You have probably heard this before. There are some glass window cracks you just can’t repair. Of course, there are some quick fixes you can employ to stop water and cold outside air from finding its way through the cracks into your house.

Ultimately, though, all these are temporary measures as you wait for your window repair technician to show up. They will have to replace the window panels with new, safer ones. But wait…

How Can You Tell a Glass Window Panel is Too Cracked to Be Safely Repaired?

It’s simple, really: AS1288-2006 (the regulation that governs class in buildings) dictates that once a panel is cracked, it must be replaced. This is for good reason. The first is for safety. The second is for liability and insurance reasons.

Cracked windows are easier to break, the slightest impact can worsen the crack or bring the whole panel shattering down. The best course of action with cracked windows is to just replace them, and usually quickly.

If there are scratches on the panel, then sometimes these can be buffed out. However, the outcome is not guaranteed, and also weakens the integrity of the panel. As a rule of thumb, if you run your fingernail over a scratched glass panel and it catches, it must be replaced. Glass repair only makes sense when the window remains safe and can adequately insulate your property after the repair.

But beyond the severity of the cracks, there are other reasons you may decide to take the opportunity to replace your window panels instead of repairing the cracks:

1. If your glass windows are old and not as well insulated as you would like, then replacing your cracked glass windows with insulated panels can help reduce your energy bills. There are now more modern insulated glass panels that are also much safer than the panels you find on the older houses.
2. A broken seal on a double glazed window (DGU) is not possible to repair. It requires the whole panel to be replaced, even if the actual crack isn’t as bad. This is due the argon gass sealed inside, which gives the DGU its great insulation properties. This is also a job best left to a professional window repair technician, such as Fair Glass Repair.

Replacing Your Glass Panels? Call in the Experts

It may be tempting to replace the broken glass on your windows yourself. Indeed, the task isn’t particularly difficult for one whose handyman skills are above average.

But if yours are double glazed windows or large, upper floors’, or expensive special glass panels, you may have to call in the professionals. In addition, unless a qualified glazier, you’re likely not aware of which glass needs to go where due regulations. Moreover, cracked glass needs to be handled with care to prevent cuts. And glass itself is fragile and quite easy to damage when handled by inexperienced people.

For swift and professional window repairs, Fair Glass Repair is your go-to contractor. We are experienced glazing contractors offering services ranging from residential and commercial window installation, glass pool fencing, glass shower screens installation, to custom glass partitioning on commercial buildings. Contact us for a free quote today!