A lot of people put off calling about a window for one reason. They expect a salesperson at the kitchen table, a quote for every window in the house, and a project that runs for weeks. So the foggy pane stays foggy and the window that won't stay up stays propped on a stick.
It doesn't have to go that way. Most window problems come down to one part, and that part can be fixed or swapped on its own. This page covers what can be repaired, what we do and don't do, how to check that we're the real thing, and when a new window genuinely makes more sense.
Is there an alternative to full window replacement?
Yes: repair the part that's broken and keep the rest. Glass, hardware, and screens can each be replaced or repaired on their own, without pulling the window out of the wall. Your trim, paint, and siding stay untouched, and the window still matches the others in the house.
A window is a few separate parts working together:
- The glass: a single pane or a sealed double-pane unit (two sheets of glass with a sealed gap between them).
- The hardware: balances (the parts that hold the sash up), locks and keepers, tilt latches, cranks, hinges, rollers, and handles.
- The screen: the mesh and its frame.
- The frame and sash: the wood, vinyl, or aluminum that holds everything.
When one of the first three fails, the frame is often fine. Replacing the whole unit to fix a broken balance or a cracked pane means paying for parts that weren't the problem. That's the idea behind our tagline, "Replace the Glass, Not the Window."
What can be repaired instead of replaced?
Most glass, hardware, and screen problems can. Start with what you can see the window doing, then check the list below. The last point under each item tells you when repair probably won't be enough.
- Crack or break in the glass
- Usual repair: New glass in the existing frame
- When replacement may be the better call: The frame around it is rotted, or split too badly to hold glass
- Fog or haze between the panes that won't wipe off
- Usual repair: A new sealed double-pane unit
- When replacement may be the better call: The frame is too damaged to hold the new unit
- Window won't stay up
- Usual repair: Balance repair or replacement
- When replacement may be the better call: The sash itself is broken apart
- Window won't lock or latch
- Usual repair: Lock, keeper, or tilt latch repair
- When replacement may be the better call: The frame is warped so the parts can't line up
- Casement won't crank open or closed
- Usual repair: Crank or operator repair
- When replacement may be the better call: The frame is badly damaged
- Torn or missing screen
- Usual repair: Rescreen or a new screen
- When replacement may be the better call: Rarely; screens are their own part
- Broken patio or entry door glass
- Usual repair: New door glass
- When replacement may be the better call: The door frame is damaged
- Soft, rotted, or crumbling frame
- Usual repair: Not a repair job
- When replacement may be the better call: Usually yes: this points to a new window
Not sure which row you're in? You don't need to know the part name. Send photos and tell us what the window is doing.
What does 2HourGlass do, and what don't we do?
We repair windows and replace glass. We don't sell windows. That's the short version, and it's why we have no reason to talk you into a replacement. Here's the full list so you know exactly what to expect before you call.
What we do:
- Replace broken glass in windows and doors
- Replace foggy (failed-seal) double-pane glass
- Repair and replace window hardware: balances, locks and keepers, tilt latches, cranks and operators, hinges, sliding rollers and guides, pivot shoes, and handles
- Rescreen windows or make new screens
- Replace sliding and patio door glass, storefront glass, and commercial door glass
- Custom double-pane units
- Board-up on request
What we don't do:
- Sell full windows or install full frames
- Push replacement upsells
- Promise door lock or roller repairs (we can take a look or refer you to a partner we trust, and we do replace glass in doors)
- Fix drafts or energy loss
If what you need is on the second list, we'll tell you plainly so you can call the right kind of company.
How do I know I won't be upsold?
Because the first step is pictures, not a sales presentation. You send photos of the window that's giving you trouble, and you get a price for the repair those photos show. Nobody walks through your house pricing every window, and you decide whether to book.
A few things keep it that way:
- We price the job in front of us. Every job is priced individually, so you get a fair price for the right repair, which is often the smaller job.
- We say when repair isn't the answer. If the frame has failed, we'll tell you, even though it means we don't get the job.
- We don't charge for hardware we can't fix. If we can't repair a hardware problem, we don't charge for that repair or the attempt.
- You talk to a real person. We're a local PA and NJ team, not a call center.
If you've been told you need a whole set of new windows to fix one, read Need to replace one window? before you sign anything.
What do customer reviews say about repair instead of replacement?
Google alone has 1,358 reviews of our work with a 5.0 average, and we have 2,000+ across Google, Yelp, Facebook, Angi, Thumbtack, and Housecall Pro. They're public, so you can read what homeowners said about keeping their windows before you trust us with yours.
What comes up again and again in those reviews: fast quotes from photos, next-day or same-day visits, jobs finished in about an hour, and customers surprised the repair cost so much less than replacing the window. Some reviewers mention that other companies had only offered full replacement.
