Ajax · Durham Region
Window and glass repair for Ajax homes
Ajax was built in two big waves, the 1980s and the late 2000s, and most homes here are owner-occupied. That makes for a steady list of jobs: fogged sealed units, sticking patio doors, torn screens, and bathroom and closet glass due for a change. We connect Ajax homeowners with independent local pros for home window glass, doors, screens, showers and mirrors, small jobs included, once we've checked a pro covers your postal code.
At a glance
- Housing
- Two building waves: the 1980s and the late 2000s
- Homes
- Mostly owner-occupied, with far fewer rentals than Oshawa
- Common jobs
- Sealed units, patio doors, screens, shower and mirror glass
- Permits
- Town of Ajax
Two building waves: the 1980s and the late 2000s
The windows follow the town's two busiest building periods. Homes from the older wave are often on their second round of trouble: some have already had a sealed unit or patio door redone, and now the next set is going. Homes from the newer wave are usually on their first: original units starting to fog, the first flattened rollers, the first torn screens. For both, fixing the part that failed is the sensible place to start.
Sealed units: fogging and cracking
A sealed unit, the double-pane glass inside the frame, fails in one of two ways. It fogs when the edge seal lets moist air between the panes, leaving haze or streaks you can't wipe off from either side. Or it cracks, from an impact or from stress in the glass.
Either way, the unit can usually be replaced on its own, in the existing sash, measured first and fitted on a return visit. For fog there's also defogging, which clears the view in a sound unit. A whole new window is worth it when the frame is damaged or won't close and lock. Foggy window repair compares the three.
Patio doors and screens
Patio doors from both waves wear the same way: rollers flatten, tracks collect grit, latches drift out of line. A door that's hard to slide or won't lock is usually a repair; see sliding door repair. A fogged or cracked door panel can often take a new sealed unit rather than a whole new door.
Screens are the easiest job to put off. A torn screen can be rescreened in its frame, and one screen is reason enough to send a request; see window screen repair.
Showers, mirrors and interior glass
Small interior jobs are welcome:
- Shower glass doors: a builder-grade framed door swapped for made-to-measure glass, or new hinges and seals on the one you have.
- Mirrored closet doors: a cracked mirror panel replaced, or doors that jump the track adjusted.
- Mirrors and shelves: a vanity mirror replaced, or a glass shelf or tabletop cut to fit.
Permits and rules in Ajax
Ajax sets its own building rules, and Oshawa's permit exemption doesn't carry over. Before replacing windows or doors, and before enlarging any opening, check with the Town of Ajax. In a townhouse or condo complex, check your declaration and property manager too. Condo-heavy Pickering, next door, sees more of those questions.
If you replace whole windows, the provincial Home Renovation Savings Program offers a rebate on ENERGY STAR certified windows and doors, generally with a home energy assessment. A new sealed unit in an old frame doesn't qualify.
Ajax questions
Can a fogged sealed unit in an Ajax home be replaced on its own?
Yes, in most cases. If the frame and sash are sound, the pro measures the unit, has a new one made and fits it in the existing window, so the trim and finish stay put. If the sash is damaged or the frame is rotting, a new window is the better fix. Send a photo with your request.
Is a 1980s window worth fixing a second time?
It can be. If the frame is solid and the hardware still works, a second sealed unit or a new crank is a reasonable repair. The case for replacing grows when frames are cracked or warped, parts are hard to find, or several windows are failing together. The repair or replace guide lays out the trade-offs.
Do I need a permit in Ajax to replace windows the same size?
Check with the Town of Ajax. Each Durham municipality sets its own permit rules, and we don't restate Ajax's here. Oshawa's same-size exemption is written for Oshawa houses and doesn't apply in Ajax. In a condo or townhouse complex, check your declaration too. The pro quoting your job should be able to tell you what the Town usually requires.
Can patio door glass be replaced without a new door?
Usually. A fogged or cracked panel in a sliding patio door is a sealed unit, and it can be replaced in the existing door frame. The pro measures the glass and fits a new unit made to size. If the door also drags or won't lock, have the rollers and latch looked at on the same visit. Door glass replacement covers other door types.
Can mirrored closet doors be replaced?
Yes, in whole or in part. A cracked mirror panel can usually be replaced in the existing frame, and doors that jump the track may just need new rollers or a guide. If the frames are bent, the whole set can be replaced to fit the opening. A photo and rough measurements help the pro quote.