24/7 Glass Repair
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Home Window Glass Repairs
When our glaziers repair or replaces a residential window glass, the process is streamlined to ensure the glass is structurally supported and sealed against the elements. Here is the process focused specifically on windows:
Preparation and Site Safety
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Clearance: The glazier removes any remaining shards of broken glass from the frame and the surrounding area.
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Safety Measures: They use heavy-duty, cut-resistant gloves and protective eyewear throughout the process.
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Precision Measurement: The technician measures the window opening to ensure the new glass allows for proper expansion and fits within the frame’s tolerances.
Frame Preparation
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Removal of glazing components:
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In modern frames: The glazier removes the interior or exterior glazing beads (the plastic or metal strips holding the glass in place).
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In older timber frames: They carefully remove the old, hardened putty using a chisel.
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Cleaning: The rebates (the inner channels of the frame) are cleared of all old sealant, dust, and debris to ensure the new glass creates a perfect seal.
Glass Preparation
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Cutting: The glass is cut to the exact dimensions required for the frame.
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Edging: After cutting, the edges are lightly sanded or "seamed" to remove sharp burrs, which helps prevent future chips or cracks caused by stress on the glass edges.
Installation
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Setting Blocks: The glazier places small rubber or plastic setting blocks along the bottom of the frame. These are essential; they carry the weight of the glass and prevent it from touching the hard frame, which protects the glass from pressure cracks.
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Positioning: The new piece of glass is carefully set into the frame.
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Sealing:
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For modern frames: The glazier installs new rubber seals or applies silicone sealant before snapping the glazing beads back into position.
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For timber frames: The glazier applies a new layer of window putty, smoothing it at an angle to ensure rainwater sheds away from the glass.
Final Inspection and Cleanup
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Wiping Down: The glass is cleaned of any oils, smudges, or residual sealant.
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Operational Check: The glazier ensures the window sash operates smoothly (if it is a sliding or opening window) and that the glass is properly centered and held securely by the beads or putty.
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Compliance Verification: The technician ensures that the glass installed meets local safety building codes, particularly for windows located in high-traffic or low-level areas.
Home Door Glass Repairs
Repairing or replacing glass in various types of home doors—such as hinged doors, French doors, or bi-fold doors—requires a different approach than sliding doors, as each mechanism has unique hardware and structural considerations.
1. Site Assessment and Security
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Door Type Analysis: The glazier identifies the door style (e.g., hinged, swinging, bi-fold, or pivot). The approach is dictated by the hinges, locking mechanisms, and frame construction.
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Safety Prep: The area is cleared of debris. For doors, this is particularly important as the shards are often larger and can pose a greater risk to foot traffic.
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Hardware Check: Before starting, the glazier inspects the hinges, handles, and closers to ensure they are functional and properly aligned.
Removing the Damaged Glass
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Accessing the Glass:
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Hinged/French Doors: Depending on the design, the glazier may be able to replace the glass while the door is on its hinges, or they may need to remove the door from its frame for better access.
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Bead Removal: They carefully remove the internal or external glazing beads. On older timber doors, this often involves delicate work to avoid damaging the wood frame while removing old putty or pins.
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Debris Cleanup: The rebate (the groove where the glass sits) is cleaned of old sealant and glass fragments to allow for a clean, weather-tight installation.
Measuring and Specifying Glass
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Safety Standards: Building codes strictly mandate that all glass in doors must be safety glass (tempered/toughened or laminated). The glazier ensures the new glass meets these specific standards.
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Thickness and Fit: The glazier ensures the new glass is the correct thickness for the frame’s rebate and allows for the necessary thermal expansion space.
Installation and Sealing
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Setting Blocks: Proper placement of setting blocks is crucial in doors. Since doors are frequently operated and subject to the vibration of opening and closing, these blocks ensure the glass stays centered and does not settle or rattle within the frame.
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Securing: The glass is positioned, and the glazing beads or putty are applied to lock it in place.
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Weather Sealing: A high-grade silicone sealant or weather-stripping is applied around the perimeter to prevent drafts, moisture ingress, and rattling when the door is opened or closed.
Mechanical Adjustments and Final Inspection
Because the weight of the glass is significant, replacing it often changes the balance of the door:
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Hinge Adjustment: The glazier adjusts the tension and alignment of the hinges so the door opens and closes without sagging or rubbing against the frame.
