Catford · Greater London
Emergency Glazing in Catford
When a break-in or storm leaves glass broken in Catford, our glaziers can clear the shards, board the opening and measure for new glass.
- SE6
- SE13
- SE4
- Guide from £165
Make safe broken glass in Catford
Permanent glass is often made to order, especially toughened, laminated or sealed units, and cannot usually be cut from stock at the time. That is why emergency work is normally two visits: make safe now, then return to fit the permanent glass once it is ready.
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.
Broken toughened glass shatters into small pieces that can spread widely and sit in carpets and gaps for some time. Laminated glass cracks but stays in the frame, and is cut out with care. The glazier deals with each differently when making the opening safe.
When permanent glass replaces a broken pane in a door, beside a door or low down near the floor, it should be safety glass. In England, Approved Document K sets out these critical locations, so the replacement may need a higher specification than the original glass.
What a typical job includes
- Photos and a short written note for insurance
- Clearing shards from floors, sills and pavements
- Removal of loose and hanging broken glass
- Measurement for the permanent replacement glass
Catford at a glance
- Postcodes covered
- SE6, SE13, SE4 and the surrounding area, including Lewisham, Blackheath and Greenwich
- Coast
- Catford is well inland, around 27 km from the nearest coast, so salt exposure is not usually a factor.
- Daylight and sun
- In Catford the midwinter sun reaches about 15° above the horizon at noon, with roughly 7.6 hours of daylight, rising to about 62° and 16.4 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 England
- Approved Document K requires safety glass in critical locations in England: glazing in doors and in side panels within 300 mm of a door, up to 1500 mm above floor level, and any glazing in walls or partitions up to 800 mm above floor level.
Guide prices in Catford
| 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
Approved Document Q applies to new homes in England, where doors and windows are expected to meet PAS 24 or an equivalent standard. It does not apply to replacements in existing homes, but PAS 24 products are still a sensible choice.
What you can choose
Internal boarding
Boards fixed from inside the room for upper floors or awkward access, avoiding ladders and working at height in the dark.
Polycarbonate temporary glazing
Clear, impact-resistant sheet fitted in place of the broken glass, keeping daylight in and the opening secure while permanent glass is made.
Timber boarding
Exterior-grade plywood or OSB screwed securely into the frame, giving a solid, weather-resistant cover until the permanent glass is fitted.
Emergency Glazing in Catford: questions
Can you replace the glass on the same visit as boarding up?
Usually not. Most replacement glass, particularly toughened, laminated and sealed units, is made to order and cannot be cut from stock at the time. The emergency visit makes the opening safe and secure, and the glazier measures for permanent glass. A second visit is booked to remove the board and fit the new glass once it is ready.
What causes glass to break without anything hitting it?
Glass can crack from thermal stress, when part of a pane heats up much more than the rest, often from sun, heaters or partial shading. Toughened glass can also break spontaneously in rare cases because of tiny inclusions in the glass. The glazier notes the crack pattern, which can help identify the likely cause.
Will the permanent glass need to be safety glass?
It will if the broken pane is in a critical location. In England, Approved Document K covers glass in doors and within 300mm of a door edge, up to 1500mm above the floor, and other glass within 800mm of the floor. The glazier checks the location when measuring, so the permanent glass meets the right standard.
Do you board up commercial premises and shopfronts?
Yes. We arrange boarding and temporary glazing for shops, offices, restaurants and other commercial premises. Large shopfront panes may need several boards, timber framing and more than one glazier. Once secured, we can quote for permanent glass, including laminated glass, and plan the fitting visit around your opening hours where possible.
Do you cover Catford for emergency glazing?
Yes. We can quote for emergency glazing across Catford and the surrounding Greater London area, including postcode districts SE6, SE13 and SE4, and nearby Lewisham, Blackheath and Greenwich. 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 Catford
Clear guide prices, any charge explained before booking, and one point of contact for every glazing job.