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Safe, prompt glass replacement for homes and storefronts
A broken window is one of the few home repairs that cannot wait until next month. GTS Windows & Doors has replaced cracked and shattered glass across Kitchener-Waterloo since 1986, from basement windows and patio door panels to storefront lites on busy commercial streets. We take calls Monday to Saturday from 7am to 9pm and Sunday from 9am to 5pm, so you can reach us evenings and weekends.
Our replacement glass work covers single panes, double and triple pane sealed units, tempered and laminated safety glass, and obscure glass for bathrooms and entry doors. We serve homeowners, landlords, property managers and business owners in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and the towns within about 45 minutes of our Bridgeport shop. Broken glass is one part of our wider window repair services, and we are licensed, insured and WSIB covered.
When you call, we ask for the size, the glass type and a photo, so we can tell you whether the new pane is likely a quick stock cut or a custom order. Single lites of ordinary glass can often be cut and fitted quickly, while sealed units and tempered glass are made to order. In the meantime, we help you make the opening safe and weathertight.
Move children and pets out of the room, then put on closed shoes and heavy gloves before you go near the glass. Ordinary glass leaves long, sharp shards, while tempered glass bursts into small pieces that scatter farther than you expect.
Before you clean up, take wide and close-up photos of the window, the broken glass and whatever caused the break. Insurers and landlords want to see the damage as it was found.
Pull out only the pieces that are clearly loose, working from the top down, and wrap them in cardboard or newspaper before bagging. Leave any glass that is still firmly held in the frame for us to remove safely.
Tape heavy plastic over the inside of the frame, or fasten plywood over the outside of a ground-level opening. Then call us with the approximate size and a photo so we can plan the replacement.
When a sealed unit or tempered lite has to be ordered, the opening still needs to keep out weather and intruders. Depending on the window, we can fit a temporary pane of glass or clear polycarbonate, or a plywood panel, so the home or shop stays secure while you wait.
Temporary glazing keeps daylight in and is our preference for living spaces and storefronts. Plywood is stronger and suits basement, rear or ground-floor openings where security matters more than light.
Once the permanent glass is ready, we take down the temporary cover, set the new glass and seal it in the same visit.
A crack that appears on its own is a clue about the window, not just bad luck. The shape of the crack and where it starts tell us which cause to look for, so the new glass does not fail the same way.
Cold, sunny winter days are prime conditions for stress cracks. When we replace a pane that cracked from heat stress, we check whether heat-strengthened or tempered glass is the smarter choice for that opening.
We replace single panes and sealed units in casement, slider, hung and fixed windows. If the glass was already cloudy before it broke, the new unit solves both problems, the same way our foggy window repair does.
Glass in entry doors, sidelights, transoms and patio door panels is replaced with safety glass wherever the code calls for it. Decorative inserts can often be matched, or replaced with a close modern equivalent.
A broken storefront lite is a security problem and a closed sign at the same time. We replace commercial lites with tempered or laminated glass and can assess damaged storefront entrance doors on the same visit.
Heavy energy-efficient units follow the process on our triple pane glass replacement page. Old wood sashes, storm windows and garage windows with putty-set panes are covered under single pane glass replacement.
The Ontario Building Code requires safety glass, meaning tempered or laminated glass conforming to CAN/CGSB-12.1, in specific locations around doors and wet areas. For houses, the main rules sit in Article 9.6.1.4 of Part 9, and we match them whenever we replace glass in those spots.
Tempered glass is roughly four times stronger than ordinary glass and breaks into small, blunt pieces. Laminated glass has a plastic interlayer that holds the broken glass together, which makes it a strong choice for storefronts, street-level security and noise control.
Part 9 does not generally require tempered glass in ordinary windows, but we often recommend it for very low picture windows and glass beside stairs. The key residential locations where the code does require safety glass are:
Many home and commercial policies cover sudden, accidental breakage and vandalism, but the deductible can be higher than the cost of a single pane. Check your policy and deductible before filing, since a small claim may not be worth it.
If you do file, insurers usually ask for the following. We provide itemized quotes and invoices that separate glass, labour and any temporary protection, and we are happy to confirm the glass specification with your adjuster.
Price depends on the glass type, the size, whether the pane is a single lite or a sealed unit, and how hard the window is to reach. Second-storey windows, large patio panels and heavy commercial lites need extra hands or equipment.
The ranges below are typical installed prices in Waterloo Region for 2026. For whole-window and door pricing, see our window and door cost guide.
| Glass type | Typical installed price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single pane, ordinary glass | $150 to $350 | Often cut from stock |
| Single pane, tempered or laminated | $250 to $550 | Tempered glass is made to order |
| Double pane sealed unit | $275 to $900 | Size, Low-E, gas fill, tempering |
| Triple pane sealed unit | $450 to $1,300 | Heavier, longer lead time |
| Door lite or sidelight insert | $300 to $1,200 | Decorative glass costs more |
| Storefront tempered or laminated lite | $700 to $2,500 or more | Size, thickness, access |
| Temporary glazing or board-up | $125 to $400 | Size, height, materials |
Not reliably. Resin kits made for car windshields do not suit window glass, and a crack in a sealed unit has already broken the seal, so the gas escapes and fog follows. Replacing the pane or the sealed unit is the only lasting fix.
Ordinary single panes can often be cut and fitted within a few days. Sealed units and tempered glass are made to order, which typically takes about one to three weeks depending on the supplier and the glass. We help secure the opening while you wait.
Many policies cover accidental breakage and vandalism, subject to your deductible. Coverage varies, so read your policy or call your broker before you file. For a small pane, paying directly is often cheaper than the deductible.
It is not a good idea. Cracks tend to grow with daily temperature swings and wind, a cracked pane can drop out when the window is opened, and a cracked sealed unit has lost its insulating value. If you must wait, tape the crack from the inside, keep the window closed and book the replacement as soon as you can.
Call 226-806-0597 with the size of the opening and a photo of the damage, and we will tell you what to expect for timing and price. We answer Monday to Saturday from 7am to 9pm and Sunday from 9am to 5pm.
Call or text226-806-0597