Emergency Glass & Board-Up
Rapid response for broken storefronts, break-ins, and storm damage, with secure board-up until glass arrives.
View serviceStorm Damaged Glass: What Happens First, and What Happens Next
Glass broken by a storm, wind-driven debris, a branch, a sudden pressure change during a bad squall, creates an opening to the outside that usually needs to be secured before it gets properly repaired. In practice that means board-up first, real glass replacement once materials and scheduling line up, especially in the days right after a storm when demand across the county spikes at once.
Storm Damaged Glass
Why Board-Up Comes Before Replacement
An exterior window or door glass broken during a storm leaves the house exposed to wind, rain, and anyone passing by, and that exposure gets worse if another band of weather is still moving through. A board-up, plywood or another rigid material fastened securely over the opening, is meant to be a fast, temporary seal rather than the finished repair.
The actual glass replacement afterward depends on getting the right pane, the right size, and in some cases the right glazing type, since storm damage sometimes prompts a homeowner to upgrade to impact-rated glass rather than just replace with what was there before. That's a decision worth making without rushing it, even if the board-up itself needs to happen the same day.
Storm Damaged Glass
What to Know About Impact Glass Requirements After Storm Damage
Florida's wind-borne debris requirements apply to new construction and, in some cases, to substantial repairs or renovations, but exactly what applies to replacing storm-damaged glass in an existing home depends on your specific wind-borne debris region, county, and the permit history of the structure. This is not something to assume either way from a blog post. Confirm the current requirement for your address with the Palm Beach County Building Division or your local building department before deciding what glass to install.
Homeowners insurance treatment of storm-damaged glass also varies significantly by policy and by carrier, including whether windstorm coverage applies and what documentation is needed. Check directly with your insurance carrier or the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation rather than assuming coverage either way.
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View serviceFAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can a broken window be boarded up after a storm?
That depends on conditions during and immediately after a storm, including road access and how many calls are coming in across the county at once. A board-up is meant to be a fast temporary measure, and getting one scheduled as soon as it's safe to travel is worth doing promptly rather than waiting.
Do I have to upgrade to impact glass after storm damage?
Not automatically. Whether an upgrade is required depends on your wind-borne debris region, county, and the specific permit and code history of your structure, and this varies enough that it needs to be confirmed with your local building department rather than assumed from general information.
Will insurance pay for storm-damaged glass?
It depends entirely on your specific policy, whether windstorm coverage applies, and how the claim is documented. Contact your insurance carrier directly, and take photos of the damage before any board-up or cleanup if it's safe to do so.
Should I board up a cracked but intact window before a storm?
That's a reasonable precaution for glass that's already compromised, since a crack weakens the pane against wind pressure and flying debris. Whether to board up intact, undamaged glass ahead of a storm is a separate decision usually driven by shutters, plywood protocols, or impact ratings already in place at the property.
Get a Straight Answer on Your Storm Damaged Glass
Tell me what you're seeing and I can usually tell you over the phone whether it's a repair or a replacement before I ever get in the truck.