Wandsworth · Greater London
Emergency Glazing in Wandsworth
After a smashed pane in Wandsworth, our glaziers make the opening safe and secure, then provide a written quote for the permanent glass replacement.
- SW11
- SW12
- SW15
- SW17
- SW18
- Guide from £165
Emergency glass repair for homes and businesses in Wandsworth
Shopfront glass is often large, laminated or toughened, and very heavy. Boarding a shopfront may need several boards, extra timber framing and more than one person. Permanent shopfront glass usually needs careful measuring, lifting equipment and a planned fitting visit with access arranged around trading hours.
Many home and business insurance policies include accidental damage or malicious damage cover for glass, sometimes with a set excess or a requirement to use approved contractors. Check your policy or call your insurer before agreeing to permanent work, so you know what will be covered.
The first job on an emergency visit is making the opening safe. Loose and hanging shards are removed from the frame, broken glass is cleared from floors and pavements, and anything that could fall is taken down before the opening is boarded or temporarily glazed.
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.
What a typical job includes
- Boarding or temporary glazing cut to the opening
- Written quote for the permanent glass specification
- Clearing shards from floors, sills and pavements
- Removal of loose and hanging broken glass

Wandsworth at a glance
- Postcodes covered
- SW11, SW12, SW15, SW17, SW18 and the surrounding area, including Putney, Fulham and Chelsea
- Coast
- Wandsworth is well inland, around 39 km from the nearest coast, so salt exposure is not usually a factor.
- Daylight and sun
- In Wandsworth 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
- In busy streets, broken glass on pavements is a hazard to passers-by and needs clearing. Shopfronts may need boarding before trading, parking can be limited near the opening, and flats above shops often need boards fixed from inside.
- 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 Wandsworth
| 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.
Options to choose between
Permanent toughened glass
Toughened replacement glass for doors, low-level panes and other critical locations, made to measure after the opening is secured.
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 laminated glass
Laminated replacement glass that stays in place if struck again, often chosen for shopfronts and ground-floor windows after a break-in.
Emergency Glazing in Wandsworth: questions
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.
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.
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.
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.
Do you cover Wandsworth for emergency glazing?
Yes. We can quote for emergency glazing across Wandsworth and the surrounding Greater London area, including postcode districts SW11, SW12, SW15, SW17 and SW18, and nearby Putney, Fulham and Chelsea. 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.
More glazing in Wandsworth
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Get a written quote in Wandsworth
Clear guide prices, any charge explained before booking, and one point of contact for every glazing job.