Australia's weather is knwon for many reasons, but predictability is not one of them, and protecting your home against frequent rainstorms, thunderstorms and even dust clouds is a keen concern for many homeowners. Consequently, many homes are fitted with storm windows -- these effective defenses essentially consist of a supplementary pane of glass fitted to the inside or outside of your regular windows, and provide an added layer of protection between the inside of your home and the stresses of inclement weather.

However, while these defensive windows are tremendously durable, they are not invulnerable, and after particularly savage weather you may find your storm windows cracked, shattered and in need of rapid repairs. Emergency window repair services are ideal for this kind of speedy repair work, but you should keep a few things in mind when booking storm window repair to ensure the process goes as smoothly (and cheaply) as possible.

What type of storm windows do you have installed?

Storm windows are available in a wide variety of configurations, such as two-track, three-track, sliders and various other types designed to protect different types of windows. Establishing which type of storm windows are fitted to your home is an important step towards having them repaired, as some emergency window repair services may not have the expertise or equipment required to repair more complex storm windows. Check with your chosen service beforehand to ensure that they are capable of repairing your windows before handing over your cash.

Do your storm windows have broken glass, frames or both?

The type of damage your storm windows have sustained will also affect how quickly the can be repaired. If you are lucky enough to have only suffered pane damage to your storm windows, this can be repaired relatively quickly, as the shattered pane is simply removed and replaced with fresh glass.

However, dealing with frame damage can be more complex, and you should have your chosen glass repair service inspect the type and scale of the frame damage before agreeing on a course of action. Limited frame damage, such as cracks around impact areas, can often be repaired in-place using filler materials and binding agents (timber storm window frames take to these repairs particularly well). However, extensively damaged frames, or damaged frames accompanied by damaged glass, may need to be partially or completely replaced, which can make the repair process more expensive and time-consuming.

How quickly can your storm windows be returned to full functionality?

Storm windows aren't just used to protect against the ravages of storms -- they also create an effective barrier against home intruders, and can significantly improve the heat insulation properties of your home. Consequently, your broken storm windows form an unacceptable risk to security and energy efficiency for as long as the are damaged, and you should choose a repair service that can replace your storm windows as quickly as possible.

In some extreme cases, damage to your storm windows may be so extensive that the cannot be repaired or replaced in a single day. In these situations, you should ensure your chosen repair service can protect your home while your storm windows are being repaired. Most services will, at the very least, clean broken glass from the areas around your damage windows, and remove any dangerous shards that remain in the frames. Others will go further, fitting temporary glass or plexiglass screens over the damaged windows to prevent rain and unwanted visitors entering your home.