Too Long; Didn't Read
- The Panic: Someone drove a Honda Civic into your storefront at 3 AM.
- The Response: We have trucks staged at Spadina & Adelaide for 1-hour arrival.
- The Material: We use 3/4" Fir Plywood or Clear Polycarbonate (for luxury retail).
- The Law: We never block fire exits, even during board-up.
Answer First: If your glass is shattered on Bay Street, King West, or Yorkville, call our 24/7 Dispatch immediately. Do not touch the glass. We guarantee a 1-Hour Response Time for downtown zones. We will sweep the hazard, install secure board-up (painted black if requested), and initiate the glass fabrication order same-night.
The Downtown Logistics Nightmare
Everyone claims "24/7 Service." But try getting a cube van from Scarborough to King & Portland at 5 PM on a Friday. We do it differently. We keep dedicated "Rapid Response Units" (smaller vans) staged inside the downtown core.
- Zone A (Financial District): 30-45 Minute ETA.
- Zone B (Liberty Village/Distillery): 45-60 Minute ETA.
- Zone C (Bloor/midtown): 60 Minute ETA.
1. The Board-Up Protocol: Security First
We don't just lean a piece of wood against the hole. We build a fortress.
- De-Glazing: We safely remove the hanging shards ("guillotines") that could kill a pedestrian.
- Framing: We build a 2x4 sub-frame inside your existing aluminum jambs.
- Sheathing: We screw 3/4" Fir Plywood into the sub-frame.
- Note: We use specialized "Tamper-Proof" screws (Torx or Robertson Security) so vandals can't unscrew your wall.
2. High-End Retail: The "Clear Board-Up"
If you are Louis Vuitton on Bloor, you don't want a sheet of plywood covering your display. It looks like you went out of business. The Upgrade: Polycarbonate Board-Up.
- Material: 6mm Lexan (virtually unbreakable).
- Look: It looks like glass. Your store stays lit and visible.
- Cost: 4x the price of plywood, but worth it for brand image.
3. Fire Code: The Trap You Can't Set
A common rookie mistake: Boarding up the emergency exit. The Ontario Fire Code is strict. If your front door is shattered, and it is a designated "Means of Egress," we cannot screw it shut.
- The Solution: We install an "Emergency Door Board-Up."
- Mechanism: We build a working plywood door on heavy-duty temporary hinges with a functional padlock hasp that can be cut by Fire Rescue if needed.
- Result: The building remains code-compliant, and you don't get a $50,000 fine.
4. Glass Cleanup: The Hidden Hazard
The biggest liability isn't the open hole; it's the glass on the sidewalk.
- Tempered Glass: Explodes into millions of "popcorn" pebbles. We use industrial HEPA vacuums to clear the sidewalk, carpet, and display area.
- Plate Glass: Breaks into large, razor-sharp daggers. We crate these immediately for safe disposal.
- Legal Note: If a dog walks by and cuts its paw on a shard you missed, you are liable. We take this seriously.
5. Insurance: We Direct Bill
You have enough stress. We work with all major commercial insurers (Intact, Aviva, Desjardins).
- The Process:
- We secure the site.
- We take photos of the damage (Forensic quality).
- We send the invoice and photos directly to your adjuster.
- You pay the deductible; we handle the rest.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can you paint the plywood?
A: Yes. Standard is raw wood. For an extra fee, we paint it "Construction Black" or "Traffic Grey" to blend in so your store doesn't look like a crime scene.
Q: How long does the new glass take?
A: It depends.
- Standard Door Lite (Tempered): 24-48 Hours (Rush fabrication).
- Large Storefront (Annealed): 1-3 Days.
- Custom Low-E / Tinted: 2-3 Weeks. The board-up must be secure enough to last this long.
Q: Do you repair the door frame?
A: Yes. Often the vehicle impact bends the aluminum mullion. We have a mobile metal fabrication unit to straighten or replace the frame segments on-site.
7. The "Film First" Alternative
Sometimes, the glass is cracked but not shattered (e.g., a "spider web" from a thrown rock). In this case, a board-up looks ugly. The Alternative: 14-mil Clear Security Film.
- The Method: We apply a heavy-duty film over the cracks from the outside.
- The Result: It holds the glass together safely. It is waterproof. It is translucent (light still gets in).
- The Cost: Similar to boarding up, but much better for business continuity.
8. Temporary Doors: Hardware Details
For fire exits, a plywood door isn't enough. It needs to function. We install:
- Temporary Commercial Closers: So the door doesn't slam in the wind.
- Panic Bars: If required by code, we mount a crash bar on the inside of the plywood.
- Heavy Duty Hinges: 4-inch ball bearing hinges screwed into the steel frame, not the drywall.
9. Environmental Stewardship: Where Does the Glass Go?
A storefront replacement generates 500 lbs of waste. We don't dump it. We Recycle.
- The Process: We collect the clean plate glass separate from the laminate.
- The Destination: It goes to a cullet processor to be melted down into fiberglass insulation or road reflective paint towards a zero-waste goal.
10. Prevention: Cross-Linking
Once the new glass is in, how do you stop this from happening again?
- Anti-Graffiti Film: See our guide on Toronto Storefronts to stop vandals.
- Security Film: Delay entry by 2 minutes.
Summary
Accidents happen. Break-ins happen. When the glass breaks, the clock starts ticking. Secure your business in 60 minutes.
Need Help Now? Call our Emergency Hotline. Visit Emergency Glass Repair for priority dispatch.