Retail glass gets broken at the worst hour, and the cost is rarely the glass. It is the day you cannot open. Ottawa Street, James North, Locke, Concession, King East: we glaze all of them, and the shops that lose the least are the ones that do these steps in order.
First hour
- Nobody in the shard zone. Rope off inside and outside, especially on a sidewalk.
- Call the police for a non-emergency report if it was a break-in and get the incident number. Insurers ask for it.
- Photograph everything before you clean. Wide shot of the frontage, close-ups of the frame, the till area, any damaged stock.
- Call for a board up. We can secure the opening the same day, screwed to the frame, so you can lock the door and stay covered.
- Then sweep. Vacuum where you can. Tempered granules get everywhere and end up in the stock.
Why board up first, glass after
Storefront panes are large and almost always tempered, which means they cannot be cut on site. Each one is made to the exact opening. Trying to skip the board up to wait for glass just leaves you closed and exposed.
A board up costs a fraction of the pane, buys you trading days, and satisfies most insurers' requirement to secure the premises.
Measuring and lead time
We measure the opening on the board up visit, so there is only one trip before the install. What sets the time and the price:
- Size and thickness. Big frontage panes are heavy and often need two people and a lift.
- Tempered, laminated or an insulated unit. Laminated is worth considering where you have had repeat break-ins.
- Vinyl, film or lettering. Reapplying signage adds a step. Keep the artwork file handy.
- Access. Sidewalk permits, parking, and whether we can work before opening.
We fit outside trading hours where we can, so the swap does not cost you another day.
What insurance usually wants
- The police incident number.
- Photos before cleanup.
- An itemised invoice for the board up and the glass, kept separate.
- Any receipts for damaged stock.
We invoice board up and glazing as separate lines by default because that is how claims get processed.
Reducing the next one
- Laminated glass in the most exposed pane. It cracks but stays in the frame, so an opportunist does not get through.
- Empty the till and light it. A lit, visible interior is the cheapest deterrent there is.
- Keep high value stock out of window displays overnight.
- Fix loose stops and failed frame sealant. A pane that rattles in a poor frame breaks easier and leaks.
Glass on the sidewalk right now? Call and we will get you boarded up and measured the same day, then back to full glass as soon as the pane is built.