What to Do When Your Commercial Glass Breaks After Hours

LOS ANGELES

ORANGE COUNTY

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

A broken storefront window or glass door doesn’t wait for business hours. Whether it’s a smash-and-grab, an accident, or storm damage — you need a plan, and you need one fast.

This guide walks you through the full process: what to do right now, what emergency board-up actually involves, how to work with your insurance company, and what comes next.

The LA Glass Company has been handling commercial glass emergencies across LA County, Orange County, and the San Fernando Valley since 2008. We’re available 24/7 — because glass doesn’t break on a schedule.

For a full breakdown of our 24/7 emergency glass repair and board-up service, see our 24/7 emergency glass repair guide.

Step 1: Assess the Situation Safely

Before you touch anything, make sure the area is safe.

  • Keep employees and customers away from broken glass
  • Do not attempt to remove large shards by hand
  • If the break was caused by a break-in, do not enter until police have cleared the scene
  • Photograph the damage from a safe distance immediately

Your safety — and the safety of anyone on site — comes first. Documentation comes second.

When to Call for Emergency Board-Up

Call immediately if:

  • Your storefront, lobby, or entry glass is broken and the building is exposed to the elements or public access
  • The break happened after 5 PM, on a weekend, or on a holiday
  • The damage is large enough that you can’t secure the opening yourself
  • Vandalism or a break-in is involved and merchandise or equipment is at risk
  • You have a food service business, medical office, or any regulated facility where an open breach creates a compliance issue

Emergency board-up service is designed for exactly these situations. It’s not just plywood — it’s professional securing of the opening to protect your property overnight or through a weekend until permanent repair can happen.

What Emergency Board-Up Actually Involves

Most business owners have never gone through this. Here’s what to expect when we arrive.

Assessment first. We evaluate the break, the frame condition, and what’s needed to properly secure the opening. Sometimes the frame is intact and we’re just covering glass. Other times, frame damage affects how the board is installed.

Measuring and cutting. We cut plywood or OSB panels to fit the opening precisely. Gaps aren’t acceptable — a loose board is a security risk, not a fix.

Fastening to the frame. We fasten the board directly to the existing frame or surrounding structure using appropriate fasteners. This is weatherproof and tamper-resistant.

Edge sealing. Exposed edges are sealed to keep weather, debris, and pests out. This matters especially in LA’s coastal areas where wind-driven moisture is a factor.

Cleanup. We remove broken glass from the immediate area and dispose of it safely. We don’t leave your entrance looking like a crime scene.

The whole process typically takes 1–2 hours depending on the size and number of openings.

Timeline: From Your Call to Secured Opening

Here’s a realistic timeline when you call The LA Glass Company for an emergency:

  • 0–15 minutes: You call, we answer. We gather your address, the type and approximate size of the damage, and dispatch a crew.
  • 30–60 minutes: Crew arrival (varies by location within LA County, OC, or San Fernando Valley)
  • 1–2 hours: Board-up complete, opening secured
  • Next business day or sooner: We schedule the permanent glass replacement

We don’t sub this out to a call center that dispatches a random contractor. When you call 310-736-4374, you’re reaching our team directly.

Temporary Board-Up vs. Permanent Repair: What's the Difference?

Emergency board-up is a temporary fix — it secures the building and protects your interior until the glass can be properly replaced.

Permanent repair means:

  • Ordering the correct glass (tempered, laminated, insulated — depending on your storefront specs)
  • Fabricating to exact dimensions
  • Removing the board-up and installing the new glass with proper glazing compound and weather seals
  • Inspecting the frame and hardware before final installation

For most standard storefront glass, permanent replacement happens within 1–3 business days. Specialty glass — laminated, insulated units, or large custom panels — may take longer depending on material availability.

We’ll give you an honest timeline when we assess the damage.

How to Secure the Scene Before We Arrive

While you’re waiting for our crew, here’s what you can do to help:

  • Call the police if the break was caused by vandalism or a break-in. Get a report number — you’ll need it for insurance.
  • Document everything. Photos and video from multiple angles, including the surrounding area.
  • Don’t move large debris. Leave big shards where they are until our crew can dispose of them safely.
  • Notify building management if you’re a tenant in a multi-unit commercial building.
  • Alert your alarm company if your alarm was triggered — make sure they know you’re on site and it’s not an active emergency.
  • Keep the area clear. Rope off or block access to the broken area if you have the materials.

The more you document before we arrive, the smoother the insurance claim process will be.

What to Tell Your Insurance Company

This is where a lot of business owners get tripped up. Here’s what you need: Gather before you call your insurer:
  • Date, time, and cause of the damage (if known)
  • Police report number (if applicable)
  • Photos and video of the damage
  • Business address and policy number
  • Name and contact info for the glass contractor (that’s us)

What insurers want to know:

  • Was the building secured afterward? (Yes — you called for board-up)
  • Was the damage caused by a covered event? (Vandalism, storm, accident — most commercial policies cover these)
  • Is there an estimate for repair? (We provide written estimates)

Tip: Don’t wait to file. Most commercial policies have a reporting window. File the claim the same day or the next morning.

We work with insurance claims regularly and can provide documentation, photos of the damage and the board-up, and a detailed written estimate — everything your adjuster needs.

Cost Factors for Emergency Board-Up and Glass Replacement

Emergency board-up pricing depends on:

  • Size of the opening (linear feet of glass)
  • Number of panels to be boarded
  • Time of day (after-hours, weekend, or holiday calls)
  • Distance within our service area
  • Frame condition (intact vs. damaged)

Glass replacement pricing depends on:

  • Type of glass specified (tempered, laminated, insulated, Low-E)
  • Glass thickness and size
  • Frame condition and hardware
  • Labor complexity (ground floor standard vs. elevated or specialty framing)

We give you a written estimate before any work begins. No surprises.

Why Business Owners in LA Trust The LA Glass Company

Gustavo Ramos founded The LA Glass Company in 2008. He’s a third-generation glazier and U.S. Air Force veteran — someone who built a business on doing the job right, not fast and loose.

We’re a veteran-owned, SBA-registered small business serving LA County, Orange County, and the San Fernando Valley.

When your glass is broken and your building is exposed, you don’t want a call center. You want a glazier who picks up the phone, shows up on time, and does the work properly.

See all commercial glass services

FAQ

A: Yes. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency board-up in LA County, Orange County, and the San Fernando Valley. Call 310-736-4374 any time.

A: Typical response time is 30–60 minutes depending on your location within our service area. We dispatch directly — no call center, no sub-contractors.

A: Most commercial property insurance policies cover glass breakage from vandalism, storms, and accidents — including the cost of emergency board-up. We provide full documentation for your claim.

A: Absolutely. We handle the full process — emergency board-up, insurance documentation, glass fabrication, and permanent installation. You deal with one company start to finish.