A broken window changes the security of a property in seconds. Whether it is a smashed front-room pane, a cracked upstairs casement or a damaged shopfront, knowing how to secure a broken window safely can protect people, stock and belongings while a permanent repair is arranged.
The first priority is not making the window look tidy. It is preventing injury, stopping unauthorised access and keeping rain, wind and debris out. Work carefully, avoid handling loose glass where possible, and do not take risks on upper floors or large commercial panes.
Make the area safe first
Keep children, pets, customers and staff away from the damaged opening. If glass has fallen onto the floor, put on sturdy shoes, thick gloves and eye protection before going near it. Do not use bare hands to pick up shards, even if they appear large and easy to remove.
If somebody has been cut, deal with the injury first. Apply firm pressure to a bleeding wound with a clean cloth and seek medical help where needed. If the damage follows a break-in or attempted break-in, avoid touching possible evidence. Contact the police where appropriate, then arrange emergency boarding or glazing as soon as you can.
Look at the window from a safe distance. A pane that is cracked but still held firmly in its frame needs a different response from one with a clear hole or loose pieces hanging from the edge. If glass is unstable, leave removal to an experienced glazier. Trying to pull out a large pane can cause it to collapse unexpectedly.
How to secure a broken window with a temporary cover
For a small opening at ground level, a temporary cover can reduce draughts and stop easy access until help arrives. Heavy-duty plastic sheeting is useful for keeping out rain, but it is not a security solution on its own. A determined person can tear it quickly.
Plywood is usually the better short-term option for a window that has been fully smashed. Measure the outside of the frame or opening, then use a board that overlaps the damaged area by several centimetres on each side. This gives the fixings something solid to hold against.
Where it is safe to do so, position the board from the inside of the property. Internal boarding makes it harder for someone outside to remove and can keep the exterior looking less exposed. Secure it into the surrounding timber frame or masonry, not into weak, damaged window components. Avoid drilling into uPVC frames unless a professional has advised it, as this can create further damage and make the final repair more difficult.
For a ground-floor home or shop, use screws rather than nails. Screws hold better and are easier for a glazier to remove later. Do not over-tighten them near remaining glass, as vibration can dislodge more fragments. If you cannot fix a board securely, treat the opening as vulnerable and arrange emergency assistance rather than relying on tape or a loosely fitted panel.
A temporary cover should be weather-resistant and secure, but it must not block a required escape route. Never board up the only safe exit from a room, flat or commercial unit. In a business, make sure any temporary measure does not obstruct fire exits, emergency signage or safe access for staff.
What to use and what to avoid
Strong plywood, suitable screws, plastic sheeting and wide tape can all have a place in a temporary repair. Use the plastic behind or around a board to limit rain and draughts, rather than treating it as a replacement for solid protection.
Avoid using cardboard, thin hardboard, bin bags or adhesive tape alone. They may keep some wind out for a few hours, but they offer little protection against forced entry and can come loose in bad weather. Do not lean furniture against the opening as a substitute for boarding. It is unstable, can damage the room and may still leave the property easy to enter.
Clear broken glass carefully
Only remove loose fragments that are safely within reach and clearly detached from the frame. Place them in a rigid container, such as a cardboard box, before disposal. Wrapping shards in several layers of newspaper or cloth helps prevent injuries to anyone handling waste later.
Use a brush and dustpan for larger pieces, then vacuum the surrounding floor, window sill and nearby soft furnishings. Check carefully around curtains, under radiators and in doorways. Small splinters can travel further than expected, especially after a pane has been hit or blown inward.
Do not sweep glass onto a pavement, shared hallway or public area. For commercial premises, keep customers away from the frontage until the glass is cleared and the opening is protected. A visible hazard can quickly become a liability as well as a security problem.
Protect the property while you wait
Once the opening is covered, improve security around the rest of the property. Lock all other windows and doors, switch on exterior lighting if it is dark, and move valuables away from the damaged room. If the broken window is at the rear of a house, do not assume it is out of sight. Rear access points are often less visible to neighbours and can be attractive to opportunists.
For landlords and letting agents, communicate clearly with tenants about what has been done and when a repair team will attend. Tenants should report damage promptly and avoid attempting difficult boarding work without suitable tools or experience. The person responsible for the property should arrange a secure temporary repair without delay.
Retailers should also consider trading safety. If the damaged pane is in a shopfront, a solid boarded section may allow the premises to close securely overnight, but it can affect visibility and customer access. Depending on the size and position of the damage, it may be safer to close temporarily until emergency glazing is completed. Protecting staff and stock comes before a normal trading day.
When to call an emergency glazier
A cracked internal pane may be able to wait for a scheduled repair if it remains secure and does not compromise access. A smashed external window, broken door glass, damaged shopfront or failed security pane should be treated as urgent. The same applies if rain is entering, loose glass is likely to fall, or the property cannot be locked safely.
An emergency glazier can remove dangerous glass, board the opening properly and measure for replacement glass. This is especially useful for double-glazed units, toughened safety glass, laminated glass and large commercial panels. These materials can fail in different ways, and the correct replacement depends on the frame, location and required safety standard.
Across London, Glazing Squad provides 24-hour emergency glazing and boarding support, with a one-hour arrival commitment for urgent call-outs. A professional temporary board is not just a cover for a hole. It is a properly secured barrier that gives you time to arrange the right replacement without leaving the property exposed.
Do not forget the final repair
Boarding is a short-term measure, not the finish of the job. Arrange replacement glass promptly, particularly where the broken window affects insulation, noise reduction or building security. If the frame, hinges, handles or locks were damaged during the incident, ask for these to be checked at the same time. Replacing the pane alone may not restore the window to a safe, secure condition.
Take photographs before and after temporary boarding if you may need to make an insurance claim. Keep any incident number, invoices and details of the damage. Clear records can help insurers, landlords and managing agents understand what happened and why emergency work was needed.
A broken window is stressful, but a calm response makes a real difference. Keep people clear of the glass, cover the opening securely where it is safe to do so, and get experienced help before a temporary problem becomes a bigger security risk.