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Window Broken? What to Do Right Now, Tonight and This Week in Los Angeles
A broken window is a safety problem first, then a security problem, then a repair job. Santa Ana branch or burglar, the order you handle things in decides how safe your family is tonight and how smoothly the insurance claim goes. Work through the steps below in order.
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What Should You Do in the First Few Minutes?
- Get people and pets out of the room. Glass slivers travel farther than you’d think, and bare feet and paws find them.
- Put on shoes and gloves before you touch anything.
- Leave hanging glass alone. A piece stuck in the frame can drop without warning, so don’t pull on it.
- Look at how the glass broke. Tempered glass crumbles into small cubes. Regular glass breaks into long, sharp shards. Laminated glass cracks in a web but stays in place.
01
If It Was a Break-In
Get out first and call 911 from outside, since someone may still be in the house. Don’t clean up until police have seen the scene. If no one is hurt and there’s no suspect, the City of LA lets you file a vandalism report online, and cities like Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank and Long Beach run their own police departments. Our emergency window repair page lists where to report in each area.
02
If Wind, a Storm or a Branch Broke It
Santa Ana gusts can reach 60 to 100 miles per hour, according to Britannica, and they peak in December and January. Once you’re inside and safe, walk around the outside of the house. A branch that broke a window may also have hit the roof, gutters or a power line. Stay far from any downed line and call your utility.
03
If It Cracked on Its Own
Glass can crack when one part heats up faster than another, like a pane half in hot afternoon sun and half in shade. A crack that starts at the edge and runs across the pane, with no impact point, points to this kind of stress. Earthquakes can also crack glass when the frame racks out of square.
How Do You Clean Up Broken Glass Safely?
Wear thick gloves, closed shoes and eye protection. Pick up the large pieces by hand and put them in a cardboard box, not a thin trash bag they can cut through. Tape the box shut and write “broken glass” on it so no one gets cut hauling it out.
For small pieces, use a vacuum hose rather than the beater bar, which can throw slivers. Press a damp paper towel over the floor to pick up the dust you can’t see. Check rugs, couch cushions and pet beds, then check your pets’ paws.
Take photos before you clean anything. More on that below.
How Do You Cover a Broken Window for Tonight?
The California Department of Insurance tells homeowners to make temporary repairs that stop further damage, and to keep records of every cleanup and repair cost (CDI). The right cover depends on the damage.
| Damage | Temporary fix | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Crack, glass still in place | Clear packing tape over the crack on both sides | A few days, indoors or out |
| Hole or missing pane, upstairs | Heavy plastic sheeting taped or stapled over the inside of the frame | Keeping out wind, dust and rain overnight |
| Missing pane, ground floor | Plywood screwed into the frame from outside | Security until the glass is replaced |
| Broken slider glass | Plywood, plus a wood dowel cut to fit in the track | Stops the panel from being slid or lifted |
Plastic keeps out weather but not people. If the break is on the ground floor or was a break-in, get it boarded before dark. The CDI also says not to make permanent repairs until the adjuster has seen the damage.
What Should You Photograph for Insurance?
Take wide shots of the room and the outside wall, then close-ups of the window, the glass and whatever broke it: the rock, the branch, the pry marks. Keep receipts for plywood, plastic and any board-up service. The CDI says not to throw away damaged property until your adjuster says it’s all right.
Before you file, compare the repair price with your deductible. For one pane that costs less than your deductible, paying directly makes sense. Our window glass replacement page covers how home insurance treats glass.
Who Pays for the Repair?
01
Renters
In California, the landlord repairs a window broken by a burglar or a storm. Tell your landlord in writing right away. See our landlords page for the rules on both sides.
02
A Neighbor’s Kid or a Stray Ball
Accidents aren’t vandalism. California Penal Code Section 594 defines vandalism as maliciously damaging someone else’s property (Penal Code 594), so a baseball through the window isn’t vandalism under that law. The person responsible can still be asked to pay for the repair, and their homeowners or renters policy may cover it.
Glass, Sash or Whole Window: What Gets Replaced?
Most broken windows only need new glass. Glass replaced in an existing frame counts as a repair under California’s energy code, and many LA cities don’t require a building permit for it. See window replacement permits in Los Angeles for the jobs that do.
Three things decide the fix:
- Single or dual pane. A dual-pane window needs a new sealed glass unit built to size, so it takes longer than cutting a single pane.
- Where the window is. Glass next to doors, in tubs and showers and near stairs has to be tempered. See tempered glass for the full list.
- The frame. If the frame is bent, the sash is split or an old aluminum slider was already failing, replacing the whole window can make more sense. Ask for both prices.
After a break-in, ask about laminated glass for ground-floor windows. It cracks but holds together, so it’s harder to get through.
Watch for Storm Chasers After Big Wind Events
After a windstorm or fire, some people knock on doors offering fast, cheap repairs. The CDI warns about contractors who show up without being called, give low estimates and won’t leave a contract overnight.
- Check the license at the Contractors State License Board before anyone starts work.
- Keep the deposit small. California caps the down payment at $1,000 or 10% of the price, whichever is less.
- Know the law in disaster areas. Under Business and Professions Code Section 7028.16, contracting without a license to repair damage in a declared disaster area can bring a fine of up to $10,000 and prison time.
FAQs
Can You Fix a Broken Window Without Replacing the Whole Window?
Yes. If the frame and sash are sound, a contractor replaces only the glass or the sealed glass unit. The frame, trim and paint stay put.
How Long Can a Window Stay Boarded Up?
Plywood screwed into the frame holds until the new glass arrives, which is longer for a custom dual-pane unit than for single-pane glass. Check the board after each windy night, and look for water at the sill after rain.
Get the Opening Covered or the Glass Fixed: Call (424) 230-8336
PaneRight LA connects Los Angeles homeowners with independent local window contractors for board-ups, glass replacement and full window replacement. The contractor sets the price and schedule, so check their license with the Contractors State License Board before you sign. Calls may be recorded.
Call (424) 230-8336 or request a free quote(/free-quote/).
PaneRight LA is an advertising and referral service, not a contractor. We connect you with independent local window contractors who may pay us for referrals. Calls may be recorded.