Calgary's Window Glass Repair and Replacement Specialists.
We provide window glass repair and replacement across Calgary — broken panes, failed double-pane seals, stress cracks, and hail damage, handled by specialist glaziers who come directly to your property. We replace the glass, leave your frame in place, and back every job with a workmanship guarantee. Call (403) 796-5485 and we'll usually have someone out same day.
Whatever Brought You Here, We Can Fix It.
We handle every type of residential and commercial window glass problem in Calgary. Here are the four most common jobs we get called for -- all of them sorted in a single visit wherever possible.
Broken or Shattered Glass
Something hit it. Rock, ball, branch, break-in attempt — the glass is cracked through or there's a chunk missing. For most standard residential sizes, we have glass for standard sizes on hand and can handle it in a single visit.
Stress Cracks — No Impact
No one threw anything. But there's a diagonal crack working its way from a corner or along the frame edge. These confuse people. In Calgary, this is almost always a Chinook issue.
Fogged or Hazy Double-Pane
That milky film sitting between the inner and outer layers of a double-pane window is condensation that's formed inside the sealed unit. It means the IGU seal has failed -- warm air got in, moisture built up, and the argon fill is gone. You can't wipe it away. The unit itself needs to be swapped out.
Hail Damage
Calgary sits in one of Canada's most active hail zones. A serious storm can chip, crack, or punch straight through window glass -- especially older single-pane or double-pane units. Some of this damage isn't obvious at first either; a chip can look minor until you check the glass in direct light and see the star cracks spreading from it. If you're unsure what a recent storm did to your windows, we'll come assess. And if you need documentation for an insurance claim, we can put that together for you.
Why Chinook Swings Crack Window Glass.
When a Chinook rolls in and the temperature climbs 20 to 30 degrees Celsius in under 24 hours, the glass expands at a different rate than the surrounding frame. That mismatch builds up as thermal stress and eventually the glass gives way along the path of least resistance — usually near a corner or edge. Looks random. Isn't. Glaziers in other cities rarely deal with this. We see it every season, which means we know how to read the cracking pattern and figure out quickly whether just the glass is affected or whether the frame and seal caught damage too.
Repair or Replace — We'll Tell You Straight.
Most glaziers won't commit to an answer over the phone. We will. Here's how we assess it, by glass type.
Single-Pane Glass
Repair possible in some cases.
Single-pane glass: repair is genuinely possible in some cases. A crack under 6 inches that hasn't reached the frame can be stabilised with a resin fill. Chips smaller than 25mm are similar. Anything longer, anything touching the frame edge, or any damage that's sent cracks in multiple directions: replace the pane.
Double-Pane IGU
Replace the unit. Every time.
Double-pane insulated glass units: the unit gets replaced, every time. There's a widespread belief that failed IGU seals can be re-sealed. They can't. Once the internal desiccant is saturated and the argon has escaped, the fogging and loss of insulation are permanent. The fix is removing the old sealed unit and fitting a new one into your existing frame opening. Anyone offering to "re-seal" a double-pane unit isn't giving you a real solution.
Triple-Pane Glass
Unit out, new unit in.
Same principle as double-pane. Triple-pane replacements typically cost about 15% more than a comparable double-pane job, but for Calgary's winters the extra thermal performance is a real benefit. If you're already replacing glass in a sound frame, it's worth considering.
"Calgary homeowners often mistake Chinook-caused stress cracks for impact damage. Impact damage radiates outward from the strike point. Thermal cracks follow the frame edge. Once you've seen a few hundred of them, you can tell the difference at a glance."Senior Glazier, Great Choice Glass — 15 years of building glass experience in Calgary
We Handle Everything. You Just Call.
Mobile service means we come to you. Here's what happens between your call and the finished job.
Step 01
Call or Contact Us
Phone (403) 796-5485 and tell us what's going on. We can usually give you a rough cost estimate right there over the phone before the visit is even scheduled.
Step 02
We Come to You
Most Calgary residential jobs get scheduled same-day or next-day. If the window is broken and your home is exposed to the elements or unsecured, we prioritise it. We can also board up the opening temporarily while we wait on replacement glass.
