A broken storefront panel is one of the few building problems that genuinely cannot wait. The store is exposed to weather, theft, and liability the moment the glass goes. What you do in the first hour determines how smoothly the next two weeks go.
This is the same guidance we give customers who call our 24/7 line from Washington DC, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and across Northern Virginia — whether the damage happened in a break-in, a storm, or a delivery accident.
Step 1: Make the Area Safe
Keep customers and staff away from the opening. Broken storefront glass often has fragments still hanging in the frame that can fall with vibration or wind.
Do not try to remove glass from the frame yourself — let the crew that secures the opening handle it.
Photograph the damage if it is safe to do so from a distance. Photos help your insurer and help us bring the right materials.
Step 2: Report It If a Crime Was Involved
If the glass was broken in a break-in or act of vandalism, file a police report before you call anyone else. Your insurer will almost always ask for the report number, and the report documents the cause of loss. In retail corridors — from Silver Spring to Alexandria — police are familiar with these calls and it usually takes minutes.
Step 3: Call a 24/7 Emergency Line
Call (771) 777-2257 any time, day or night. Have this information ready:
The address and which opening is damaged; what broke and roughly how large the opening is; whether the opening is currently secure; whether weather is coming through it; and what kind of business it is, so the crew can plan access and security.
Step 4: Secure the Opening
The first crew's job is not to replace the glass — it is to make the property safe and secure. Depending on the damage, that means:
Board-up: exterior-grade panels anchored over the opening — the standard for shattered storefront glass, especially overnight.
Security film on remaining glass: holds cracked panes together and makes entry harder.
Temporary glazing: a clear panel that restores weather-tightness and visibility when the frame is intact.
We keep the opening secured until permanent glass goes in — a property is never left exposed. Our emergency glass board-up service covers all of this.
Step 5: Document for Insurance
Before the temporary protection goes up, the damage gets documented — photos, cause of loss, and the emergency work performed. That documentation supports your insurance claim for both the board-up and the permanent replacement. If you are a property manager, this is also the package your tenant and your insurer will both want to see.
Step 6: Permanent Replacement on a Clear Timeline
Once the opening is secure, replacement is measured, quoted in writing, and scheduled. Common tempered sizes can be replaced quickly; insulated units are fabricated to order, and your quote includes the expected timeline. The new glass is matched to your storefront's tint and reflectivity so the panel does not stand out. See storefront glass repair.
If this opening has been broken before, ask about laminated glass for the replacement — it holds together when broken and slows break-ins. More in tempered vs. laminated glass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the opening be secured the same day I call?
Securing the opening is the first priority of every emergency call. Call (771) 777-2257, describe the damage and location, and we will tell you what to expect for your situation.
Should I board it up myself and wait?
Improvised board-up rarely anchors properly and often fails in wind or to a push. A professional board-up is weather-tight, anchored, and documented for your insurer — which a DIY patch is not.
How long until my store looks normal again?
The board-up goes up first, usually same call-out. Permanent glass depends on the type: common tempered sizes are often replaced within days, while insulated units are fabricated to your opening's exact dimensions. Your written quote includes the timeline.