If one of your windows has been smashed or badly cracked, you may need to do some DIY repair work to secure your property until you can arrange for emergency glass repairs. For example, you may need cover the hole if the weather is bad and you don't want rain and wind to come through the window; a gaping hole in a window may also be an open invitation to burglars. What's the best way to deal with a broken window before your glass repair company arrives?
Warning: It's easy to cut yourself on broken glass, so make sure that you're wearing gloves, such as thick work gloves, before you start covering the damage. You should wear gloves even if you're dealing with just a cracked window – the crack may break the glass while you're working on it.
Covering a Smashed Window
The easiest way to secure broken windows is to tape something over the hole or over the full window itself. You can use a plastic refuse bag, garden rubbish sack or a piece of cardboard to do this. Bear in mind that cardboard won't be much good to you if you're dealing with a frog-strangling downpour. If the cardboard gets wet and mushy, it won't give you much weather protection.
Before you cover the hole, gently pull out any pieces of glass that look wobbly (while wearing your gloves). To cover a small hole, cut the plastic or cardboard to size and use duct tape to tape it to the window. You may find it easier and safer to cut the material bigger than the hole so that you're taping on undamaged parts of the glass. If most or all of the window is smashed, or if you feel that the glass around a smaller hole is not secure, tape the covering material to the window frame rather than the window itself.
Tip: If the weather is cold, windy or very rainy, try using a double layer of a plastic material to cover the hole for extra weatherproofing.
Covering Cracks in a Window
Covering cracks in a window may not always be necessary, but it may be a useful thing to do if you're worried about the crack breaking the glass before you can have it repaired. For example, if you have kids running around, you may want to add a little extra protection to the window. Typically, you can make the crack more stable by sticking duct or masking tape over it. If you can access the outside as well as the inside of the window, you can also tape both sides for added strength.
Tip: Don't tape up a crack until you've checked how stable the glass around the crack is. If the glass around the crack looks really wobbly, you may break the glass when you tape the crack unless you're really careful.
Share19 February 2016
As the manager of a five-star hotel, I face many interesting challenges. There's never a dull moment! One of my biggest problems is security. I spend a lot of time obtaining quality keys, locks and safes and ensuring they are well-maintained. There's nothing worse than a tired guest and a broken lock at 3 am! Over the years, I have trialled many different types of locks and safes. I also keep up with the latest technology in this area. I am therefore quite the expert when it comes to advising family and friends about the best systems for their homes and businesses. Given that so many people ask me for advice, I figured that there may be others who are overwhelmed by the plethora of options out there. This blog may give you some ideas and help you make good decisions in your search for superior locks and safes.