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Lock and Strike Plate Alignment: They check that the lock engages smoothly with the strike plate. Since the glass replacement can slightly alter the door's weight distribution, this is a critical final step.
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Operational Testing: The door is opened and closed multiple times to ensure the new glass is secure and that the door operates according to the manufacturer's specifications.
Shop Front Repairs
Shopfront glass repairs are high-priority operations because they directly impact a business's security, visual appeal, and liability. Unlike residential work, shopfront repairs often involve large-format, high-strength glass (such as toughened or laminated safety glass) and must comply with strict commercial building codes.
Here is the process for shopfront glass repairs:
Immediate Emergency Response
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Security Assessment: Upon arrival, the glazier’s first duty is to secure the site. If the glass has been shattered (due to a break-in or accident), they will remove all hazardous debris to prevent customer and staff injury.
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Make-Safe Boarding: If the replacement glass cannot be installed immediately (e.g., if a specific size or type of glass needs to be ordered), the glazier will install temporary boarding (usually high-grade plywood or specialized polycarbonate sheeting). This restores site security and weather protection until the new glass arrives.
Site Measurement and Safety Compliance
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Safety Standards: Shopfronts are "high-risk" areas, meaning they must meet specific Australian Standards (AS 1288) for overhead glazing and human impact. The glazier will confirm the necessary thickness and type of glass (typically tempered or laminated safety glass) to ensure legal compliance.
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Precision Specs: Because commercial frames are often complex and custom-fitted, the glazier performs exact measurements of the frame rebates to ensure a perfect fit for the new pane.
The Repair Process
The method depends on the frame system (typically heavy-duty aluminum or frameless patch-fittings:
For Framed Shopfronts:
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Access: The glazier removes the aluminum glazing beads or exterior stop-plates.
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Installation: Using industrial suction cups, the team maneuvers the heavy glass into position.
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Sealing: Once set on heavy-duty setting blocks, the glass is sealed using commercial-grade silicone or structural gaskets. The beads or plates are then securely refastened.
For Frameless (Butt-Jointed) Shopfronts:
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Hardware: This involves removing "patch fittings" or floor springs that hold the glass in place.
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Alignment: The new glass must be perfectly aligned to ensure the door or panel swings or slides correctly within the commercial-grade floor springs.
Essential Mechanical Checks
A shopfront is a high-traffic environment, so the hardware must be optimized:
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Floor Spring & Closer Adjustment: The glazier adjusts the speed and "latching action" of the door closers. Improperly adjusted closers are a common cause of glass damage (e.g., doors slamming into the frame).
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Lock and Strike Alignment: They ensure the commercial locking mechanism engages correctly with the floor or frame strike plate.
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Hardware Lubrication: The hinges, pivots, and tracks are inspected and lubricated to prevent strain on the new glass panels.
Finalization and Handover
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Cleanup: Commercial cleaners remove all fingerprints and sealant residue to restore the professional appearance of the storefront.
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Documentation: Glaziers provide a certificate of compliance. This is vital for business owners, as it is almost always required by insurance companies to process a claim and verify that the shop meets public liability standards.
Double Glazing Repairs
When a double-glazed Insulated Glazing Unit (IGU) fails—either through physical breakage or the "fogging" caused by a failed factory seal—the entire unit must be replaced. Because these are hermetically sealed components, individual panes cannot be separated or repaired.
Here is the process for replacing faulty or damaged double-glazed panels:
Unit Assessment and Measurement
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Failure Analysis: The glazier determines if the issue is a crack or a failed seal (condensation inside the panes). Both scenarios require the full replacement of the faulty panel.
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Precision Measurement: The technician measures the height, width, and total thickness of the IGU. Accuracy here is vital, as the unit must fit perfectly into the existing frame rebate to maintain thermal and acoustic performance.
Procurement
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Custom Fabrication: Since every double-glazed unit is manufactured to specific dimensions and glass types (e.g., Low-E, toughened, or laminated), the glazier orders the new unit from a glass factory.
