How to choose a glazier in London
By Glazing London,
Guide · November 2026
Most people pick a glazier in a hurry: a broken pane, a door that will not lock, a draught that got worse with the first cold night. These eight checks take a few minutes and save you from the call-out that costs twice the quote.
Check 1
A fixed price before anyone travels
The single best sign of a good glazier is a firm price up front. Send a photo of the damage and a rough size, and you should get one figure back, not a "from" price that grows once someone is standing in your hallway. Ask directly whether there is a call-out charge, and whether the price changes at night or at weekends.
Typical London ranges are in our glazier cost guide, so you can tell whether a quote is in the right place.
Check 2
FENSA, for new windows and doors
If you are replacing whole windows or doors, use a FENSA-approved installer. In England, replacement windows and doors must meet Building Regulations, and a FENSA installer self-certifies the work and registers it with your council. You receive a FENSA certificate, which your solicitor will ask for when you sell. You can check any company's registration on the FENSA website before you book.
A new pane or a replacement sealed unit in an existing frame does not need FENSA, so do not be put off by a repair-only glazier for that kind of job.
Check 3
The right glass for the place it goes
Glass in doors, in the panels beside them and in low-level windows is a critical location under Building Regulations, which means safety glass: toughened or laminated. Toughened glass carries a small permanent stamp in one corner. Ask what glass the quote includes. If a glazier offers ordinary float glass for a door, that is a reason to go elsewhere.
For shopfronts, laminated glass holds together when struck. For busy roads, acoustic laminated glass cuts traffic noise.
Check 4
Their own glaziers, not a subcontractor
Ask who will actually arrive. Some firms that advertise across London are call centres that pass each job to whichever subcontractor is free, which makes it hard to get anyone back if a seal fails months later. A glazier with its own team and its own workshop is accountable for the work.
Check 5
Insurance and a guarantee in writing
A professional glazier carries public liability insurance and guarantees its workmanship. Ask for both in writing. If you are claiming on home or business insurance, you also want photos of the damage and the finished job, plus an itemised invoice. Our insurance claim guide explains what insurers ask for.
Check 6
A real local address and reviews you can read
Look for a business address, not just a mobile number, and read the reviews on Google rather than quotes on the company's own website. Read the low ratings too, and see how the company replied.
Check 7
Make safe first, then fix properly
In an emergency, a good glazier makes the glass safe, then fits replacement glass on the spot if it is single glazing in stock. A sealed double glazed unit has to be made to measure, so the opening should be boarded up securely the same visit and the new unit fitted on a return trip. Ask whether boarding is included in the price.
Check 8
Repair before replacement
A misted double glazed unit, a dropped hinge or a stiff lock rarely needs a whole new window. An honest glazier tells you when a repair or a new sealed unit will do the job, and only quotes for replacement when the frame has failed.
How we measure up
Glazing London against the checklist
We are an independent glazier in London, working from our own workshop at 6 Crescent Rd, Wood Green N22, 24 hours a day. A fixed price from a WhatsApp photo before we travel, no call-out fee, our own glaziers (never subcontracted), FENSA approved for new windows and doors, public liability insurance and a workmanship guarantee. Rated 4.7 on Google (36 reviews). We cover Central and North London, usually on site within the hour for emergency glazing.
Questions
Related services
Choosing a glazier, answered
How do I check a glazier is FENSA registered?
Ask for the company name they trade under, then search it on the FENSA website's installer finder. FENSA covers replacement windows and doors, so a registered installer can self-certify the work for Building Regulations and you receive a certificate when the job is finished. Glass-only repairs, such as a new sealed unit in an existing frame, do not need one.
Should a glazier charge a call-out fee?
Some do, especially at night. What matters is that you know before anyone travels. A good glazier gives you one fixed price from a photo or a call, and says clearly whether boarding up, disposal and the glass itself are included. We charge no call-out fee.
Is it better to use a local glazier or a national company?
For a broken window, a local glazier usually arrives faster and is easier to reach if something needs putting right later. National call centres often pass the job to whichever subcontractor is free. Whoever you choose, ask who will actually turn up and whether they carry glass in the van.
What should a glazier's quote include?
The glass type and thickness (toughened, laminated or standard float), the size, whether it is a sealed double glazed unit, labour, any boarding up if the glass has to be ordered, and removal of the broken glass. One fixed figure, not a starting price.
How quickly should an emergency glazier arrive in London?
Ask for an estimated arrival time on the phone, and check your address is inside the area the glazier says it covers, because a firm sending someone from across London will take far longer. If the replacement glass has to be made to measure, the opening should be made safe and boarded the same visit.