Staines · Surrey
Emergency Glazing in Staines
Broken glass in Staines is dangerous and leaves the property exposed, so we arrange make-safe boarding first and permanent glazing on a planned second visit.
- TW15
- TW16
- TW17
- TW18
- Guide from £165
Staines: broken shop window boarding
If the damage follows a break-in or vandalism, report it to the police and get a crime reference number before the scene is cleared if you can. Photograph the damage from inside and outside, as both the police and your insurer may ask for these details.
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 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.
Upper-floor broken windows are often boarded from inside, which avoids ladders at night and in poor weather. A board fitted inside still secures the opening and keeps out wind and rain, and permanent glass can then be fitted later in daylight with proper access.
What's included
- Clearing shards from floors, sills and pavements
- Photos and a short written note for insurance
- Measurement for the permanent replacement glass
- Boarding or temporary glazing cut to the opening

About Staines for this job
- Postcodes covered
- TW15, TW16, TW17, TW18 and the surrounding area, including Egham, Ashford (Surrey) and Feltham
- Coast
- Staines is well inland, around 60 km from the nearest coast, so salt exposure is not usually a factor.
- Daylight and sun
- In Staines 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 Staines
| 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
Replacement sealed unit
A made-to-measure double or triple glazed unit to replace a broken one, with safety or low-E glass where needed.
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 Staines: questions
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.
Can I clear up broken glass myself before the glazier arrives?
You can sweep up loose glass on the floor if you wear sturdy gloves and footwear, and keep children and pets away. Leave pieces still in the frame and any large hanging shards for the glazier, as they can fall unexpectedly. If police need to attend, avoid clearing the scene until they say it is fine.
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.
Do you cover Staines for emergency glazing?
Yes. We can quote for emergency glazing across Staines and the surrounding Surrey area, including postcode districts TW15, TW16, TW17 and TW18, and nearby Egham, Ashford (Surrey) and Feltham. 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 Staines
Clear guide prices, any charge explained before booking, and one point of contact for every glazing job.