Glaziers in the UK

Finding a glazier in the UK

A glazier is who you call when glass breaks. A ball through the window, a cracked pane in the back door, a shopfront after a break-in, a greenhouse after a storm: the glazier makes it safe, measures, and either fits new glass on the spot or boards up and returns with a unit made to size. Most run an emergency service, and the ones worth knowing are those who answer the phone at night and turn up when they say.

Beyond emergencies, glaziers replace the sealed units in double-glazed windows when they mist up between the panes, which is far cheaper than new windows and one of the most common jobs; they fit toughened and laminated safety glass where the regulations require it, in doors and low windows; they cut glass to size for shelves, table tops, splashbacks and picture frames; and they repair leaded and stained glass, sash windows and Georgian glazing bars in older houses. Vehicle glass is a separate trade handled by windscreen specialists.

Glazing is not licensed, though safety glass in critical locations is a Building Regulations requirement and a competent glazier knows where it applies. Look for recent reviews, a clear call-out price, and, for shopfronts and larger commercial work, membership of the Glass and Glazing Federation. The listings here show each glazier's reviews, opening hours, contact details and who is open now, so you can compare who is nearby and who will come out tonight.

What glaziers do

Emergency glazing: making a broken window safe, boarding up, and replacing the glass the same day or as soon as a unit is made, for homes, shops and offices, often 24 hours.

Double-glazed units: replacing misted, cracked or broken sealed units in existing uPVC, aluminium and timber frames, including obscure, toughened and low-emissivity glass to match.

Safety and specialist glass: toughened and laminated glass for doors and low-level windows, fire-rated glass, acoustic glass, and glass balustrades and splashbacks.

Cut to size: glass for shelves, table tops, cabinet doors, greenhouses, cold frames and picture frames, and mirrors cut and polished to order.

Period and decorative: repairs to leaded lights and stained glass, single glazing in sash windows, Georgian bars, and secondary glazing.

Before you call a glazier

• In an emergency, ask the call-out price and whether it includes boarding up, and how soon they can be there.
• Measure the glass or the frame opening if you safely can; it helps the glazier quote and bring the right size.
• For a misted unit, note the frame type and whether the glass is obscure or has any pattern; the glazier will measure the unit itself.
• Ask whether the glass in a door or a low window needs to be toughened or laminated to meet the regulations; it usually does.
• Check recent reviews for response time and whether the price on the day matched the quote.
• For insurance claims, take photos before the glazier starts and ask for an itemised invoice.

What glaziers charge in the UK

As a rough guide, an emergency call-out to make a window safe and board it costs somewhere between £80 and £150, more overnight. Replacing a single pane in a timber or uPVC frame is usually £60 to £150 depending on size and glass type, and a misted double-glazed unit £80 to £200 for a typical window, more for large, toughened or patterned units. Glass cut to size for a shelf or table top is priced by the square metre and the thickness, from about £30 to £80 for a small piece.

Prices vary with the type of glass, the size and how quickly you need it, so ask for the total including the call-out. Insurers will often cover emergency glazing after a break-in; check your policy before you pay.