A Broken Window: What to Do When You Need to Wait Overnight for Repairs

Have you ever had to deal with a broken window? It can be a major annoyance, and it's one that you need to take care of as soon as possible. In addition to removing any broken glass from the area (followed by a thorough vacuuming or sweeping), you will obviously need to have the window repaired. But what can you do when it happens late at night or on a public holiday? Sure, there are companies around that are available for repairing windows at any time of the day or night, but sometimes you might need to temporarily secure the window yourself. This can be necessary if you're not able to arrange an immediate repair for whatever reason. So how can you secure a broken window to keep the weather out? And what about the security of you and your family?

Plastic

If the window in question is high enough from the ground so that potential intruders are not a concern, then plastic might be enough. You will need thick, durable plastic to do the job. If you have a tarpaulin that you don't mind sacrificing when you cut it to fit, then this will be ideal. The thick plastic covers used to protect furniture when you paint will also work. If you have no other option, then a thick plastic rubbish bag will do the trick. Cut a piece of plastic that is big enough to cover the breakage, and then cut several more to create as many layers as you feel you need. Secure the plastic pieces over the broken window using thick gaffer tape, being sure to seal the edges. Be careful when removing the tape at a later stage so that you don't damage the paint.

Wood

If you need to securely seal the window overnight, then wood is your best bet (if you have the appropriate materials). Take a thin piece of wood that is large enough to cover the broken glass while also overlapping the window frame. Gently nail the piece of wood into the window frame and the room will then be secure until the window is repaired. Please remember that the nail holes will need to be filled once the window is repaired, and the window frame might need to be painted.

Feeling Safe

Even if the hole is technically secured, you still might have some trepidation if the room is ordinarily used for sleeping. So what can you do to feel a little more secure until the window is repaired?

• Do you have a dog? Perhaps your pooch could spend the night in that particular room for added security. The human occupant might also wish to sleep elsewhere for the night, which is perfectly understandable.
• Are you able to lock the room from the outside of the interior door? If so, then simply remove any valuables from the room and lock it.

Hopefully you will be able to get any broken windows repaired before nightfall, but it's good to know that you can still secure the window and feel safe.