BROKEN GLASS: SAFETY TIPS FOR CLEANING UP AND TRANSPORTING BROKEN GLASS

Dealing with broken glass can be scary, but it doesn’t need to be dangerous. These tips are designed to help you remain safe when you find yourself dealing with broken glass. Safety should always be your first concern, and you should never attempt any work with which you feel uncomfortable, regardless of advice given here or elsewhere.This article cannot cover every conceivable situation you may encounter, and the advice herein should never replace professional assistance when it is needed! –Contact us for help.

CLEANING UP BROKEN GLASS:

• Clear the room of pets or small children.
• Wear a heavy long-sleeve shirt to protect your arms.
• Use heavy gloves to remove & discard large loose pieces of glass.
• Do not attempt to pull out large pieces that are still attached.
• Clean up small pieces and fragments with a shop vacuum or broom & dustpan.

TRANSPORTING GLASS TO ATKINSON’S FOR REPAIR:

• If you’re transporting a window sash, insulated unit, storm frame, or other item with broken glass in it, use packing or duct tape to secure loose pieces.
• Do not attempt pull out any pieces that are still attached!
• If you are able, place the pieces you’re bringing into a cardboard box for transport. You can also use cardboard, towels, or other sturdy material to wrap the pieces.
• Bring any & all pieces/parts you find, even if you’re not sure what they are.
• Don’t assume your glass or window is a “standard” size. Very little is “standard” in the glass business.

GETTING YOUR NEW / REPAIRED GLASS HOME SAFELY:

• MEASURE your vehicle carefully & thoroughly to be sure your glass will fit. It is difficult to accurately “eyeball” glass size. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!
• SUPPORT: Glass should ideally be transported on edge, with plenty of side support to make sure it stays upright. If it is to be transported laying flat, be sure you provide adequate support under its entire surface. A piece of plywood cut to the size of the glass is an ideal form of support.
• HAZARDS: Remove all objects from the area your glass will be placed during transportation. Metal, stone, and other hard objects and surfaces should be removed from the area.
• PETS: It’s best to leave pets at home when picking up glass. Their excitement about your new purchase may be understandable, but their safety is important, and claws can scratch new glass.
• DELIVERY: If you don’t feel comfortable transporting your glass, please consider having us deliver it for you. The extra cost may be well worth the peace of mind! — Contact us for help.

TYPES OF SCREEN MATERIAL

Screens let in air & keep bugs out — in general. You may have imagined that screen mesh — the woven stuff stretched into a screen frame — is a rather singular affair, and that you didn’t have many options for what type of mesh you could use. As it turns out, there are lots of options!

FIBERGLASS MESH

Fiberglass mesh is composed of vinyl-coated fibreglass threads, and comes in grey and charcoal colors. This is the most common type of mesh used in window and patio door screens because it’s the cheapest type, it’s easy to work with, and it lays flat and smooth. However, it tends to degrade over time, particularly when exposed to direct sunlight. It’s also easily torn, so birds and pets can wreak havoc on it.

• Fiberglass mesh PROS: inexpensive, easy to work with, smooth
• Fiberglass mesh CONS: easily torn, tends to degrade over time

ALUMINUM MESH

Aluminum wire mesh is fairly common as well, and is used where added durability is desired vs. fibreglass mesh. It’s fairly inexpensive, but can be a bit more difficult to work with, since it shows dents or creases if bent. These dents and creases can also show up in daily use if the screen is pushed or bumped.

• Aluminum mesh PROS: durable, inexpensive
• Aluminum mesh CONS: difficult to work with, shows creases

PET RESISTANT MESH

Sometimes pets can be harsh on screen doors. Fibreglass mesh in particular is fairly easily torn by animal claws, and even aluminum mesh can be torn by a larger dog. For such cases, pet-resistant mesh is available to resist tearing. These are composed of vinyl-coated polyester strands. The strands are much thicker/heavier than the strands in fibreglass and aluminum mesh, and are up to 7 time stronger. Because it’s a heavier mesh, it blocks more light and visibility than standard mesh.

• Pet resistant mesh PROS: very tear resistant, long-lasting
• Pet resistant mesh CONS: can be expensive

SHADE/SOLAR MESH

Sometimes a screen is needed to block light, often to reduce glare or cut down solar heat gain in sunny conditions. There are many different types and grades of shade screen mesh, but all involve a densely-woven mesh that blocks anywhere from 50% to 90% of light. They are similar in feel to fibreglass mesh, and so are fairly easy to work with, but tend to be quite expensive.

• Shade mesh PROS: reduces glare and lights, easy to work with
• Shade mesh CONS: expensive, degrades faster than aluminum mesh

HIGH TRANSPARENCY MESH

Highly-transparent screen mesh is available when more “see-through” screens are needed. These meshes involve much thinner strands in the weave, and tend to be rather fragile, as well as being more expensive than standard meshes.

• High transparency mesh PROS: very transparent
• High transparency mesh CONS: fragile, expensive

STEEL, COPPER, GALVANIZED, ETC…

Other screen meshes are available in brass, bronze, steel, copper, and many other materials. These tend to be used in commercial applications where particular strength and chemical resistance qualities are needed. They are uncommon in residential applications.

MESH DENSITY

Screen mesh is made in a variety of weave densities. The tighter the weave, the more strands there are per inch, and thus the smaller are the holes in the mesh. Most standard insect mesh has around 12-18 strands per inch. This will keep out most typical insects, such as flies and mosquitos. Where smaller insects are a problem, meshes can be used which are up to 200 strands per inch! As you’d expect, these meshes tend to be less transparent, and more costly, than standard meshes.