Cracked or broken sliding door glass is one of the more stressful repairs because the door is open until it's fixed. We move fast: most replacement glass can be measured Monday and installed by Friday, and for standard sizes we sometimes have it the next day.
We replace all four major types of sliding door glass: standard annealed glass (older doors), tempered safety glass (most modern sliders), insulated/double-pane glass (when the seal fails and the unit fogs), and hurricane-impact laminated glass (required by current Florida code on most new installs).
Cracked vs fogged vs shattered: how each is fixed
Cracked glass. A single visible crack means the panel needs to be replaced — it cannot be repaired the way a windshield can. We secure the door temporarily, measure the panel, and order a replacement to factory spec. Most replacements arrive in 3 to 7 days; standard sizes sometimes next-day.
Fogged double-pane glass. If you have an insulated glass unit (IGU) and the seal between the two panes has failed, moisture gets in and you see fog, haze, or mineral deposits inside the unit that you can't wipe off. We replace the IGU only — the frame and door stay. Costs less than full panel replacement.
Shattered glass. Emergency: we get there same-day in most cases, vacuum and secure the opening with plywood or temporary panel, then measure and order replacement. If it was hurricane-rated glass, you may have an insurance claim — we provide documentation.
Should you upgrade to impact glass?
If your original glass wasn't hurricane-rated, you'll have to decide between like-for-like replacement (cheaper, but you still need shutters during storms) and upgrading to impact-laminated glass (more expensive up-front, but no shutters ever again and a measurable insurance discount).
Most of our customers in coastal Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade choose to upgrade. The cost difference is usually 30 to 60% more, but you eliminate shutter labor for the rest of the time you own the home, and most insurers in Florida offer a wind-mitigation discount that pays it back in 4 to 7 years.
Glass we install
- Tempered safety glass — required by code on all sliding door panels; breaks into pebbles instead of shards
- Insulated glass units (IGUs) — for double-pane doors, with argon fill and low-E coating options for energy efficiency
- Hurricane-impact laminated glass — meets current Florida building code (Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance approved)
- Tinted, frosted, or privacy glass — for bathroom-adjacent sliders or sun-baked western exposures
- Custom shapes — for arched, geometric, or oversized doors
💡 Quick Tip from Our Techs
If your double-pane slider has been fogged for years and you're tired of it, replacing just the IGU (not the whole door) is usually 40-60% cheaper than a full panel replacement. Most older sliders are good candidates.
