Penicuik · Edinburgh & the Lothians
Emergency Glazing in Penicuik
Shop owners in Penicuik can call us to secure a broken shopfront with boarding or temporary glazing, then quote for permanent laminated or toughened glass.
- EH26
- Guide from £165
Boarding up broken window across Penicuik
Temporary glazing uses polycarbonate or a basic glass pane instead of a board, letting daylight in while permanent glass is made. It suits shopfronts that need to keep trading, living rooms and windows where boarding would leave a room in darkness for days.
If glass breaks with no clear cause, such as an impact or a break-in, it may be a thermal crack from uneven heating, or a spontaneous breakage in toughened glass. The glazier notes the break pattern, which can help with insurance and with choosing the right replacement glass.
The cost of emergency glazing depends on the time of call-out, the size of the opening, whether boarding or temporary glazing is used, how much glass has to be cleared, and access. The permanent glass is quoted separately once the glazier knows the exact specification required.
Boarding is usually exterior-grade plywood or OSB cut to fit the opening and screwed into the frame or surrounding structure. For a secure fix, the board is fixed so it cannot simply be levered off from outside, and edges are kept tight to limit weather getting in.
What's included
- Boarding or temporary glazing cut to the opening
- Removal of loose and hanging broken glass
- Clearing shards from floors, sills and pavements
- Photos and a short written note for insurance
Local details for Penicuik
- Postcodes covered
- EH26 and the surrounding area, including Bonnyrigg, Dalkeith and Mayfield
- Coast
- Penicuik sits roughly 16 km from the nearest coastline, close enough that exposure on open or high ground is worth considering. In coastal storms, wind-driven rain and gusts can force water and debris through broken glass quickly. Boards need firm fixings into sound timber or masonry, and exposed openings may need extra fixings so the board stays put until the permanent glass is fitted.
- Daylight and sun
- In Penicuik the midwinter sun reaches about 11° above the horizon at noon, with roughly 6.7 hours of daylight, rising to about 58° and 17.3 hours in midsummer. Boarding blocks daylight, so in short winter days a boarded room can be very dark. Temporary clear glazing keeps light in, and on sunny elevations the permanent glass can include solar control or low-E coatings when it is ordered.
- Access and setting
- Rural properties may be further from a glazier, so the first visit concentrates on making the opening safe and weathertight. Barns, outbuildings and older timber frames sometimes need extra timber battens to give the board a solid fixing.
- Rules in Scotland
- Section 4 (Safety) of the Scottish Technical Handbooks covers glazing that people could collide with, such as glass in and beside doors and low-level glazing, where safety glass is needed.
Guide prices in Penicuik
| Typical job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Board up one window | £165 – £245 |
| Board up a door or small shopfront | £225 – £345 |
| Temporary glass while new glass is made | £195 – £295 |
Get a guide price for your size
Security standards for doors and windows apply to new homes in Scotland; for replacements, PAS 24 products are a sensible choice.
Specification choices
Permanent laminated glass
Laminated replacement glass that stays in place if struck again, often chosen for shopfronts and ground-floor windows after a break-in.
Timber boarding
Exterior-grade plywood or OSB screwed securely into the frame, giving a solid, weather-resistant cover until the permanent glass is fitted.
Permanent toughened glass
Toughened replacement glass for doors, low-level panes and other critical locations, made to measure after the opening is secured.
Emergency Glazing in Penicuik: questions
Should I board up or have temporary glazing?
Boarding is simple to fit, secure and suits any opening, but it blocks daylight and the view. Temporary polycarbonate glazing lets light in and lets a shop keep displaying, but it is less suitable for some large or awkward openings. The glazier advises on which suits your property and how long the permanent glass will take.
Is boarding up secure enough to leave the property overnight?
A properly fitted board is screwed into the frame or surrounding structure so it cannot easily be levered off, and it closes the opening against the weather. It is a temporary measure, not a permanent security upgrade. For shops or vulnerable properties, laminated permanent glass is worth considering once the replacement is ordered.
How much does emergency glazing cost?
The cost depends on the time of the call-out, the size of the opening, whether boarding or temporary glazing is fitted, how much glass needs clearing, and access. Permanent glass is priced separately once its specification is known. See the guide prices for typical work, and your written quote sets out the cost of the permanent glass.
Will my insurance pay for emergency boarding and new glass?
Many home and business policies cover accidental or malicious damage to glass, including boarding and replacement, but the terms vary. Some insurers require you to use their approved contractors or to call them first, and an excess may apply. Check your policy or call your insurer. We provide photos and a written note to support a claim.
Do you cover Penicuik for emergency glazing?
Yes. We can quote for emergency glazing across Penicuik and the surrounding Edinburgh & the Lothians area, including postcode districts EH26, and nearby Bonnyrigg, Dalkeith and Mayfield. Start with your postcode on the quote form and a glazier will talk through the job, explain any charge before booking and give you a written quote.
Get a written quote in Penicuik
Clear guide prices, any charge explained before booking, and one point of contact for every glazing job.