Last Updated on December 14, 2021 by rida
You’re in your home enjoying TV when all of a sudden, crash! A ball goes flying through your window at Mach 3. Thanks to the neighbor kids, it looks like you’re going to have to start hunting around for a glass replacement company.
Not all companies are built the same. They all offer different style options. The price varies from company to company as well.
Some of them offer deals that are almost suspiciously good. You’ve got to be on the lookout for scams when you’re searching for a replacement business.
We can help you avoid certain traps that many homeowners fall into. Check out this guide to learn how to find the right glass replacement firm for your needs.
Table of Contents
Consider Your Budget
The first step when it comes to hiring anyone is to come up with a budget. You do want to make sure that you’re getting the best deal out of your window replacement or repair firm.
That doesn’t mean that you should go for the cheapest option that you can find. Nine times out of ten, you get what you pay for. A deal that’s too good to be true could result in flimsy glass or a bad replacement job.
You’re saving money now, but in a few months, you’ll have to spend more cash on a new window. It’s better to go ahead and go big or go home. Give yourself plenty of wiggle room in your budget to hire the best company that you can find.
Materials
The most common window materials are vinyl, wood, and fiberglass. most glass replacement companies carry all of these, but at varying prices.
Taking this a step further to glass options. If you want to keep your utility bills down, you may want to pick an energy-efficient window glass.
Maybe you want glass that keeps outside noise from getting in. Again, most companies do have these options, but it’s going to cost you a pretty penny depending on where you go. You’ll want to shop around and get a few different price comparisons.
Installation
You can get the best glass that your money can buy, but if the glass replacement agency you hire has no idea what they’re doing, it won’t matter much. The window won’t work as intended if it’s not installed the right way.
We recommend against using subcontractors. More often than not, they get paid per window. This means they tend to rush through jobs to get as many done as they can.
Before you hire a company, take a look at their website. If you see a list of certifications on one or more of their pages, you should be good to go. That means the business has contractors that know their stuff.
If you’re still unsure, feel free to ask the contractors a few questions about their installation process. Doing so might give you a little peace of mind.
Warranty
So, you hire a company to put in new glass and within a few months, you can feel cool air seeping in. That means either something is wrong with the glass or the installers did a bad job. Either way, if the glass is under warranty, you can have the problem resolved at no cost to you.
Purchase protection isn’t the only reason to look for a company that offers a good warranty. It also shows confidence. The agency is so sure that you’ll be a satisfied customer that they don’t think twice about offering a quality policy.
Of course, seeing a good warranty doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t read the fine print. Find out everything that it covers and how long it lasts. You should also make sure that the warranty for the installation and the one for the glass aren’t separate.
Look at the Company’s Credibility
You’re going to be trusting your window glass replacement company with the safety of you and your family. That means you need to find someone that you can trust.
Again, the best way to look for credentials is to go to the company’s website. Businesses that carry the proper glazing license will probably display that information somewhere.
You should also ask about their insurance. If the company doesn’t carry some kind of worker’s comp coverage, you’ll be responsible for the hospital bills if something goes wrong on the job. If the company doesn’t have liability insurance, they won’t be responsible if one of their contractors breaks something on your property.
Customer Service
Before you hire someone for glass replacement, you’re most likely going to visit their showroom or at least call them on the phone. When you do, pay attention to how they answer your questions.
If they’re attentive and ready to help, you know you’ve found a good business. If they’re hesitant to answer your questions or brush you off, that should raise a few red flags in your head.
Get References
The last tip we have for you is to get references. Ask family and friends who they’ve gone through for glass replacement. From there, do further research by plugging the company names they give you into Google.
Here you’ll get to read reviews from actual customers who’ve hired the business before. Be warned that most of them will be negative. To get a mixture of good and bad reviews, visit the company site to read a few testimonials.
Hire the Right Glass Replacement Company for Your Needs
When you have a busted window on your hands, it leaves you and your family exposed to the elements. To keep your family protected and your energy costs down, you’re going to need to hire a quality glass replacement company.
We hope that you’re able to use the tips that you’ve read here today to find the right business in your area for your needs. For more tips that will help you keep your house in tip-top shape, visit the Home Improvement section of our blog.