You can read them at https://2hourglass.com/reviews. The page lets you filter by topic, including Foggy Windows, Broken Glass, Door Glass, Window Screen, Commercial, Warranty, Photo Quote, and No Full Replacement. If you want to see what other homeowners said about keeping their windows, start with the No Full Replacement filter.
When should I replace the window instead of repairing it?
When the frame itself has failed, and rotted or soft wood is the clearest sign. Repair there would be money spent on the wrong fix. Replacement is also the answer if you simply want a different size or style of window. A cracked, split, or warped frame depends on the damage. Minor cracks and imperfections often still hold new glass safely, so we look at photos before calling it.
Signs that point toward a full replacement, and the ones that depend:
- The wood is soft or crumbles when you press on it. Rotted wood can't hold new glass securely, so this one points to a new window.
- The frame or sash is cracked or split. This one depends. Minor cracks often still hold new glass safely, while bigger damage may not. Send photos of exactly where it's damaged and we'll tell you which it is.
- The frame is bent or warped. Same thing: it's situational, and sometimes we can make it work. Photos let us check before you decide anything.
- You want a different size, style, or type of window. That's a remodel, not a repair.
A window that won't open, close, lock, or stay up is a different story. That's usually worn hardware, and most of the time it's fixable. It isn't a reason to buy a new window. Our guide to a window that won't stay up explains the usual fixes.
Not every window can be saved, and we won't pretend otherwise. For a longer side-by-side, read our honest guide, Repair or replace your windows?.
How much does window repair cost compared to replacement?
Repair is the smaller job, since you keep the frame, trim, and paint, so it usually costs less than a full replacement. Every repair is priced individually. In our experience, a glass repair usually costs about a third of a medium-quality full window replacement, and about a fifth of a high-end one. Send two photos and you'll have the actual number, usually within minutes during business hours.
What's included: removal of the old glass or parts, disposal, and clean-up. One trade-off: wood windows with a special paint finish may need a little touch-up after the work. For how the photo price works in detail, see How much to replace a window pane.
Is the repair covered by a warranty?
Double-pane glass we install comes with our Lifetime Seal Warranty. It covers seal failure and fog or moisture between the panes, and covered labor and materials cost nothing. The warranty stays no matter who owns the property, as long as the glass is still in the same window, the sash is still in the same frame, and nothing has been altered. It doesn't cover impact or misuse damage. Details are at https://2hourglass.com/warranty.
What customers say
"Bill was amazing and I am impressed with the company’s service. I had a cracked window pane and another with a bad seal. I had both glass replaced . It was so convenient as they come to you. I will be using them again to replace the glass for all of our windows! Highly recommend them and already stared recommending them."
Xenia O., Google review
We have 2,000+ reviews across Google, Yelp, Facebook, Angi, Thumbtack, and Housecall Pro, including a 5.0 average from 1,358 Google reviews. You can read more at https://2hourglass.com/reviews.
Frequently asked questions
Is window repair cheaper than replacement?
Repair is a smaller job because you keep the frame, trim, and paint, so it usually costs less. The photo quote shows you the actual price before you book.
Will you try to sell me new windows?
No. We don't sell or install full windows. If a window does need replacing, we'll say so and you can take that to a window company.
What can you repair without replacing the window?
Broken or cracked glass, foggy double-pane glass, window hardware like balances, locks, latches, and cranks, and window screens. We also replace glass in patio doors, entry doors, and storefronts.
How long does a window repair take?
Regular-size clear glass is usually replaced in one visit, most of the time within 2 hours. Tempered, textured, colored, and Low-E or argon glass is installed when it arrives, usually 2 to 3 weeks after we measure.
How do I know if my window can be repaired?
If the frame is solid and the problem is the glass, hardware, or screen, it usually can. Send photos and we'll tell you honestly, including when it can't.
What photos should I send?
Send one photo of the full window taken from inside and one close-up of the problem. For a window that won't stay up or lock, a short note about what it's doing helps.
Where can I read your reviews?
At https://2hourglass.com/reviews, where you can filter by topic, including No Full Replacement. Our Google listing is "2 Hour Glass - Fast Window Repair."
What areas do you serve?
We serve Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties in Pennsylvania, plus 13 New Jersey counties: Camden, Burlington, Mercer, Gloucester, Salem, Atlantic, Ocean, Monmouth, Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, Morris, and Essex. Not sure about your address? Check your ZIP below, or send a few photos and we'll confirm we can get to you.
Where we work
2HourGlass is a local PA and NJ team focused on window glass and hardware repair, with repair before replacement. We work in homes and businesses across Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties in Pennsylvania, plus 13 counties in New Jersey. When you call or text, you reach a real person, not a call center.
