Restore or replace your glass? Here's how to decide.
If the damage is on the surface, restoring is usually faster and much cheaper than replacing. If the glass is cracked or the unit has failed, replace it. Here's the full comparison.
What each option really involves.
| Restoring | Replacing | |
|---|---|---|
| Time on site | About 2 days for most homes | Measure, order, then a second visit to install |
| Waiting | No glass to order | Lead time for each unit, longest for custom and oversized glass |
| What's disturbed | Nothing; glass stays in the frame | Sashes, trim, seals and sometimes finishes |
| Cost | Labor only, usually a fraction of replacing | New glass or units, labor, disposal and often trim repair |
| Look | Original glass and appearance kept | New glass may not match neighboring panes |
| Best for | Scratches, hard water, etching, spatter, stains | Cracks, broken seals, failed units, very deep gouges |
The damage is on the surface.
- Scratches from cleaning, scrapers or vandalism
- Hard water spots, mineral deposits and etching
- Acid-etched or scratched graffiti
- Welding spatter, stucco, paint and brick-wash stains
- Cloudy shower glass
The glass itself has failed.
- Cracks or chips that go into the glass
- Fogging between the panes of an insulated unit (a failed seal)
- Very deep gouges where polishing would distort the glass
- Glass that doesn't meet safety requirements for where it's installed
Not sure which you have? Send photos. We'll tell you honestly, even if the answer is replacement.
Why waiting on glass hurts.
Replacement glass has to be measured and made, and custom or oversized units take the longest. During the 2021–22 window shortage, lead times ran 4 to 15 weeks and some reached 20 to 45 weeks (John Burns Research and Consulting, 2022). Lead times vary with supply, but for a builder facing a closing or a store with a boarded window, any wait is expensive.
Restoration starts as soon as we're on site, because there's nothing to order.
Restoration pricing.
- How much glass is affected
- How deep the damage goes (spots vs. etching vs. scratches)
- Access: ground floor, ladders or lifts
- Whether you want a protective coating afterward
Send a few photos to get a price range, usually within the hour during business hours.
Questions we get
Is restoring glass really cheaper than replacing it?
For surface damage, usually yes, often by a wide margin, because there's no new glass, no reinstall and nothing else disturbed. We'll give you a price range from photos so you can compare.
Does polishing weaken the glass?
Restoration removes only a microscopic amount of the surface. We inspect each pane first and won't restore glass that should be replaced.
Can restored glass look as good as new?
In most cases, yes. You approve a test spot before we do the rest, so you see the result on your own glass first.
Find out if your glass can be restored.
Serving Overland Park, Leawood, Olathe, Mission Hills, Prairie Village and the Kansas City metro within 60 miles.