Five Ways to Fix a Cracked Window, Ranked From Worst to Best

Finding cracked glass in one of your home’s windows can lead you to consider costly replacements . But you can often repair a cracked window yourself and prevent the crack from further developing and breaking down. At the very least, it can buy you time to plan for a future replacement instead of getting billed immediately. There are many ways to temporarily or even permanently repair a cracked window, but not all of them are equally effective. Here’s a rundown of your options, from worst idea to best.

Tape cracked glass

The easiest and most stupid way to fix a cracked window is to take packing tape (or any strong transparent duct tape) and stick it on the broken glass. This will perform two important tasks: stabilize the crack and reduce the load on the glass. This will slow down or prevent further development of the crack and seal the area to prevent air from entering from the outside (or vice versa).

It is important to note that if you have double glazed windows, a severe crack will likely break the gas layer between the panes, meaning your window will no longer be such an effective insulator. But if the crack is just starting and hasn’t completely broken the glass yet, the clear tape will do an ugly temporary job of holding the line until you find a better solution.

Seal cracks with glass repair film

A step up from good old tape is glass repair film , which is essentially tape on steroids. It is designed to be applied easily and quickly to glass to seal and stabilize the crack so that it is weather resistant and the window is protected from further damage. This option will provide better protection than just taping the crack, and the material can be cut to size so you can close even a large crack. The downside is that the ugly crack will still be visible, but at least you won’t have to worry about the danger of broken glass, drafts, or water getting into your home.

Use Clear Nail Polish to Fix a Cracked Window

Clear nail polish is good for temporary repairs to a cracked window: simply clean the area thoroughly, cover the crack with masking tape, then apply nail polish liberally, rubbing it into the crack. You may need to apply a second coat after the first coat has dried to really fill it in.

This will be a more durable repair than tape or tape because you’ll fill the crack with a transparent and relatively durable material, but nail polish isn’t designed to withstand moisture and temperature changes, so it won’t last forever. Combining the application of nail polish with tape or film will increase its durability, but it will still fail eventually.

Seal the crack with superglue

Applied in a similar fashion to nail polish, a clear superglue such as Loctite Glass Glue or Gorilla Glue will fill in and reinforce the crack in your window. This will be a slightly more durable repair because superglue, especially one designed specifically for glass repair, is designed to withstand more wear and tear. It might even be a more or less permanent fix if you can tolerate the defect in your window because the repair will probably still be noticeable. Take your time and carefully apply the adhesive to minimize the appearance of the crack.

Epoxy resin

Finally, short of a complete window replacement, an epoxy-based repair would be the best option. Any clear two-part epoxy product will work here, but you can also use most car windshield repair kits , which usually also use epoxy. The kits will come with the basic application tools needed as well as instructions, but you can repair the window yourself with a trowel and careful site preparation. An epoxy repair will be very durable, and if you take your time and work carefully, the crack can be almost invisible when you’re done.