Beautiful windows add to a home’s curb appeal. If you have windows with low-emissivity (low-e) glass, low-U-factor insulation and high energy efficiency frames, they also reduce your home’s carbon footprint and make it more comfortable.
All of those good things, however, are affected if a window is broken. An errant baseball, a piece of debris blown by strong winds during a storm or an accident can lead to broken glass. As a homeowner, it’s totally normal to experience this at least once in your lifetime.
Of course, the best course of action is to call a professional to repair or replace your broken picture windows, but for one reason or another, you might have to wait before you can get the work done to correct your broken window. For those moments, here’s what you can do.
Have These Materials and Supplies Handy
If you’re prepared, you can apply a temporary fix on your broken window. Having these things handy can help:
-
Heavy-duty work gloves
-
Scissors
-
Staple gun
-
Tape measure
-
Strong, clear packing tape
-
Thick, clear plastic sheeting
-
Trash bag, preferably one that’s tough
-
Clear nail polish
Fix the Broken Window
-
Put on your work gloves to protect your hands from broken glass.
-
Feel the area where there’s broken glass, and press it gently to ensure it’s still strong enough to resist falling.
-
If it’s still strong enough to resist the pressure, just apply clear, strong packing tape over the crack. Do it on both sides of the glass. Smooth out the air bubbles with your fingers.
-
If you find smaller holes around the crack, you can fix them by applying clear nail polish.
-
Apply the nail polish in layers, using small amounts at a time. Let each coat dry before applying a new one.
-
If the crack is too big or if there is missing glass, tape and nail polish are not enough. Check it for loose shards of glass.
-
Carefully remove any loose shards. Remember to use your work gloves.
-
Use your tape measure to measure the area that needs to be covered.
-
Cut several layers of thick, clear plastic sheeting (or tough trash bag if it’s all you’ve got).
-
Tape the plastic into place. If you’re taping to a wooden window frame, you might want to also use a staple gun.
These are temporary solutions intended to keep your home protected from air leaks and bug intrusion. As soon as possible, call your window professional to fix or replace your broken window.
Get in touch with Renewal by Andersen® of Houston for sliding windows or any other type of windows. Call us today at (281) 547-6177, or use our contact form to tell us about your project. We work with homeowners in Sugar Land and in other areas around Texas.
