Tech Tip: Plate Glass Repairs

Have you ever seen a BB hole in a storefront window and wondered if it is repairable?  Despite the cone-shaped plug of glass missing from the large side of the break (usually on the inside of the glass), repairing these types of damages is possible. A plate-glass repair is a common process.

Plate-glass repair has not been a discussion within the windshield repair industry but does deserve acknowledgment. It is one more inexpensive way for you to expand your current business and earn extra income. The material cost for a plate-glass repair is approximately $8, and it is not uncommon to charge $100 or more for a single repair. Commercial plate-glass windows sometimes cost hundreds, or even thousands of dollars to replace depending on the size and location of the window, so repair is very attractive, although an often overlooked option.

Is the BB gun hole in my window repairable?

Repairable SOLID plate-glass damage is generally a “bullseye” type break.  Characterized by a small hole, about 1/8″ in diameter on one side of the glass (commonly caused by a BB or Pellet gun), and a cone-shaped hole about ¾” to 1 ½” in diameter on the opposite side of the glass. The smaller hole is on the side of the glass that was hit by the object causing the damage.

If the cone-shaped plug of glass can be found and is intact, it can sometimes be united with the hole that it came from using a light coat of Magnibond resin, followed immediately by a generous coat of Delta Kits’ Plate Glass resin. After the plug is secure and in its proper position, place a 2″ wide, clear box sealing tape over the repair on the larger side of the damage to hold the plug in place during the curing process. Cure from the large side of the damage for 5 minutes.

After bonding the plug back in place, fill any voids around the edges of the plug with MagniBond followed by Plate Glass Resin. Cover with a curing tab and cure for 5 minutes. After curing, scrape the repair with a razor blade at a 90-degree angle and buffed out with pit polish. Keep in mind, use this option should only the glass plug is flush with the surrounding glass surface.

If the cone-shaped plug of glass cannot be found or does not fit in the hole; the plate-glass repair process is a bit different. Place a piece of clear box sealing tape over the large side of the damage. Leave a small space at the top of the void. This will allow the tip of the resin dropper access to the area. Place another piece of clear box sealing tape on the small side of the break. Completely cover the hole so that resin does not leak out the side. Once the area of the break is full of resin, place a curing tab over the space. The repair must be cured, scraped, and buffed following the same process as above.

Please note that this plate glass repair method requires more time to cure. Cure the resin for 15 minutes, considering the depth of the resin. Always use a powerful UV curing light due to the long curing times. If using a battery-operated light, the cure time requirement may be 30 minutes or more. Do not under cure!

Repairing plate-glass will keep dirt and moisture out of the damaged area. Plus, it will minimize the temptation for people to place fingers or other objects into the damaged area. More importantly, it will strengthen the glass to minimize the chance of further breakage. Plate Glass repairs will not be optically correct but will improve the cosmetics considerably.

The instructions above are a brief outline, just to give you an idea of how plate-glass repair works.

Delta Kits offers a kit designed specifically for plate-glass repairs. Click here to order.

For a step-by-step instruction manual on plate-glass repair, contact Delta Kits at 541-345-8554, or email Info@DeltaKits.com.