Storm-damaged windows, what to do tonight and what happens next
By Glazing London,
Seasonal · Storm advice
By Glazing London, 24/7 emergency glaziers Published 7 November 2026 4 min read
Window broken in the storm right now? We make glass safe and board up 24/7 across Central and North London.
Autumn and winter storms are when London glaziers get busiest: falling branches, flying garden furniture, slammed casements and old putty finally giving up. Here is what to do when a storm breaks a window, in the order that keeps you safe and your claim simple.
Quick answer
Keep everyone away from the broken glass, photograph the damage inside and out, and don't climb ladders in high wind. Cover small gaps from the inside if you can do it safely; otherwise call a 24/7 emergency glazier to make safe and board up. Then notify your insurer: storm damage is usually covered.
Tonight: safe, dry, documented
Illustration made with AI to show what a tidy storm board-up looks like. It is not a photo of one of our jobs.
- Stay clear of the window. Wind can pull loose glass out of a damaged frame without warning. Close the door to the room if you can.
- Don't go up a ladder in the wind. Upper-floor and overhead glazing is a job for someone with the right access, not a DIY job in a gale.
- Photograph everything before anything is moved: the broken pane, the cause (branch, fence panel, debris) and any water coming in.
- Keep the rain out from inside with heavy-duty polythene taped to the inside of the frame, only if you can reach it safely.
- Call us on 07915 903485. We make the glass safe and board up the opening with 18mm boards, braced so they cannot lift in the wind.
After the storm: the repair
Most storm repairs are a glass-only job. If the frame is sound, we replace just the glass, whether that is single glazing or a sealed double glazed unit made to measure. Where a frame has been twisted or a hinge torn out, our window and door repair team looks at whether it can be repaired before anyone talks about replacement.
Cracked double glazing that is still holding? See misted and damaged double glazing for glass-only unit replacement.
Insurance: what to send
Storm damage is a standard insured event on most buildings policies. Insurers usually want photos before the temporary repair, the date and time of the storm, receipts for emergency boarding up, and an itemised invoice for the glass. We supply photos and a written report as standard. Our insurance claim guide goes through it step by step.
Storm damage? Call any time.
24/7 make-safe, boarding up and glass replacement across Central & North London. No call-out fee, fixed price from a WhatsApp photo.
Related reading & services
How to board up a broken window
Safe DIY steps for ground-floor windows, and when to call us instead.
Emergency glazing 24/7
Broken glass made safe and replaced, often on the first visit.
Draughty sash windows
Why old sashes rattle in the wind, and the lasting fixes.
Storm damage questions
Does home insurance cover storm-damaged windows?
Storm damage is a standard insured event on most UK buildings policies, and that usually includes broken glass and emergency make-safe such as boarding up. Check your policy wording and excess, photograph the damage before any repair and keep every receipt.
Can you board up a window in high winds?
Yes, but it has to be fixed properly. A loose board acts like a sail in a gale. We cut 18mm boards to the opening and brace them against the reveal so they cannot lift, and we work from inside wherever possible on upper floors.
My double glazing is cracked but still in the frame. Is it an emergency?
If the inner pane is intact and nothing is moving, it is usually safe to wait for a daytime visit, but tape the crack, keep people away and avoid slamming the window. If glass is loose or the frame has shifted, call 07915 903485 and we make it safe 24/7.