Tempered glass doors
All-glass entrances, swing doors and patio doors. A tempered glass door is replaced as a full panel, not repaired.
Tempered & safety glass · Toronto & the GTA
Tempered & Safety Glass Replacement, Toronto & the GTA
Toronto Glass Repair replaces broken tempered and safety glass in Toronto and GTA buildings with the correct code compliant grade. Every tempered glass panel is made to order, so we measure, confirm the spec your location needs, and fit it once the panel comes in.
01What we cover
Tempered and safety glass we replace
Tempered and safety glass is what the Ontario Building Code requires in spots where a person could walk through the glass or fall into it: doors, the glass beside doors, low windows, glazing around stairs, and bathrooms. If one of these breaks, it has to go back in as safety glass of the same rating, not ordinary annealed glass.
We identify what the location calls for, measure the opening, and order the tempered glass panel cut and heat-treated to fit. While the new glass is on order we can secure the opening so the space stays usable.
Glass beside and around doors
Sidelights and panes within the code reach of a door. These have to be safety glass.
Low and floor-level glazing
Windows close to the floor or a walking surface, where the code calls for a tempered glass panel.
Stair and guard glazing
Glass railings, balustrades and panels around stairs and landings that act as a guard.
Bathroom and shower glass
Shower enclosures, screens and bathroom glazing, all tempered to the safety standard.
Large architectural panes
Oversized panels and partitions that pass the code size threshold for safety glass.
02Good to know
Do I need tempered glass for this opening?
If a person could walk into the pane or fall against it, the Ontario Building Code almost certainly requires safety glass there. Tell us where the pane sits and we confirm the exact grade before anything is ordered.
The code treats glazing in those positions as hazardous because a person can walk into it or fall against it. Glass in those spots has to break safely, which means tempered or laminated, not plain annealed glass.
Putting ordinary glass back into a code-required spot causes real problems. It can fail an inspection, and if it breaks it throws long sharp shards instead of crumbling safely.
Tell us where the pane is and we tell you the grade it needs. If you are mid-renovation or selling, this is the kind of detail an inspector checks.
What is the difference between tempered and regular glass?
Tempered glass is heat-treated so it is roughly four to five times stronger than regular annealed glass of the same thickness, and when it breaks it crumbles into small blunt granules instead of long sharp shards. The glass type also decides whether the fix takes one visit or two.
| Glass type | How it breaks | Same-visit fix? | Where you will find it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annealed (standard) | Long sharp shards | Yes, we cut it on site or on the van | Older single-pane windows, garages, picture windows away from doors and floors |
| Tempered | Crumbles into small blunt granules | No, made to order; we secure the opening first | Doors, sidelights, shower enclosures, storefronts, low windows, glass near stairs |
| Laminated | Cracks but holds together on a plastic interlayer | No, ordered to size | Overhead glazing, glass guards and railings, security glazing |
| Sealed unit (double or triple pane) | One pane can break while the other holds; a failed seal fogs instead | No, built as one matched unit | Most modern home windows and patio doors |
Where is tempered glass required by code?
The Ontario Building Code requires safety glass in glazing that sits in or near a door, close to the floor, around stairs and ramps, in wet areas like bathrooms, and in panes over a certain size. These are the spots where someone is most likely to hit the glass.
- In glass doors and the fixed panels beside them.
- In low windows, any glazing close to a floor or walking surface, and around stairs, ramps and landings.
- In bathrooms, shower and tub enclosures, and in large panes above the code size threshold.
03Pricing
How much does tempered glass cost to replace?
Tempered glass costs more than ordinary glass because every panel is cut and heat-treated to order, and the price tracks the size, thickness and grade the location needs. We measure the opening, confirm the spec, and give you a firm quote before the panel is ordered.
What drives the price:
- Size of the panel. A small bathroom pane sits at the low end, a full glass door or storefront pane at the higher end.
- Thickness and grade the location calls for, which the code position decides.
- Whether the panel is plain tempered or laminated safety glass, which costs more.
- Edge work and cutouts. Polished edges, holes for hardware, or hinge and lock cutouts add to a door panel.
- Securing the opening while the made-to-order panel is in production, if the space cannot be left open.
Tell us the location and rough size and we will give you a range on the phone, then a firm quote once we measure. Small tempered panes sit at the low end. Large door and storefront panels with edge work and cutouts sit higher.
04Made to order
Why tempered glass cannot be cut on site
Tempered glass gets its strength from a heat-treating process that locks the surface under tension. Once a panel is tempered it cannot be cut, drilled or ground down without shattering.
So every replacement is sized first, then made to those exact measurements with any holes and cutouts built in before tempering. A tempered glass replacement is not a same-visit fix the way a plain pane can be.
We measure, order the panel, and book the install for when it arrives. If the opening cannot stay open in the meantime, we secure it on the first visit.
05FAQ
Common questions
Is laminated glass the same as tempered?
No. Both are safety glass but they work differently. Tempered glass is heat-treated and crumbles into small blunt pieces when it breaks. Laminated glass has a plastic interlayer that holds the pieces together when it cracks, like a car windshield. The code accepts either in many safety locations, and some spots, such as overhead glazing and certain guards, specifically call for laminated. We fit whichever the location requires.
Can you repair tempered glass or does it have to be replaced?
Tempered glass cannot be repaired. Once it is chipped or cracked the panel has lost its integrity and the whole unit gets replaced. It also cannot be cut down, which is why every tempered glass panel is made to order at the right size.
How long does a tempered glass replacement take?
The install itself is quick, but the panel has to be made to order first, so the timeline is set by fabrication, not the fit. We measure, order the panel, and book the install for when it comes in. If the opening needs to stay secure in the meantime, we board or cover it on the first visit.
How do I know if my broken glass was safety glass?
Look at how it broke and where it sits. Tempered safety glass shatters into a pile of small square granules. Glass in a door, beside a door, near the floor, in a bathroom or around stairs is required to be safety glass, so if a pane in one of those spots broke into large sharp shards it may have been the wrong glass and should go back in as a code compliant panel.
Do homes need tempered glass too, or is it just for commercial buildings?
Homes need it in the same spots commercial buildings do: shower and tub enclosures, glass beside or in entry doors, patio doors, and any large or low window near a walking surface. The code applies by location, not by building type.
Can I order tempered glass for a spot where code does not require it?
Yes. Any pane can be ordered tempered if you want the extra strength, which is common for ground-floor windows, glass shelves and table tops. The code sets the minimum, not the maximum, so upgrading a vulnerable pane to safety glass is always allowed.
06More services
Other glass services we cover
Need tempered or safety glass replaced?
Tell us where the pane is and we will confirm the code compliant grade, measure, and fit the made-to-order panel. Serving Toronto and the GTA.