Retail psychology research is always showing that how a storefront looks has a direct correlation to how much customers trust a business. Broken or damaged front windows aren’t just an eyesore, they also have a huge impact on how people interact with a business even before they’ve laid eyes on any products. And on top of that, ‘repairing a cracked shop front window’ isn’t just a question of pleasing the eye, it also has serious consequences for insurance claims, structural safety, and even the cost of getting it put right in the first place.
The Hidden Costs of Delaying Shop Front Repairs
If you delay fixing a bad crack in your shop front window the risks just keep piling up. Don’t kid yourself, it won’t just hold together forever, a sudden panel failure in the middle of trading hours can have serious and costly repercussions for your business. And then there’s the insurance, if the claim comes in weeks after the damage occurred the insurers will be quick to point out that you should have fixed the window sooner to mitigate the damage.
The cost of having to do an emergency shop front window repair if the whole panel gives out is always going to be a whole lot more than dealing with the cracked one before it goes. Yet time and time again business owners treat glazing as a ‘low maintenance’ issue to be put off until later when it’s a lot harder to deal with.
What Your Shop Front Glass Tells You About the Frame?
The state of the glass and the frame it’s in are linked. If you just slap a new panel in without having a good look at the frame it’s going to go wrong in no time and the frame will probably be just as bad in a month. When the frame is all corroded or bent it puts uneven stress on the glass, especially if you’ve got a big panel that has to deal with wind and heat stress.
And don’t forget those rubber seals and compression gaskets on the frame they degrade with time and if a new panel isn’t fitted right it will just be more chance of the edge chipping which is always a disaster. The Australian standard AS1288 has got all the rules for the right glass and frame to use in different shopfronts. And it’s not a suggestion; it’s the law and getting it wrong can leave you with dodgy insurance too.
Same Day vs Next Day Repair: When it Really Matters?
If you’re in a busy shopping strip you can’t afford to leave your shopfront wide open for a night you need a same-day or after-hours repair to keep you trading. And temporary board-ups are a good stopgap while you get the main job done.
The type of glass and how big it’s going to be determines how long it takes to get a new one. Standard stock is usually ready to go, but if you need something custom-made it might take a few days. The key is finding a glazier who can give you a straight answer on how long it’ll take, whether it really is possible to do same day, and isn’t just trying to win you over with promises.
Security Glass Upgrades to Consider During a Repair Job
When you’ve got a repair appointment scheduled, it’s usually the cheapest time to upgrade from standard glass to laminated or security-rated glass. That’s because the costs of taking it out and putting it back in are already going to be part of the bill. And if your business is looking to add some smashproofing to the windows, you can do that with a security window film that’s quite a bit cheaper than replacing the glass entirely.
Frosted, tinted or smartglass, all sorts of options can be mixed in with a repair or replacement job. And the businesses that do end up switching to laminated glass report much fewer break-ins than those sticking with the standard stuff.
What to Look Out for When a Glazier Gives You a Quote?
If you get a reputable glazier on the phone they’ll be asking for the size of the panel, what sort of frame you’ve got, what kind of glass you’ve got now if you know, and what kind of damage is done before they can even give you a rough idea what it’ll cost. You can’t get a proper quote without looking at the frame, if someone’s willing to give you a figure over the phone without doing that then maybe they’re not the one for the job.
A quote should break down what sort of glass they’re going to use, how long it’ll take to get it made, how they’re going to put it in and what they’re going to do with the old stuff. And if all you get is a single number, that’s not being very helpful. You can’t really compare prices easily or see what’s going on without knowing what’s included and what isn’t.
