What Is Window Glass Repair?
Window glass repair means replacing the broken glass in a window without replacing the window itself. The sash, frame, trim and hardware stay where they are. The crew removes the stops or the old putty, takes out the broken glass, cleans the rebate, and sets a new pane on fresh setting blocks with glazing tape or putty. Then the stops go back on and the window works as it did before.
Most of the windows we repair in Toronto are one of three types:
- Single-pane windows in older homes, basements, garages and storm sashes. These are the cheapest and quickest to repair.
- Heritage wood sash in Victorian and Edwardian houses, glazed with linseed putty. These need a slower hand.
- Double-pane sealed units in vinyl and aluminium windows. A crack here means the sealed unit has to be rebuilt, which we price as window glass replacement.
Common Types of Window Damage
Impact cracks start from a point, with lines running outward like a star. A ball, a bird or a stone from a lawn mower.
Stress cracks start at the edge and run across the pane in a wavy line. They are caused by uneven heating, often on a sunny day in March when one part of the glass is warm and the edge in the frame is still cold.
Corner breaks usually come from a frame that has shifted, a sash that has been slammed, or glass that was set without proper setting blocks. If we see a corner break, we check the frame before we install new glass so the new pane does not crack the same way.
Edge chips on sealed units are small, but they matter. A chip at the edge of an insulated glass unit can break the perimeter seal and let moisture in. If the seal is already compromised, the unit will fog within months.
When Do You Need Tempered Glass?
Ontario’s building code, OBC Part 9 for houses, requires safety glass in certain places. If your broken pane is in one of them, the replacement has to be CSA A440 tempered or laminated, even if the original was not:
| Location | Safety glass needed? |
|---|---|
| Glass in or beside a door, within 24 inches | Yes |
| Glass with a bottom edge close to the floor | Usually yes |
| Glass beside a bathtub or shower | Yes |
| Standard window well above floor level | Usually no |
| Basement window in a window well | Usually no |
Tempered glass cannot be cut once it is made, so it is ordered to size and takes 3-7 business days. We fit a temporary pane in the meantime.
Repair or Replace the Whole Window?
For most Toronto homes, repairing the glass is the better deal. A new pane costs $185-$650. A full window replacement, with a new frame, interior trim and exterior capping, typically runs $3,800-$4,500 per opening. If the frame is sound and the window opens and locks properly, there is no reason to throw it away.
Replace the whole window when the frame is soft or rotten, the sash no longer seals against the frame, or the window is a style you want to change anyway. We will tell you on site if we think the frame will not hold new glass, and we will not sell you a pane that is going to fail.
Fix It Before Winter
A cracked pane loses heat, lets in drafts, and the crack grows each time the temperature swings. A $185 pane in October is a lot cheaper than a $1,250 sealed unit in January after the crack has spread and the seal has gone. If you have a crack you have been meaning to deal with, send us a photo and our glass repair team in Toronto will quote it in writing.
Written by The Elite Glass Repair Toronto Crew. Last updated .
