Questions You Might Have About Residential Glass Repair

When a window or glass shower screen in your home breaks, you don't want to put off repairing it. Even a chip or crack can mean having the damage spread so the glass actually shatters, and this can be very dangerous. When you do call for residential glass repair, note a few questions you might have about the process and be sure you cover these with a repairperson or contractor so you know what to do before they arrive and what to expect with their service.

Ask how the area should be prepared

A glass installer may not expect the area to be swept, as it's very dangerous to be around a broken window or other glass piece. As said above, the glass can continue to break and shatter and fall to the ground, even if shards seem to be sitting safely in a window frame or shower frame.

If you do want to cover over the area, such as when a window has broken and your can't have it repaired right away, ask if it's better to put a board over the window inside or outside the home if you won't be able to remove that board before work begins. A glass installer may work from the outside when replacing the glass and it's better to have the board inside the home if it will still be there when they arrive.

Ask about tinted windows

Your home may actually have tinted windows and you don't realize it; this tint could be very slight, just enough to block out some warm sunlight during hot summer days. Your shower screen might also be tinted; some are rosy color and others have a yellow tint, to add color in the bath. It's good to note the paperwork you may have gotten from a manufacturer or glass installer when you call about replacement glass, so the company can ensure that your windows all match or that you get the right shower screen for your bath.

Ask about repair rather than replacement

If your glass window or shower screen hasn't actually shattered, you might be able to have it repaired rather than replaced. This often depends on the extent of the chip or crack in the window; if it hasn't actually broken through, a contractor might be able to fill it with a type of resin that covers over that hole, like putty you add to chipped wood. A buff and polish can then mean a window that looks like new. This too is another reason why you don't want to touch the glass before they arrive, as you might make that crack too big for a simple repair job.