Broken Storefront Glass: What Texas Business Owners Should Do First

SEO title: Broken Storefront Glass? What Texas Businesses Should Do First Meta: A step-by-step plan for a broken storefront window or glass door: safety, photos, insurance, securing the opening and choosing replacement glass. Slug: /broken-storefront-glass-what-to-do/

A broken storefront window or glass door is stressful. You have customers, staff and stock to protect. Here is the order we recommend.

1. Make the area safe

Keep people away from the opening and any glass that is still hanging. Tempered glass breaks into small pieces; annealed and laminated glass can leave sharp shards in the frame. Do not try to pull pieces out by hand.

2. Document the damage

Take wide and close photos before anything is cleaned up. If it was a break-in or vandalism, call the police and get a report number. Your insurer will ask for both.

3. Call your insurer

Many commercial property policies cover glass. Ask about your deductible and whether they need an estimate before work starts.

4. Secure the opening

If the glass cannot be replaced the same day, the opening needs to be secured. Ask your glass company what they can do and how quickly.

5. Choose the right replacement

This is a chance to upgrade. Options include tempered or laminated safety glass, insulated units for energy savings, tint or film for heat, and new door hardware. See storefront glass installation and our commercial window replacement guide.

Board-up or temporary glass?

After a break, the opening needs to be secured until the new glass is ready. Plywood board-up is the most common temporary fix. Ask whether a temporary glass or clear panel is possible if you need to keep the storefront looking open. Either way, secure the opening the same day so the business and its stock are protected. Texan Glass describes emergency board-up followed by glass replacement as the standard response for smashed storefront glass, and provides emergency windshield service with mobile dispatch across its Texas locations. Call (281) 296-6200 to confirm board-up and after-hours options for your location.

How long does replacement take?

Standard sizes can sometimes be cut quickly. Larger panes, tempered glass and laminated glass are usually made to order, which adds time. Your glass company will measure the opening and tell you what to expect. While you wait, keep the temporary closure secure.

Types of storefront glass

• Tempered glass is heat-treated. It is much stronger than regular glass and breaks into small pieces, which is why it is used in doors and near walkways.
• Laminated glass has a plastic layer between two sheets. It stays in the frame when broken, which can slow down a break-in.
• Insulated glass units have two panes with a sealed space between, which helps with heat and noise.

Codes require safety glass in certain places, such as doors and glass near the floor. Your glass company should know what is needed.

Preventing the next break

• Add security film to existing glass.
• Consider laminated glass for doors and the panes closest to the street.
• Improve exterior lighting and add cameras.
• Keep valuable stock out of window view after hours.

Other commercial glass

We also replace glass doors, office partitions and other commercial glass. Start with our contact page and the location nearest your business.

Working with your insurance

Commercial property policies often cover glass breakage, sometimes with a separate glass deductible. Call your agent early and ask:

• whether glass is covered and what the deductible is;
• whether they need an estimate before work starts;
• whether board-up costs are covered;
• whether a police report is needed after a break-in.

Keep receipts for board-up, cleanup and replacement, and send photos of the damage before and after.

Keeping customers informed

If your entrance is affected, post a sign showing customers where to enter, update your Google Business Profile if your hours change, and let regular customers know you are open. A broken window does not have to mean lost business for days.

Keep our number handy

Save your nearest Texan Glass location's number in your phone and with your staff, so the right call happens fast after a break. Find it on our locations page.

Frequently asked questions

Should I clean up the glass first?

Take photos first for insurance, keep people away, and do not pull hanging glass out by hand.

Is laminated or tempered glass better for a storefront?

Both are safety glass. Laminated stays in place when broken, which adds security; ask which suits your opening.

How fast can a storefront be secured?

Secure the opening the same day with board-up or a temporary panel while the new glass is made.

Can I make my glass harder to break?

Laminated glass and security film both make break-ins harder.

Contact Texan Glass

Texan Glass has locations from The Woodlands and Houston to DFW, Corpus Christi, Victoria, Beaumont and the Rio Grande Valley. Find your nearest shop and its phone number on our locations page.