How to Board Up a Broken Window (Safely)
A broken window needs two things right away — nobody getting cut, and the opening secured against weather and whoever might wander through it. Here's how to handle both, and when to put the tools down and call us.
Safety first — before you touch anything
Broken glass hurts people in predictable ways, so take two minutes here. Put on thick work gloves, closed boots and eye protection. Keep kids and pets out of the room. Sweep loose shards up with a broom and dustpan into a cardboard box — never into a bin bag you might press a hand against later.
One warning we give every homeowner: if the broken pane is tempered glass — the kind in doors, bathrooms and low panels near the floor — do not touch the panel, even if it's still standing in the frame. Cracked tempered glass holds together until it doesn't, and when it lets go, it all goes at once. Close the room off and call.
Quick temporary fixes (and their honest limits)
If you just need to get through the night, here's what works:
- Tape a cracked pane. Lay packing tape in an X across the crack to hold fragments in place.
- Cardboard and a garbage bag. Tape heavy cardboard over a small opening, then a contractor bag over that to shed rain.
- Heavy plastic. Staple 6-mil poly to the frame for a few days of weather protection.
Be clear-eyed about the limits, though: none of this is secure, none of it survives a real storm, and your insurer may expect the property to be properly secured after a loss. Temporary means temporary.
A proper board-up, step by step
For an opening that will sit for days — or a ground-floor window you're relying on for security — plywood is the answer.
1. Clear the frame. Remove loose glass from the sash and sill, gloves on. 2. Measure the opening and cut ½-inch or thicker plywood to overlap the frame by a couple of inches on each side. 3. Screw, don't nail. Drive screws into solid framing — never into drywall or vinyl trim. Screws hold better and come out cleanly when the new glass goes in. 4. Seal the edges with tape or poly to keep wind-driven rain out. 5. Photograph everything, before and after. Your insurer will want it.
Know where DIY ends: second-storey openings, large picture windows, and tempered shards still hanging in the frame all need a crew with ladders, suction cups and proper glass-handling gear.
What an emergency board-up visit includes
When you call our emergency glass repair line, here's what the visit looks like: we make the scene safe, remove any dangerous glass still sitting in the frame, measure the opening, and secure it with a proper board-up or a temporary glaze. Then we quote the permanent replacement on the spot and leave you an itemized invoice written the way insurers expect to see it.
We handle homes and businesses alike. If it's a smashed storefront, the same crew boards the opening and gets you trading again.
Insurance: document before you clean up
Take photos of the damage and whatever caused it — the forced entry point, the branch through the pane — before you move anything. If it's a break-in, get a police file number; your insurer will ask for it. Keep every invoice, including the board-up itself: most policies require you to mitigate further damage, and the cost of securing the property is often claimable.
Sparkle Glass answers 24/7 at (778) 785-1365, and every follow-up quote for the permanent glass is free. Not sure whether your situation counts as an emergency? Our FAQ covers the common cases, or contact us and we'll tell you straight.
Frequently asked questions
Can I just tape a garbage bag over the window?
For one dry night, it'll do. Past that, it's not secure, it won't survive wind and rain, and your insurer may consider the property unsecured. Treat it as a bridge to a board-up, not the fix.
My window is cracked but not shattered — do I need a board-up?
Usually no. Tape the crack, keep people and pets away from it, and book a scheduled replacement. Board-ups are for openings you could put a hand through.
Do you board up commercial storefronts too?
Yes — same emergency line, larger panels and doors included. We secure the opening first, then quote the replacement glass so you can reopen as quickly as possible.
How fast can someone get here?
We're a local crew, and we prioritize unsecured properties — especially where someone could get in, or weather is getting in. Call the emergency line and we'll give you an honest arrival window.
Broken glass? We can be there today.
Call now for a free, no-obligation estimate. Same-day service available across Greater Vancouver — and 24/7 emergency board-up when you need it most.