Glaziers and Glass Repairs

Keep people and pets away. Do not handle unstable shards or try to remove a damaged pane. If safe, close the room, warn other people and contact an emergency glazier or your landlord.

Ask whether the first visit is only to board up or make safe, and whether permanent repair will need a separate appointment and price. If there is immediate danger to life, call 999.

Look for an established local business and check its address, insurance and relevant experience. The Glass and Glazing Federation offers a member search and a separate emergency register. Membership is one check, not a guarantee or endorsement by Sixpence Support UK.

Ask how quickly the property can be secured, whether the person attending can identify themselves, and whether the firm covers your location.

Request a written breakdown for call-out, boarding, glass, frame or sealed unit, labour, disposal and VAT. Ask whether measurements or return visits cost extra, and whether the quote is fixed or an estimate.

Confirm the glass specification, colour or pattern, frame finish, handles and locks where relevant. Do not agree to extra work until its price and purpose are clear.

Replacing broken glass in an existing frame is different from installing a complete replacement window or door. Ask the firm to state which service it proposes and why.

FENSA covers certain replacement-window and door installations in England and Wales; it does not apply to every repair or every UK nation. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate building-control systems. Ask the installer or local building-control body what applies to your property.

Ask whether safety glass is required for the location and which building rules apply. For replacement installations, ask what certificate or building-control record will be provided and when.

Get any guarantee in writing. Check what it covers, who provides it, whether it is insurance-backed and what happens if the installer stops trading. A guarantee does not replace your consumer rights.

If you rent, report the damage promptly to your landlord or housing provider and check responsibility before ordering work, unless an emergency requires immediate action. Rules and tenancy terms differ, especially where the glass was damaged by a tenant or visitor.

Tell the glazier about communication or access needs. You can ask for written information, a named contact, notice before arrival, clear routes for mobility aids, and support to understand choices before agreeing.

Photograph the damage before work where safe. Check your own policy and excess; accidental-damage or glass cover is not automatic, and Sixpence Support UK cannot promise a claim will be accepted. Ask the insurer before permanent work if the policy requires approval.

Keep quotes, invoices, photographs, certificates and messages. If work is disputed, write to the trader with the problem and the remedy you seek, then use the correct consumer-advice route for your nation.