If a window breaks at a Shoreview home, rental, or business, first keep people away from loose glass and any unstable frame. If the opening is safe to approach, document the damage, limit weather exposure, and arrange temporary board-up when the window cannot be repaired immediately.
What should you do first after a window breaks?
Start with safety rather than cleanup. Keep children, pets, tenants, customers, and employees away from the opening. Do not reach through cracked glass, lean on a damaged frame, or climb to an upper-floor opening without proper equipment. If the damage involves electrical wiring, a fire, structural movement, or another active hazard, contact the appropriate emergency service before attempting to secure the opening.
Once the area is safe, take clear photographs from a safe position. Capture the full opening, the surrounding frame, visible broken glass, and any interior damage. If you expect to make an insurance claim, Minnesota’s Department of Commerce advises documenting damage before cleanup and making only temporary repairs needed to prevent further damage. See the state’s residential insurance claim guidance.
Should broken glass be removed before board-up?
Only remove loose glass if it can be done without putting someone at risk. Jagged pieces can remain under tension in a sash or frame and may fall unexpectedly. A board-up professional may need to assess the opening before any remaining glass is disturbed. Never remove material simply to make the opening easier to photograph.
When does temporary board-up make sense?
Board-up is useful when the permanent window replacement cannot happen right away and the opening leaves the property exposed. The goal is temporary protection from easy entry, wind, rain, snow, and debris. It does not restore the window, repair the frame, or prove the building is safe after a major impact.
A ground-floor bedroom window, storefront display panel, patio-door opening, and second-story window can require very different access and attachment methods. Before work begins, confirm what opening is being covered, what material will be used, how it will be attached, and whether the temporary cover affects normal entry or emergency egress.
What information should you provide when requesting help?
Give the property address, building type, number of damaged openings, approximate size, floor level, and a short description of what caused the damage. Mention whether the frame is intact, whether glass is still hanging in place, and whether the opening is near a public walkway or occupied room. Photos taken safely from the ground can help explain the situation.
For rental or commercial property, also identify the person authorized to approve work and the person who can provide access. If a police report, fire report, or insurance claim number exists, keep it available, but do not delay basic temporary protection solely to gather paperwork if the property is exposed and safe work can proceed.
What should you avoid?
Avoid improvised fixes that create another hazard. Do not balance unsecured plywood against the opening, block a required exit without understanding the consequences, or attach materials to damaged framing that cannot support them. Avoid promising yourself that a temporary cover is weatherproof or burglar-proof. Board-up is a short-term risk-reduction step while permanent glass, door, carpentry, or restoration work is arranged.
What happens after the opening is secured?
Keep the written scope, invoice, photographs, and any material receipts. Schedule the permanent window or door repair and confirm who will remove the temporary board. If moisture entered the building, inspect interior finishes and belongings rather than assuming the cover solved all damage. If the incident resulted from vandalism or a break-in, review locks, lighting, and other access points as part of the permanent repair plan.
For window-specific temporary protection, see our Emergency Window Board-Up page. To describe a damaged opening in Shoreview or a nearby service area, use the estimate request form.
Who published this guide?
This guide is published by Shoreview Emergency Board Up Pros as educational information for property owners and managers. It is not a substitute for an on-site safety assessment, insurance instructions, or emergency services.