Caterham · Surrey
Emergency Glazing in Caterham
After a smashed pane in Caterham, our glaziers make the opening safe and secure, then provide a written quote for the permanent glass replacement.
- CR3
- CR6
- RH9
- Guide from £165
Emergency glazier in Caterham
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.
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.
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's included
- Clearing shards from floors, sills and pavements
- Measurement for the permanent replacement glass
- Written quote for the permanent glass specification
- Photos and a short written note for insurance
About Caterham for this job
- Postcodes covered
- CR3, CR6, RH9 and the surrounding area, including Coulsdon, Purley and Redhill
- Coast
- Caterham is well inland, around 36 km from the nearest coast, so salt exposure is not usually a factor.
- Daylight and sun
- In Caterham 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 Caterham
| 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
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.
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.
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 Caterham: 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.
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.
What should I do immediately after a window is smashed?
Keep people and pets away from the broken glass, and do not try to pull out large hanging shards by hand. If it was a break-in or vandalism, call the police and note the crime reference. Take photos from inside and outside. Then call us, and we will tell you honestly when a glazier can attend to make it safe.
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.
Do you cover Caterham for emergency glazing?
Yes. We can quote for emergency glazing across Caterham and the surrounding Surrey area, including postcode districts CR3, CR6 and RH9, and nearby Coulsdon, Purley and Redhill. 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 Caterham
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Get a written quote in Caterham
Clear guide prices, any charge explained before booking, and one point of contact for every glazing job.