You don’t want to leave a broken window in a shabby state for too long.
Small pests like insects or rodents can get inside. You might have mildew-causing water infiltration. Your cooling and heating systems won’t work efficiently.
Not to mention it’s a property and personal safety risk.
When considering residential glass replacement in Ottawa, you need to understand what to look for in a service professional. Everything from knowing what glass is best for your home to understanding customer reviews is essential.
Read on to learn what to look for when getting a broken window replaced or fixing other types of smashed glass.
Go Local
Broken glass can be considered an emergency, especially if the broken window is in a vulnerable place. For example, maybe it’s close to trees and debris is coming into your home. Or perhaps it’s in an easy-to-spot place, where it could facilitate a home invasion.
A local company can get to your home quickly. If they have an on-call service, they’ll be available 24-hours a day for emergency calls. However, if you can wait until regular business hours, the charges will be more budget-friendly.
Not only that, but they’ll understand and help you navigate local building regulations and guidelines. Outside of Ottawa-specific issues, they’ll also be able to advise you on incentives like energy-efficient rebates available in your area. This might help you make a decision when it comes to window replacement materials.
Finally, if you choose to hire a local company to do your window repair in Ottawa, you’ll be working with locally-based repair people. So your money is going straight back into the local community.
Check Their Credentials
Not sure how to find the best local glass repair and replacement company? In this case, reviews are your friend.
Many companies have customer reviews on their website, but these are almost always going to be favourable. After all, what company would post negative reviews on their own website?
To get unbiased reviews, you have a few different options.
Check out the reviews customers leave on Google maps or their ratings on websites like Better Business Bureau. You can also ask for recommendations from trusted friends and family members. If they’ve had a good experience with a company, it’s likely you will, too.
Check the glass company is up-to-date on their licensing requirements, too. Usually, these credentials are listed on the service provider’s website.
Understand the Problem
Before contracting a company to come and fix a broken window or undertake glass door repair, it’s essential to determine if they actually understand the problem at hand. And to do that, you need to do a bit of research yourself.
If you don’t know what kinds of glass, window framing, and other features you have, it’s a good idea to find this out before calling a company. If you’re a homeowner, consult with your home’s plans. And if you’re a renter, have a chat with your landlord.
Make a list of all the features and go over them with the glass companies you call. This will help the repair professionals better understand the job’s scope and save time for quoting you on repair or replacement.
Test Their Product Knowledge
You’re not a glass expert. So you need an Ottawa glass repair professional that can advise you on the best options for your budget, size of the repair or replacement, style of home, and needs.
Be sure to ask the contractors you’re considering working with what kinds of glass options they have available.
These could include:
- Tempered glass
- Gas-filled glass
- Laminated glass
- Insulated glass
- Safety glass
Then ask them what they might recommend in your specific situation. If they can give you an informed and detailed answer, either over the phone or via an in-person consultation, you’re likely onto a winner.
Guarantees and Warranties
If an Ottawa window repair company doesn’t offer some kind of guarantee on service or materials, beware. This could signify that they are not reliable or that the materials or work they do is not up to standard.
Window repair isn’t cheap. And window replacement, whether it’s one window or every window in your home, is a significant investment. Warranties and guarantees offer peace of mind that the work will be completed well and last a long time.
At a minimum, a company should offer a minimum multi-year warranty on service work. Then, depending on the materials you choose for the glass replacement, there may be manufacturer’s warranties on top of that. Certain features like defogging or UV protection might also be guaranteed.
Follow Up
When choosing which residential glass replacement company to work with, you’ll want to ask them about their follow-up service.
You can ask these questions:
- What happens if there is a problem with my fixed windows?
- Is there any additional maintenance required?
- Will the same contractor work with me if there are future issues?
- Do you charge for future repairs if the service was faulty?
- Can I expect a follow-up phone call a few days or weeks after?
If the company can’t answer these questions or provide you with a comprehensive breakdown of what happens after a repair, move on.
Also, before any work starts, ask the repair professional for a glass repair or installation checklist. This will help you better understand what to expect of the process, ensuring no miscommunications concerning timelines, materials, and costs.
Residential Glass Replacement for Ottawa Homeowners
When it comes to residential glass replacement in Ottawa, it pays to work with local professionals. You’ll not only get better service and better quality glass, but a local service repair person will reach you quickly. Best of all, a local company is understands what type of glass is best for your area and climate.
Are you an Ottawa resident looking to repair a broken window or replace old frames? Window Medics have the experience and quality materials you need. Contact them today with a service request.
