I smashed my window. Urgent help/advice needed

[Chris.Holland16]

Please can you help....

I rent a central London apartment.

I was adjusting the window restrictor. I took some screws out .. I wasn't able to put them back in.

Anyway.. the window came out of the frame (crashing down in my room, smashing some of my equipment). No one was hurt thankfully.

1. Can I buy something to put in the gap in the wall (large sheet of plastic) (until window is fixed)

1. Does insurance cover this type of damage? (i'm not bothered about my smashed equipment - just the window)

- Window frame is: 114cm high, 100cm wide

It's totally my fault. I am an absoulte moron - I know. It's sunday ... what's my best bet?

[Fred]

Phone your insurance company and get them to get somebody out!

[Chris.Holland16]

I don't have insurance

(the window isn't smashed - there is a large crack in the corner)

My only concerns are:

- the company I rent from will notice there's no window and charge me a massive fine

- it will be cold/water will get in room etc.

- (security not an issue - I'm on third floor and the window faces inner private courtyard)

I want to 'buy time' and fix it myself & buy insurance.

[Brian Reay]

Depends on company, policy, and circumstances. Accidental damage is usually covered but there may be a limitation if they claim it occured during a related attempted repair. eg, if you'd fallen off a ladder while painting the ceiling and broken the window you'd be OK, if you were fixing the window probably not.

Call the company and ask- they may send someone out from a local company they have a deal with.

As a 'stop gap' (no pun intended) find a local B&Q etc (open on Sunday) and buy a bit of plywood or OSB.

[Owain]

You can purchase sheets of clear(ish) rigid plastic from B&Q etc.

It probably would, if you had it, but as you've said you don't have insurance, it won't. Buying insurance on Monday will not cover a window smashed on Saturday.

Unless you are expecting seriously bad weather, thick plastic sheeting (like a rubble bag, something stronger than a bin-bag) and gaffer tape will probably keep the weather out until Monday. B&Q do thick plastic tarpaulin-type sheets.

If you have the misfortune of living somewhere B&Q doesn't open on Sundays ....

Owain

[Chris.Holland16]

Thanks for your advice.

I don't want to use plywood as it is obvious to anyone who gazes up from the courtyard that something is wrong with my window. I'm hoping to get some clear plastic.

Anyway, I think I ought to head for my nearest B & Q open on a sunday.

Thanks

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

Wow! that's going to cosat a bit in perspex?

Phone police tell them three youths have just thrown bricks at window they'll log it down, your landlord will replace it through his insurance. :-)

p.s go and find a half an house brick. lol

-- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Assuming there's no security issue, polythene and gaffer tape.

[Chris.Holland16]

Thanks :)

But I'm in inner courtyard (public can't get in) and there are CCTV Cameras

I'm a student and can't really afford to pay for a professional to come and glaze it up.

Just done a search on B & Q Website and tfl.gov.uk - can't make it there before closing time (16.00) today.

Hmm.. may just hope no-one notices and just get cold.

Somewhere must sell ... sheet of plastic.... crude I know but at least it'll keep the birds/insects out...

[SimonJ]

my smashed equipment - just the window)

So why were you asking if insurance would cover the damage?

Not a student by any chance are you?

[SimonJ]

Then wait until the Police come knocking on your door to arrest you for insurance fraud.

I think it would be pretty obvious that the window was not damaged by a brick given that the frame has been partly dismantled.

[SimonJ]

No surprises there then!

I had a friend who used to rent property to students, and he said they were the worst possible tenants to ever allow into your property, always having to mess about with stuff they shouldn't (e.g. window restrictors) and breaking anything possible.

[Rob Morley]

Get a couple of 2.14m+ lengths of 2x1 timber and a sheet of heavy clear polythene. Cut the timber to length so it wedges tightly against the frame, and use it to hold the polythene in place (supplement with a few tacks/staples to keep the tension even so it stays flat).

[Andy Dingley]

Be grateful it's Sunday, not last Wednesday !

If you can, put the window back in the hole. It's the right size and shape and sounds like it's still waterproof. Wedge it in place with an ironing board, stepladder, or a couple of woodscrews into the frame.

Then get someone competent (who might still be an amateur) to come and look at it in the flesh. We're helpful, but we can't _see_ it.

If you stick plywood over the hole, just throw a piece of fabric over the outside and it will look like curtain fabric - especially if there's clear polythene outside that.

Glass is cheap. Fitting it is expensive. Even double-glazed sealed units aren't _that_ expensive (you get them made to order, any size you like

- any glazier can sort this out). If you can find some DIY-capable friend then you should be able to get this sorted out fairly easily and cheaply.

[Owain]

It's going to have to be repaired (properly) at some point. Are you sure you can't confess to the landlord?

I feel sorry for people living in London ;-)

It will be dark soon, so much less noticeable.

Owain

[:::Jerry::::]

bothered about

Am I the only one smelling a troll here?...

[John Cartmell]

He's three floors up and mucks about with things so they fall apart. Shouldn't someone warn him about temporary constructions that fall three floors onto someone's head?

[meow2222]

All he needs is to go buy the right size of glass - measure very carefully - and a tub of linseed putty. The glass wants to be slightly smaller than the hole (after the old putty's been hacked off) by about

3mm all round. Check the putty in the tub before you walk out, too often glaziers will try and sell you stuff that half hardened already, which is not much use.

To fit, put a thin bead of putty round the frame, press glass into place, hold it temporarily with a few tacks/ staples/ drawing pins, then get on with puttying. Get a nice smooth flat finish on putty by wetting the (putty / kitchen / pocket) knife, and sliding it along the putty.

Let putty dry a few weeks before painting with undercoat then gloss.

Its really not hard.

Welcome to uk.d-i-y.

NT

[John Cartmell]

But as I read it the whole window frame has dropped out ...

[John Rumm]

Get some clear sticky back plastic (also at B&Q) that will keep the water out and prent any bits of glass falling out and impailing a passerby three floors below!