1 Quick Glass Swap for a Cracked Window

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July 30, 2026

1 Quick Glass Swap for a Cracked Window

Before picture of cracked window from rock — Before photo

After picture of finished glass swap — After photo

A Kalispell client recently dealt with a broken window after a lawn mower kicked up a rock and cracked the exterior pane — a common, frustrating accident during yard work. Fortunately, the interior pane remained intact, which made a full window replacement unnecessary.

When only the glass is damaged and the frame is still structurally sound, a glass swap is often the better solution. This involves replacing just the glass unit while keeping the existing vinyl frame in place, provided it isn’t warped, cracked, or showing signs of moisture damage.

Glass swaps are typically faster and more affordable than full window replacements, and they restore the window’s energy efficiency and seal. If you notice cracked or foggy glass but your frame still looks and functions well, it may not be time for a full replacement — a professional inspection can help determine the right fix for your situation.

FAQ

Custom Glass Blog

What's possible with glass?

When a lot of folks think of glass windows and custom glass shower enclosures come to mind right away. Other lesser know glass products are glass partition walls (mainly in office buildings), glass ceilings or floors, glass store fronts, glass accent walls (can be made to look like stone and backlit, a really nice look), and glass art (many times found in hotels and airports). There’s some interesting glass projects here in the Flathead Valley: some highlights include a glass breezeway and an infinity end hot tub made out of glass!

What's the best way to clean my custom glass shower?

Custom glass showers look great and clean easily when properly installed and cared for! Glass manufacturers often apply a protective coating to the glass which helps with ease of cleaning as well. Water and a squeegee work the best for a weekly cleaning. If the glass needs a bit more help, then a mild eco friendly soap like Dawn, Windex, or SprayWay and a microfiber rag will do the trick. For hard water situations, use CLR. Remember to rinse and squeegee after using a cleaning product though!

How is the glass that Precision Glass install protected? Does it have a coating?

Precision Glass installs custom glass that is protected by EnduroShield. The coating helps the glass repel water and dirt. Incredibly the coating is only 2 molecules thick! This is vital as it could start to change the clear quality of the glass if it was too thick.

How thick is the custom glass that Precision Glass installs?

We offer glass in various thicknesses ranging from 1/8 inch to 1 inch depending on the type of glass and application. The most common custom glass project is a custom glass shower and we typically install 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch tempered glass for these projects!

Does Precision Glass replace windows?

Precision Glass is definitely able to help folks within the Flathead Valley window replacement projects! Has one of your windows been damaged? Give us a call and we can schedule a consultation!

Does Precision Glass offer custom tempered glass for tabletops?

Yup! Precision Glass offers tempered glass for tabletops which is much stronger and more resistant to shattering than regular glass.

What is tempered glass?

Tempered glass, often referred to as “toughened” or “fully tempered” glass, is heat-treated safety glass that is approximately four times stronger than the surface of regular annealed (non-safety) glass of the same thickness.

When tempered glass is broken it shatters into small, relatively harmless pieces. This characteristic “dice” break pattern minimizes the risk of serious injury.

What about mirrors? Can Precision Glass help?

The team at Precision Glass can help bring your custom mirror ideas into reality!

Does Precision Glass install glass for commercial buildings?

Yes, Precision Glass offers glass installation services for commercial buildings including storefronts, office buildings, and more. Feel free to connect with us to discuss your project in detail.

What other learning resources does Precision Glass have?

We love to dive deep with glass learning at Precision Glass but most kind of glaze over after a bit :-). Click here for more glass learning and glass terminology.

(406) 471-9644

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