by special ways (not suggested since it is too expensive), but if they’re not repaired, they can turn into cracks. Scratches are the least serious type of damage and can usually be buffed out.
Where to replace/repair
There are a few places to get the glass replace. One is at a local glass shop. Many towns have one or more glass shops that can do replacement on all types of glass, including car and house windows. Another place to get glass replacement is through a mobile service. There are companies that will come to your home or office and replace your glass on-site. This can be convenient if you can’t leave your property or don’t have transportation to a glass shop.
How to replace/repair
If your glass is cracked or shattered, you’ll need to take extra care before replacing it. First, cover the cracked area with sticky tape vertically. Next, apply the tape horizontally over the crack/broken area, making sure that the edges of the tapes are well-adhered to the glass.
Before replace a larger cracked/broken glass pane, for Health and Safety reason, you’ll need to use a plywood panel/strong sticky plastic film to cover the whole window/glass door before the glaziers can actually replace the broken/cracked glass pane. This typically comes with screws to mount the plywood onto your window frame or strong plastic film onto the whole glass pane to prevent the glass from further breaking, falling down or damages to people.
The cost of glass replacement/repair
Glass replacement/repair can be expensive, depending on the type of glass or glass units, and the size of the pane. The cost of glass replacement/repair also varies depending on the type of glass such as toughened glass, laminated glass, opaque glass, thickness of glass, functional glass, labour costs, sundries etc.
In Auckland, since Covid-19, the glass costs keep increasing due to the shipment costs increasing, labour costs increasing and petrol costs increasing.
Do-it-yourself replacement/repair
A broken window is one of the most common household repairs. But don’t call the repairman just yet! With a little know-how, you can fix it yourself.
Here’s what you need to do:
First, cover the broken window, remove any sharp shards with gloves and a broom. Next, cover the broken area with tape or sticky film/plywood.
Now it’s time to get job move forward! Measure the net size of the glass pane, talk to 2 or 3 glazing companies to give a few quotes for required glass pane with right size, Get that glass pane, carefully handle a new pane and put that pane into position. For wooden frame, you need to use some special tools and accessories to hold the glass pane in position, then place putty on the edges of glass pane, smooth the surface, wait for drying. For Aluminium frame, you need to ask glaziers to do your job since the aluminium frame structure is complicated. It needs special tools and knowledge to complete the job.
Do-it-yourself is recommended for those handy man and women who know the basics of glazing
Your Pro at Glass issues
When your glass is damaged, you want it fixed by a professional. Channel Glass is your pro at glass replacement/repair. We have been in business for over 20 years and have replaced/repaired all types of glass.
We are experts at fixing windows, windshields, storefronts, and more. We can solve your glass repair issues from windows to showers. We also do Taylor-made work, so if you need a special job done, we can take care of it.
We know that when your glass is damaged, you need it fixed ASAP. That’s why we offer efficient, reliable and qualified service. We’ll come to your home or office and get a free quote for you.
Call Total Glass and Mirror today at 0800 00 45277, 09-5769060 for all your glass needs!
