How to board up a broken window safely
Last updated: 28 September 2026
Keep everyone away from the opening and decide whether there is still unstable glass in the frame. Do not start measuring, sweeping directly beneath hanging shards or trying to pull large pieces free until the immediate hazard has been assessed.
What is the safest first step after a window breaks?
The safest temporary response begins with isolation, not tools. Close the room off where possible, keep shoes on around the area and move pets and children elsewhere. If the opening is at height, above a doorway or in a door that may move, the risk is higher because remaining glass can fall unexpectedly. Photographs from a safe distance are useful for a professional glazier.
Should you remove the remaining glass yourself?
Do not remove large, heavy or unstable sections yourself. Cracked laminated glass can stay together while remaining sharp, and toughened glass can release suddenly into many fragments. Large panes can also be much heavier than they look.
Small loose fragments already on the floor can be cleared carefully with suitable protection, but that is different from dismantling a broken pane from the frame. Avoid improvised hammering or levering. If the pane is overhead, part of a door, very large, or exposed to public access, use a professional make-safe service rather than treating it as a routine DIY task.
What is professional boarding intended to achieve?
Professional boarding is intended to create a stable temporary barrier that improves security and weather protection while the permanent glazing is measured and prepared. It is not a substitute for the final glass repair.
The board needs to suit the opening and be fixed without relying on unstable glass. The correct method varies with timber, uPVC, aluminium and commercial frames. Some openings allow fixings into surrounding material; others require a different approach to avoid unnecessary damage. The board should remain secure until the permanent replacement is ready.
Why can improvised boarding cause problems?
Poorly fixed material can detach, damage the frame, leave sharp edges exposed or block an emergency exit. Drilling blindly around a window can also damage concealed services, seals or frame components.
A sheet that merely covers the hole is not necessarily safe. Wind loading, rain, access from outside and the condition of the remaining frame all matter. Commercial premises add another concern: the temporary barrier may be next to a public pavement or entrance, so stability and pedestrian safety need to be considered as part of the make-safe work.
What information should you prepare before calling?
Give the exact postcode, approximate opening size if it can be measured without approaching broken glass, the frame material if known and photographs showing the full opening and surrounding wall or door.
Explain whether the property is currently secure, whether the opening is on an upper floor and whether there is easy access from inside and outside. For shopfronts, mention shutters, doors and public access. These details help determine whether temporary boarding is likely to be required and what the permanent replacement process may involve.
How long should boarding stay in place?
Boarding should remain only as long as needed to arrange the correct permanent glazing. The time depends on the replacement specification, manufacture and access rather than a fixed number of hours or days.
A standard pane may be simpler to source than a made-to-measure sealed unit or large shopfront panel. Do not remove or alter a stable temporary board just to inspect the opening. If it becomes loose, wet, damaged or insecure, contact the glazing service so the temporary protection can be reassessed.
How much does boarding up cost?
Cost depends on opening size, access, remaining glass, materials, travel and whether other make-safe work is required. A single published figure would be misleading without those details.
M25 Glazing does not publish invented boarding prices. Pricing is confirmed from the actual opening and work required. Once real ranges are confirmed, they can be added with clear assumptions. Until then, the correct approach is to quote from the actual opening and condition.
Related services and local pages
For professional make-safe work, use the boarding-up service page. If the opening also needs replacement glass, the emergency glazing page explains the next stage.