Step 03
On-Site Assessment
Our glazier measures the frame opening, confirms the glass specification, and checks the condition of the surrounding frame. If the frame has taken damage, we'll tell you before any work starts.
Step 04
Glass Cut or Ordered
Standard residential sizes we have on hand. Specialty glass — Low-E units, tempered, obscure patterns, oversized IGUs — may need to be ordered in. We'll confirm the lead time and let you know before any work is scheduled.
Step 05
Installation and Clean-Up
We fit and seal the glass, verify the installation is weather-tight, and take the broken material with us when we leave. Most single-pane jobs take 1 to 3 hours. Jobs using glass we have on hand run about the same. Ordered glass adds 1 to 3 business days before the install visit.
Glass Types We Work With in Calgary.
Different glass types mean different repair approaches, different performance outcomes, and different price points.
Annealed Glass — 3mm to 6mm
Single-pane annealed glass is a single 3mm to 6mm layer. You'll find it in older Calgary homes -- pre-1980s builds -- and in garages, basement windows, and secondary suites. It's inexpensive to replace but does nothing for thermal insulation. If your energy bills are high and you've got single-pane throughout, a glass-only upgrade to double-pane is worth pricing out.
Insulated Glass Units (IGU)
The residential standard in Calgary since the 1990s. Two glass layers, a sealed spacer, and argon gas fill — delivering R-2 to R-3 insulation value. We work with standard IGU sizes and can source custom units for frames outside common dimensions.
Best Thermal Performance
Triple-pane glass adds a third layer and a second argon-filled gap. It's the best thermal performer for residential windows and makes a noticeable difference in Calgary's colder months. About 15% more expensive than a double-pane unit of equivalent size. For homes near busy roads, it also reduces exterior noise measurably.
Low-Emissivity Coated Glass
Low-E (low-emissivity) glass has a metallic coating on the surface that reflects radiant heat. In Calgary winters, this means heat stays inside rather than radiating through the glass. In summer, it blocks UV without darkening the view. A double-pane IGU with Low-E coating typically cuts heating bills by up to 20% compared to standard double-pane. We can get Low-E units in most residential sizes.
Obscure and Patterned Glass
Frosted, patterned, and textured options — common in bathrooms and privacy-facing windows. We match existing patterns where possible, and installation is no different from standard glass work.
Tempered and Laminated Glass
Required by Alberta Building Code Section 9.6 for windows near doors, low sills, and other hazardous locations. Tempered glass is 4 to 5 times stronger than standard and fractures into blunt granules rather than sharp shards. We confirm during every assessment whether the code applies.
When Alberta Building Code Requires Tempered or Laminated Glass.
Section 9.6 of the Alberta Building Code mandates safety glazing in specific locations: any window within 500mm of a door frame, windows with a bottom edge sitting within 900mm of the finished floor, and other glazed openings the code classifies as hazardous. Tempered glass meets this requirement — it's 4 to 5 times stronger than standard annealed glass, and when it does break, it crumbles into small blunt pieces instead of sharp shards. We confirm during every on-site assessment whether the code requirement applies, so there are no surprises after the job is done.
Home Insurance Covers This More Often Than You Think.
Most standard home insurance policies in Alberta cover accidental glass breakage. Hail damage falls under most standard property policies too — relevant in Calgary, which gets hit with significant storms more frequently than most Canadian cities. Break-in damage and storm impact are generally covered too.
Whether to actually file a claim comes down to your deductible. If the repair costs less than what you'd pay as a deductible, it's usually simpler to pay directly and leave your claims history untouched. For larger jobs — several windows damaged in a hailstorm, a big double-pane unit from a break-in — the insurance route makes more financial sense.
We put together written damage assessments and itemised quotes in the format insurers typically need. If you're navigating a claim after a hailstorm or break-in, we've been through this process with a lot of Calgary homeowners and can walk you through it.
We can provide a written damage assessment and itemised quote ready for your insurer. Call (403) 796-5485 to get started.
Why Calgary Homeowners Call Great Choice Glass.
Building Glass Only.
That's the whole business — windows, shower enclosures, storefronts, and custom glass for Calgary properties. No auto glass, no windshield work. That narrow focus means we understand the glass and the problems that come with it far better than a generalist does.
