3-Step Guide For Temporarily Patching A Large Hole In Your Home's Window

After finding a large hole in one of your home's windows, you may want to repair it quickly to keep the rain and bugs out of your house. However, you may not be able to have it permanently repaired right away. If so, use the following three-step guide for temporarily patching the hole in your window's glass.

Step 1:  Remove Broken Glass Pieces And Fragments

Before you start patching the hole, the first step that needs to be completed is removing any broken glass pieces and fragments. Not only do loose pieces jeopardize the stability of your patch, but they als increase the chance of you cutting yourself.

You will need heavy gloves, a one-inch paintbrush, and a pair of tweezers for this step. If you have large pieces of glass that you do not feel comfortable touching, you can also use a pair of pliers or a large pair of tongs. For a better grip, use ones that have rubber wrapped around the ends.

Use the work gloves and tongs to remove any large, obvious pieces of glass. Use the tweezers for the smaller pieces, since they can fit into areas your fingers cannot safely reach.

Once the pieces of glass have been removed, gently use the paint brush along the cracks and around the hole to remove any tiny fragments or glass dust that you cannot see. This will give you a smooth, clean surface on which to work.

After you are confident you have removed all glass remnants, go on to the second step.

Step 2:  Reinforce The Surrounding Cracks

This next step involves filling in and reinforcing any cracks surrounding the hole. This not only gives you a firm work surface for the next step, but it also reduces the chance of further breakage whenever high winds blow against the window.

For this part of the patch job, you will need clear nail polish and a roll of two-inch wide plastic tape. The polish is used to fill in the cracks, while the tape covers and protects them.

Use the brush that comes with the nail polish to fill in the cracks. For deeper cracks, apply one layer and allow it to dry. Then, repeat until the filler is flush with the glass pane to make a smooth surface.

After you have filled in all of the cracks, cover them with the plastic tape. Position the tape so the crack falls in the center. For wider cracks, use two layers to add an extra layer of protection. Once the cracks have been filled and covered, go on to the third step.

Step 3:  Cover The Hole

Now that you have created a stable surface, it is time to cover the hole itself. For this step, you will need two pieces of thick, clear plastic large enough to cover the hole, plus two inches around it. You will also need a roll of plastic packaging tape.

Place the first piece of plastic over the hole and secure the top with a small piece of tape. Then, tape every side with the tape, leaving no spaces to prevent air and water from leaking through.

Repeat with the second piece of plastic. Then, add one more layer of plastic tape around the perimeter of the patch.

While the above patch will cover the hole, it is only meant as a temporary measure. Eventually, the wind and moisture outside will make the patch fall off, potnetiall causing severe damage during a storm. For a permanent solution, you may want to contact a professional from a site like http://msglassoutlet.com as soon as possible about having your home's window glass repaired or replaced.