A broken window or door pane is one of those problems that demands an immediate response. Whether it's a football through the living room window, storm damage from Bristol's unpredictable weather, or the aftermath of an attempted break-in, you need your property made safe and secure quickly. At Pane Relief, we've been replacing broken glass for Bristol homeowners for over 15 years — and we understand that speed, safety and getting the right glass matter.
Emergency Response: Boarding Up and Temporary Security
When glass breaks, your first concern is security and safety. Broken glass leaves your home vulnerable to intruders, weather damage and further injury — especially if you have children or pets. Our same-day emergency boarding service secures the opening with sturdy plywood or polycarbonate sheeting, making your property safe and weatherproof while we arrange the permanent replacement glass.
We carry boarding materials on our vans at all times, so whether you're in Bradley Stoke or Bedminster, Clifton or Kingswood, we can usually reach you within a few hours of your call. Emergency boarding is a temporary measure — we then schedule permanent glass replacement at the earliest opportunity, typically the next working day for standard sizes.
Understanding Glass Types and Safety Regulations
Not all glass is the same, and building regulations are strict about which type goes where. BS 6206 and BS EN 12600 set out requirements for safety glass in critical locations — and getting this wrong can create serious liability issues.
Toughened glass (also called tempered glass) is heat-treated to be four to five times stronger than standard float glass. When it does break, it shatters into small, relatively harmless granules rather than dangerous shards. It's required by law in doors, side panels next to doors, low-level glazing below 800mm, and bathroom windows. Laminated glass consists of two panes bonded with a plastic interlayer — if broken, the fragments stick to the interlayer, providing both safety and security benefits. It's commonly specified for ground-floor windows in areas with higher burglary rates.
Float glass is standard window glass suitable for upper-floor windows away from critical locations. Patterned and obscure glass provides privacy for bathrooms, toilets and side panels while still allowing light through. We stock a comprehensive range of patterns to match your existing glazing — important for maintaining a consistent appearance across your property.
Energy-Rated Replacement Glass
If your broken pane was part of a double-glazed sealed unit, the replacement will be a complete new sealed unit rather than a single pane. Modern sealed units come with energy-rated glass featuring low-emissivity (low-E) coatings and argon gas fill. This is often an upgrade on the original glass, particularly for homes in Fishponds, Eastville and Horfield where many properties were double-glazed in the 1990s or early 2000s with older glass technology.
Insurance Claims and Documentation
Many broken glass incidents are covered by your home insurance — particularly break-ins, storm damage and accidental damage (if you have accidental cover). We provide everything you need for a successful claim: detailed itemised invoices, before-and-after photographs, and written descriptions of the damage and work carried out. For break-in damage, we also document the point and method of entry, which insurers typically require.
We work with insurance companies regularly and can liaise directly with your insurer if preferred. Many of our customers across Portishead, Clevedon, Keynsham and Thornbury have found our documentation makes the claims process considerably smoother. We do ask that you report any break-in to the police first and obtain a crime reference number, as insurers will require this.
Prevention and Upgrades
After replacing broken glass, it's worth considering whether an upgrade would provide better protection in future. For ground-floor windows in more exposed locations, laminated safety glass provides excellent break-in resistance. For windows facing sports pitches, gardens or busy roads, toughened glass handles impact much better than standard float glass. We're always happy to advise on the best glass specification for your specific situation — just ask during your free quote.