When a glass door or window shatters, it’s not just an inconvenience. It poses potential harm and compromises the security of your premise. These situations may call for the need of an emergency glazier. Here, we provide you with a step-by-step guide to follow when you are in such a predicament.
Step 1: Evacuate the Area and Ensure Safety
The first reaction should always be to ensure safety for all. Shattered glass can cause serious injuries, so it is essential to keep everyone, particularly children and pets, away from the incident area.
Step 2: Clean up the Immediate Mess Carefully!
If it’s safe to do so, we recommend cleaning up any big pieces of glass that present an immediate hazard. Remember to use protective gloves and carefully dispose of the broken pieces. However, do not try to remove any stubborn pieces stuck in window or door frames, leave them for professionals to handle.
Step 3: Document for Insurance Purposes
For insurance claims, photos of the damage can serve as a vital document. So, before any clean-up, take high-resolution pictures from various angles. Also, document the date, time and any potential causes of the breakage.
Step 4: Contact Emergency Glazing Services
Professional help is crucial to secure your home or business after any serious damages. Once everything has been documented and an immediate clean-up done, you should contact an emergency glazing service. These professionals have the right tools, skills, and safety equipment necessary to handle glass repairs and replacements efficiently and safely.
Step 5: Secure the Area Until Help Arrives
Before professional help arrives, you should aim to secure the area. This might involve boarding up the broken window or door, which will also help protect your home from the elements. However, if this isn’t a viable option, using heavy-duty plastic or a thick blanket can work as a temporary solution.
Step 6: Cooperate with Professionals
Once the professionals arrive, they will survey the damage, remove any remaining glass and install a new window or door. It is crucial to follow any safety advice they give to ensure there’s no risk of further incidents or injuries.
Step 7: Aftercare
Once your new window or door is installed, you need to know the essential aftercare steps. This might involve allowing sealants to dry, not opening or closing the window for a specific time, or knowing how to clean your new glazing without damaging it. Always follow the advice of your glazier to ensure your new window or door stays in top condition.
In conclusion, dealing with broken glass can be a daunting task, but these steps should provide you with guidance on how to deal responsibly with such situations. The key takeaway here is to prioritise safety and call in professionals, like emergency glazing service providers, for proper remediation of the situation.
