Broken Window Glass Repair — Cracked or Shattered Pane Replaced
A ball, a rock or a stick from the mower. The window is fine, the glass is not. If the frame is sound, only the pane gets replaced.
JMB Builders does broken window glass repair across the Twin Cities metro. When one pane is cracked or shattered by a ball, a rock or a mower, we measure it, have new glass or a sealed unit made to size, remove the stops or old glazing, set the new glass on setting blocks, and reseal it in your sash or frame. Priced per window, quoted from photos.
- Priced per window, glass supplied
- Keeps your existing window and trim
- Safety glass where code requires it
- Licensed MN contractor BC809005
A broken pane does not mean a new window. If the sash and frame are sound, the glass is measured, new glass is cut or a new sealed unit is made to the same size and thickness, and it is set back in with new glazing tape, putty or stops. On a double-pane window, only the sealed unit is replaced; on an old single-pane wood sash, the glass is cut to size and glazed in with points and putty.
Some glass has to be safety glass by code: glass in or near doors, near tubs and showers, and large low panes near the floor. If the broken pane was in one of those spots, the new glass is tempered or laminated even if the old glass was not.
Until the glass arrives, tape the crack or cover the opening with plastic from inside. If the pane is gone and the room is open to the weather, tell us when you send photos. For hail or storm damage going through insurance, see our hail damage window page.
What you supply
- Photos of the broken glass, the whole window and the corner of the frame
- Any stamp or label on the glass or spacer bar
- A temporary cover on the opening until the new glass is in
What JMB supplies
- Measurement of the glass or sealed unit
- New glass or sealed unit made to size, tempered or laminated where required
- Removal of broken glass, stops or old glazing putty
- Setting blocks, glazing tape, putty or sealant and reinstalled or new stops
- Clean-up and haul-away of the broken glass
- Photos of the finished window in your job folder
How it is priced: per window
Quoted in writing from your photos within one business day. What moves the number:
- Single-pane glass vs. a double- or triple-pane sealed unit
- Size of the pane
- Tempered or laminated safety glass where code requires it
- Fixed pane vs. a sash that has to come out to reglaze
- Stops that come out clean vs. old putty or broken stops
- Second-story access
Send a photo of the broken pane, the whole window, and the corner of the frame so we can see how the glass is held in.
How long it takes
Two visits: one to measure, one to install once the glass is made. Setting the glass takes an hour or two per window.
How your project works
- 1
Send photos, get a written quote
Send three photos of the space and a sentence about what you want. You get a clear, itemized quote within one business day. We only come out to measure first when the job needs a tape measure — no pressure, no games.
- 2
Pick materials, or bring your own
We help you choose profiles and materials that fit the house and the budget, or match your existing millwork exactly — or you buy the door or trim yourself and we install it. Everything is confirmed before the crew is scheduled.
- 3
Clean, precise installation
The crew shows up on time, protects floors and furniture, and installs with tight joints and consistent reveals. Photos of the finished work go in your job folder.
- 4
Walkthrough and invoice
We walk the finished work with you. If anything is not right, we fix it before we call the job done. Then one invoice, paid by check or direct deposit — no card fees, no payment links.
Situations and options
Old single-pane wood sash
The glass is cut to size and set in with glazing points and putty. The sash may come out to do it. Putty needs to cure before it is painted.
Double-pane sealed unit
The broken insulated unit is removed and a new one of the same size and thickness is set in with glazing tape and stops.
Storm window glass
A cracked pane in an aluminum or wood storm window is replaced in the storm sash. Often quicker than the main window.
Broken Window Glass Repair — Cracked or Shattered Pane Replaced: questions, answered
Can you replace just the broken glass in my window?
Yes, if the sash and frame are sound. The glass or sealed unit is measured, a new one is made to size, and it is set back in with new glazing. The rest of the window and your trim stay.
What should I do with a broken window until it is fixed?
Tape the crack with clear packing tape, or if the glass is gone, pull out loose shards with gloves and cover the opening with plastic or a board from inside. Keep kids and pets away from the glass. Send photos so we can measure and order.
Does my replacement window glass need to be tempered?
It does if the window is in a spot where code requires safety glass, such as next to a door, near a tub or shower, or a large pane close to the floor. We check the location and order tempered or laminated glass when it is needed.
How long does it take to fix a broken window pane?
The glass has to be made to size first. Setting it takes an hour or two per window. We measure on the first visit and install when the glass arrives.
Is it cheaper to replace the glass or the whole window?
Glass alone is usually cheaper when the frame and sash are in good shape. If the window is old, rotted or fogging in other panes, a new window may be the better buy. We price both when it is close.
Can you fix broken glass in an old wood window?
Yes. The old putty and broken glass come out, new glass is cut to fit, and it is set in with glazing points and fresh putty. The putty has to cure before it is painted.
A lawn mower threw a rock and broke my window — can you fix just the glass?
Yes, in most cases. A rock from a mower usually cracks one pane of an insulated glass unit and leaves the frame alone. A new glass unit is ordered to the old one's size and makeup and set in the existing sash. If the mower was yours, or it was a neighbor's or a lawn service's, ask whether their insurance or yours covers it before the order goes in.
Why did my window crack by itself in cold weather?
Most often it is a thermal stress crack. On a cold day the edge of the glass, held in the frame, stays colder than the middle, which is warmed by sun or the house, and the difference cracks it. A stress crack usually starts at the edge, at a right angle to it, and runs in a curving line. Blinds pulled tight to the glass, a heat register blowing on it, or a chipped edge make it more likely.
Can a thermal stress crack in a window be fixed with just new glass?
Yes. A thermal stress crack is a glass failure, not a frame problem, so the fix is a new insulated glass unit made to the old one's size and makeup, set in the existing sash. If the window is still under the maker's glass warranty, check it first; some cover stress cracks. We look at what caused it, like a register or tight blinds, and tell you.
Recent JMB work, from our job log
59 installs recorded across 30 Twin Cities communities since Dec 2025. Window and door installs for homeowners and for the builders and dealers we sub for. Counts come straight from our job log; no customer names.
Get a written quote for this job
Three photos and a sentence is enough. You hear back within one business day. Or text the photos to 763-204-2099.
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Read morePage reviewed September 26, 2026 · JMB Builders LLC, MN license BC809005 · All windows pages
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