Broken Windows: Simple Steps to Follow

A broken window in your house is a hazard that demands quick care, regardless of what you're doing or how much you have going on. The shattered glass alone is a safety hazard to you and anybody else in the house. The unexpected absence of protection from the elements in the case of rainfall or severe winds does not bode well for your interior either.

The apparent first step is to contact a maintenance technician and get the window repaired as soon as possible. You can replace the window yourself if you're good with building or have some expertise. However, for your own safety and security, you should leave the repairs to the professionals.

In any case, waiting for the window replacement does not necessarily imply sitting idle. In the case of a shattered window, there are a dozen things you can (and should) do. One such example is cleaning the glass.

But First, Before Handling The Glass...

Block off the area, especially if you have children or pets. The safety of every member of the home should be your top priority. Ask someone else in the home to keep an eye on your children while you deal with the glass, or put them in a room with a door (or in their playpen). You want to move them as far away from the catastrophe region as possible to prevent the possibility of them walking over to the disaster area.

Wear gloves and shoes. Any heavy-duty work gloves, such as those used in gardening or carpentry, will do. The greater the thickness of the material, the better. Avoid wearing thin fabric gloves since they offer very little protection. Avoid using rubber gloves as much as possible—they don't provide the best grip.

Put on shoes or slippers if your feet are bare. Glass slivers are often quite tiny. Their small size, along with their transparency, makes them virtually undetectable. You'll be grateful for the protection if you happen to walk on them.

Identify the Source of the Damage

If the window was broken by storm debris or another natural source, you should make an insurance claim. If approved, this might assist pay for the replacement window. Take images of the damage and suggest that an agent come over as soon as possible to examine the problem.

Call the police station and make a complaint if you suspect a break-in. When making an insurance claim, the report can also be used as supporting documents. Make sure you strictly adhere to the police's orders. Stay in a motel or at a friend's house if they advise you to for the next several days while they investigate.

Quick Solutions

• In most circumstances, the repairman can only come over the next day. This implies you won't be able to open a window for the next twelve hours or so. This is quite dangerous for various reasons, the most serious of which is that you are entirely exposed. So, while you wait for the specialists to arrive, here are some fast solutions you can perform yourself.

• Wearing heavy-duty work gloves, pick up and dispose of any shattered glass in the vicinity meticulously. Examine the window pane as well; if there are any shards of glass still stuck to the edges, gently slide them out and discard them. Then staple a square of thick plastic (large enough to conceal the hole) to the window sash around it.

• Duct tape or masking tape are suitable alternatives to thick plastic. Clean up the glass pieces and dispose of them, then stretch duct tape or masking tape across the gap, attaching each end of the strip to the opposite ends of the window's mullions or borders. Continue spreading out pieces of tape until the hole is fully covered. Repeat the process on the opposite side.

• If the window is shattered but still in one piece (i.e., there's simply a huge fracture in the glass), strengthen it by taping both sides of the crack using duct tape, electrical tape, or packing tape.

These window replacement methods may be basic, but in an emergency like this, there's no point jeopardizing safety and security for aesthetic excellence. If you don't have any of the items on hand, attempt to enlist the assistance of your neighbors or a nearby acquaintance. After you've made all of the essential calls and cleaned up the mess, closing the gap is your next priority.

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