15 Years of Calgary Knowledge.
Over 15 years in Calgary specifically, we've worked through every damage pattern this climate throws at glass — Chinook stress fractures, hailstorm impacts, moisture infiltration, and aging IGU units. We know which sealed units hold up in Calgary's temperature range. The Building Code requirements for safety glazing aren't something we have to look up. Neither is fair pricing — after this many jobs, we know what the work actually costs and we price it that way.
Free Quotes. Work Guaranteed.
Free quotes, no pressure to upgrade if a repair is the right call. And every installation we complete is backed by a workmanship guarantee — if something's wrong with how the glass was installed, we come back and fix it. No charge.
Where We Work.
We're based in the NE (Westwinds Crescent NE) and cover all four quadrants of Calgary, plus surrounding communities.
We also take jobs regularly in Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere, and Okotoks. If you're outside Calgary and unsure whether we reach you, just ask. Communities outside Calgary require a scheduling confirmation call -- phone (403) 796-5485 and we'll confirm coverage for your address.
Other Glass Services We Offer in Calgary.
Window glass is one part of what we do. Here are the other building glass services available across Calgary.
Our full building glass service overview — residential, commercial, and custom glass across Calgary.
Frameless enclosures, sliding shower doors, track and hardware repair, and tempered safety glass installation for Calgary bathrooms.
Storefront glass replacement, office partitions, commercial door glass, and emergency board-up for Calgary businesses.
Glass cut to size, mirror installation, glass railings, table tops, shelves, and decorative frosted glass for Calgary properties.
Bay Window and Home Glass Calgary
Bay window glass replacement, picture windows, skylight glass repair, patio door glass, and French door glass repair.
Full pricing breakdown by glass type, service category, and job scope. Calgary-specific cost data with no vague estimates.
Common Questions.
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It depends on the glass type and the extent of the damage. A glass-only repair — where we replace the glass and leave your existing frame — costs significantly less than a full window replacement where the entire window system comes out. We give free quotes over the phone for most jobs. Call (403) 796-5485 and we'll give you a straight answer before we've even visited.
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For single-pane: repair works if the crack is under 6 inches and away from the frame edge. For double or triple-pane sealed units: replacement is always the answer — the seal can't be restored once it's failed. We can usually tell you which applies over the phone before we've even come out.
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Single-pane residential replacements generally take 1 to 3 hours. Double-pane IGU jobs where glass is already on hand run similar. If we need to order a specific unit, add 1 to 3 business days for the glass to arrive before we return to install.
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Almost certainly Chinook-related thermal stress. Calgary's temperature swings — sometimes 20 to 30 degrees within a single day — cause glass and frame to expand at different rates. The stress releases as a diagonal crack near the edge or corner. It's very common here and rarely seen in other cities. Stress cracks require pane or unit replacement; they can't be stabilised.
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Yes. We remove the broken pane or failed IGU and fit new glass into the frame that's already there. The frame stays put. This is the right approach for any frame that's structurally intact, and it costs a fraction of a full window replacement.
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Usually, yes. Accidental breakage, hail impact, and break-in damage are generally covered under standard Alberta home policies. Your deductible is the key variable. For smaller jobs it may not be worth claiming. For multi-window hail events or large pane replacements, insurance often makes sense. We provide written quotes and damage assessments that work for insurance submissions.
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Section 9.6 of the Alberta Building Code requires tempered or laminated safety glass in windows within 500mm of a door frame, windows with a bottom edge within 900mm of the floor, and other designated hazardous glazed locations. Tempered glass is 4 to 5 times stronger than standard glass and fractures into blunt granules rather than sharp pieces. We install code-compliant tempered glass and confirm during the site visit whether it applies to your specific window.
Ready to Book? We're Ready to Come Out.
Free quote over the phone. Same-day and next-day availability across Calgary. Just call -- we'll take it from there.
- (403) 796-5485
- greatchoiceglass@gmail.com
- 55 Westwinds Crescent NE Unit 244, Calgary, AB T3J 5H2
Our Workmanship Guarantee.
Every installation we complete is backed by our workmanship guarantee. If something's wrong with how the glass was installed — the seal, the fit, the glazing — we come back and fix it. No charge, no argument.