What should you do when you have a broken window, complete with jagged shards and bits of razor-sharp glass on the floor? You should call a glass repair company near you. But before you do that, it’s important to take a few moments and consider the following information to expedite your glass repair in Chicago, Illinois:
What is the size of the glass?
The size of the glass is a major factor when it comes to window repair. A glass repair professional will not expect you to give them exact measurements over the phone, but they will almost certainly ask you for a rough estimate.
Find yourself a tape measure if you have one, and (with due caution, of course) measure both the height and the width of the glass surface. Don’t have a tape measure? You can use a piece of copy paper to come up with a close guess — most are usually 8.5” wide and 11” long.
Is the window single or double pane?
Single-pane windows can often be repaired on the spot. Double-pane windows, on the other hand, have to be custom-made and will usually have to be ordered by the glass company from their manufacturer. This can typically take about a week.
Determining whether you have a single or double-pane window is a fairly simple task, regardless of how little knowledge of windows you have or how badly broken it is. At the edge of the glass, where it meets the frame, look for a silver aluminum spacer that’s anywhere from a ¼” thick to ¾” thick. If you see one, you almost certainly have a double-pane window.
If it’s a double-pane window, is it just one pane that is broken, or both?
If both panes of a double-pane window are broken, it will most likely have to be boarded up. However, if only one pane is broken, it can often be left in place without having to board it. It’s best to let the glass repair professional know about your situation in advance.
Is the broken glass in a door?
If the broken glass is in a door, it will have to be replaced with either a tempered or laminated glass sheet. Tempered safety glass will need be ordered, and it typically takes a week or two to arrive. However, laminated safety glass can generally be cut to size the same day.
Is the window arched or rounded in any way?
Arched or rounded windows have to be made from a template, so the repairs for these types of windows are often much more time-consuming.
Which floor is the window located on?
Some windows (especially older wooden ones) can be glazed from the outside only, making window repair in a high-rise building significantly more difficult.
Looking for Professional Glass Repair Services in Chicago, Illinois?
We realize that you’re probably not a window glass expert. However, knowing the answers to as many of these questions as possible and communicating them to the Chicago glass repair expert will certainly increase the probability that they will be able to fix your window the same day.
If you are looking for professional glass repair services in Chicago, Illinois, look no further than Glass & Mirror America. With over 100 years of experience serving residential and commercial clients throughout the Chicagoland metropolitan area, we pride ourselves on quality service and customer satisfaction.
Contact us today at (800) 411-2801 or fill an online form to discuss your project. We will always provide you with a free estimate and professional advice from our glass experts.