"Make-Safe" Solutions (Interim Security)
If the faulty panel presents an immediate risk, the glazier will perform a "make-safe" until the new unit is ready to install:
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Safety Film: If the glass is cracked but stable, a heavy-duty security film is applied. This holds shards in place, prevents injury, and maintains a degree of security and weatherproofing.
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Temporary Boarding: If the glass is shattered or insecure, the glazier removes the damaged shards entirely and installs a temporary board (typically high-grade plywood or polycarbonate) into the frame to seal the property against weather and intruders.
Removal of the Faulty Panel
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Bead Removal: The glazier carefully removes the internal or external glazing beads (for uPVC, timber, or aluminum frames). Great care is taken to avoid damaging the frame or the clips.
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Extraction: Using industrial suction lifters, the heavy, faulty IGU is safely extracted from the frame.
Installation of the New Unit
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Frame Preparation: The glazier clears all old sealant and debris from the frame rebate to ensure a clean surface.
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Block Placement: They install setting blocks at the bottom to distribute the unit's weight and bridge blocks on the sides to ensure the panel remains centered and does not shift.
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Placement and Sealing: The new unit is lifted into position. The glazier ensures the rubber gaskets are properly seated against both sides of the glass to maintain the seal.
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Re-beading: The glazing beads are snapped back into place. If original beads are damaged or brittle, they are replaced with new ones to ensure a secure, airtight fit.
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Final Sealing: Where required by the frame design, a high-grade silicone sealant is applied around the perimeter for a moisture-proof finish.
Quality Assurance
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Alignment & Operation: The glazier checks that the window or door operates smoothly and is perfectly square within the frame.
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Final Clean: The new glass is cleaned thoroughly to remove any handling marks or installation residue, restoring the unit’s clarity and performance.
Shower Screen Repairs
Replacing shower screen glass requires specialized care because shower screens almost exclusively use toughened (tempered) safety glass. When this glass breaks, it is designed to shatter into thousands of small, blunt pieces rather than large shards.
Here is the process for replacing shower screen glass:
Emergency Safety and Cleanup
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Containment: The glazier immediately cordons off the bathroom area. Because toughened glass spreads widely upon impact, they use heavy-duty vacuums and specialized sweeping tools to ensure no microscopic glass particles remain in the tray or on the floor.
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Assessment: The technician examines the remaining frame, pivots, and hinges. If the frame itself was bent or twisted during the glass breakage, it may require realigning or replacing to ensure the new glass doesn't bind.
Precision Measurement
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Compliance: Shower screens must meet strict Australian safety standards (AS 1288). The glazier measures for the exact thickness—typically 6mm, 8mm, or 10mm toughened glass—and ensures the glass edges are polished or rounded to prevent injury.
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Custom Specs: Unlike standard windows, shower screens often have unique hinge holes, cut-outs, or notched corners. These must be measured to the millimeter before the glass is ordered, as toughened glass cannot be cut or drilled once it is tempered.
"Make-Safe" Solutions
If the screen cannot be replaced immediately:
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Complete Removal: If a panel is shattered, it is almost impossible to "patch" it. The glazier will remove the entire panel and all dangerous remnants from the frame to eliminate the risk of injury.
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Clearance: The bathroom is rendered safe for use without the glass screen until the new, custom-manufactured panel is ready for installation.
Installation of the New Panel
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Preparation: The glazier cleans the existing shower channel or frame, removing any old silicone or residue from the previous panel.
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Installing Hardware: The glazier attaches the necessary hardware—such as hinges, clips, or handles—to the new glass panel. These are often fitted with protective nylon or rubber gaskets to prevent metal-on-glass contact.
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Positioning: Using suction lifters, the glazier carefully slides the new panel into the channel or attaches it to the existing hinges/wall profiles.
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Alignment: This is the most critical step. The glazier adjusts the hinges and wall profiles to ensure the door is level, swings freely without touching the floor or frame, and closes securely against the magnetic or bulb seals.
Sealing and Finishing
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Silicone Application: A bathroom-grade, anti-mold silicone is applied to the frame joints or channels to ensure the shower remains watertight.
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Setting Time: The glazier will instruct you on how long the silicone needs to cure (usually 24 hours) before the shower can be used again.
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Final Inspection: The glazier performs a "swing test" to ensure the door operates smoothly, latches correctly, and that all seals are properly positioned to keep water inside the shower enclosure.