How to Repair Chipped Glass

Maintaining a home and everything in it can sometimes feel like you are constantly extinguishing little “fires” that arise around the house. One day it’s the water heater—and the next day, it’s a decorative vase. Life comes with its wear and tear, so it’s important to know what to do when accidents occur. Here are step-by-step instructions and other helpful tips for repairing chipped glass.

Glass Window

Window cracks are an unfortunate fact of life. Whether a toddler threw a toy a little too hard, or a lawnmower launched a small stone into the kitchen window, there are fixes that require only a couple of basic supplies. While you may be tempted to ignore a cracked window—who’s going to see it anyway? —these small cracks can end up spidering into larger, more dangerous cracks. Here are step-by-step guidelines for fixing small cracks and chips in a single-pane glass window:

1. Give your window a good cleaning with a damp cloth and a mild dish soap.
2. Let your window dry completely.
3. Select a two-part epoxy made for repairing glass (most are compatible with multiple types of surfaces and can be found at your local hardware store).
4. Use a putty knife to apply the epoxy into the crack or chip, lightly pressing the epoxy into the break and gently scraping off any excess epoxy.
5. Let the epoxy sit for about five to ten minutes, allowing it to cure.
6. Remove any more excess epoxy using a cloth and moistening it with acetone.
7. Allow the window to finish curing over the next 24 hours.

If you find yourself dealing with a major break or chip in your window, keep family members and pets away from it until you can consult with a commercial glass repair company who can fix it.

Crystal Glassware

If you’re setting the table for Thanksgiving dinner and notice a couple of chips and cracks in your crystal glassware, you need not despair! These small nicks are actually quite simple to fix, and your crystalware will look just like new. For small chips on the rim of a glass or for shallow cracks, take a crystal file (or a nail file if you are desperate) and smooth out the rough edges. Doing so will ensure that no partygoers cut their lips or fingers on damaged glass.

But what if you are dealing with broken pieces, like a larger chip or broken stem? As long as the break is minute, here are step-by-step instructions for dealing with these inconveniences at home:

1. Give your glassware a good cleaning with warm water and mild dish soap.
2. Let your glassware dry completely.
3. Place a small bit of glass glue on the broken edges of the broken pieces.
4. Hold the pieces together carefully and apply light pressure for several minutes until successfully bonded.
5. Polish any remaining rough edges with a file.

If you are dealing with major breaks in your crystal glassware, it is recommended that you consult with a commercial glass repair company, professional glass restorer, or other type of broken glass company. Along with years of expertise, they have the tools necessary to get your crystal glassware looking brand new again.

Mirror

Mirrors tend to be fragile things—even more fragile than windows. But don’t fret if you have a crack in your bathroom mirror. There are ways to fix it from the comfort of your own home. Similar to a cracked window, your best bet is to use a two-part multi-surface epoxy. This epoxy can be easily found in your local hardware or craft store. Here are step-by-step instructions for fixing a cracked or chipped mirror:

1. Give your mirror a good cleaning with a damp cloth and a mild dish soap.
2. Let your mirror dry completely.
3. Use a putty knife to apply a two-part multi-surface epoxy into the crack or chip, lightly pressing the epoxy into the break and gently scraping off any excess epoxy.
4. Let the epoxy sit for about five to ten minutes, allowing it to cure.
5. Remove any more excess epoxy using a cloth and moistening it with acetone.
6. Allow the mirror to finish curing over the next 24 hours.

Unfortunately, the reflective nature of a mirror tends to make this type of repair stand out a bit more compared to a window, especially if the crack or chip is located in the middle of the mirror. So, if you are dissatisfied with how the repair looks, talk to a commercial glass repair or broken glass company for extra assistance. Or if the mirror was cheap, you may consider investing in a new one.