Frequently asked questions

Rarely. A solid frame and sash can take a new sealed unit, ordered to fit the existing opening. Defogging suits a unit you'd like to keep, and a new window suits a worn-out frame. Compare them on the foggy window page.

Yes. A sealed unit is a set of two or three panes bonded around a spacer, with dry air or gas trapped inside. Thermopane is the older name many Oshawa owners still use. When damp air gets in, the unit fogs, and the unit is what gets replaced.

Not necessarily. Wipe the inside of the glass. If it clears, it's condensation from indoor humidity, and better airflow helps. If the haze stays put because it's inside the unit, the edge seal has let go. The repair or replace guide covers what's next.

No. Tape holds a cracked pane for a night, but cracks spread, and a cracked sealed unit has lost its seal too. The answer is new glass: a single pane in an older storm window, a new sealed unit in a modern one. See broken window glass.

On a house, a same-size, same-type replacement is exempt. Making an opening bigger, or cutting a new one, takes a permit, and so does window work on apartments, condos and storefronts, since the exemption covers houses only. Check the City's permit page before glass is ordered.

It expects windows, doors, storms and screens to stay weather-tight and in good repair, and names reglazing cracked, broken or missing glass as part of that. Landlords ask about it most; the property standards guide walks through the clauses in plain words.

Yes. The by-law expects an insect screen on every window that opens in a dwelling, so a torn or missing one is worth sorting out, particularly in a rental. Rescreening an existing frame is a small job. See window screen repair.

Yes. Small jobs count, and many can be priced from a photo. Name the part, attach a picture, and list any other small fixes that could share the same visit. Screen and storm doors covers closers, handles and torn screens.

Size, glass type (tempered, laminated or low-e coated), sealed unit or single pane, shape, access and the frame's condition all move the price. Upper floors and storefronts add work. Get each quote written and itemized so the comparison is fair, then send your request.

No. Ontario's Home Renovation Savings Program helps with complete ENERGY STAR windows and doors, normally through a home energy assessment, and glass-only swaps don't qualify. There's no federal window grant right now either. Confirm the current rules on the program's site before ordering.

Often, if wind, a break-in or an accident broke it; whether it's covered turns on your policy and what caused the damage. Photograph it first, then get a written quote the insurer can review. Emergency glass repair covers the first steps.

Possibly. Oshawa's Graffiti and Vandalism Remediation Fund has helped commercial properties with window, door and lock repairs and insurance deductibles, while money lasts. Confirm it's open before counting on it. The vandalism glass repair page explains how it fits with the repair.

The pro does. An independent local glass professional takes your request, sees the job and quotes in writing; we never set prices. Using Windows Oshawa costs you nothing, and you can say no to any quote. How it works has each step.