NYC Glass Restoration Services
HOW DO YOU REQUEST AN ESTIMATE ONLINE?
Send photos of the damaged glass to [email protected] – ideally taken at an angle with a light source to show depth, and in direct sunlight for graffiti etching. We’ll confirm whether an on-site visit is needed or whether a remote assessment is enough to quote.
OUR GLASS RESTORATION SERVICES
Acid graffiti etches into the silica structure of the glass – it cannot be cleaned off, only removed by controlled surface restoration. We use the Glass Renu professional restoration system to grind back to undamaged glass, then polish to optical clarity. Applicable to annealed, tempered, and laminated glass. For ongoing protection after restoration, see Anti-Graffiti Film.
Construction scratches, blade damage, and abrasion from improper cleaning – all addressed using micro-grinding with cerium oxide followed by multi-stage polishing. We assess scratch depth before starting and tell you upfront if the damage exceeds what restoration can correct without optical distortion.
GLASS RESTORATION FOR EVERY PROPERTY TYPE
RESIDENTIAL
Apartment windows, condo lobby glazing, brownstone stoops, and private homes throughout NYC. Most residential scratch and oxidation work is completed in a single visit. Photo estimates are available for straightforward cases – we’ll confirm whether an on-site visit is needed before scheduling.
COMMERCIAL
Office building curtain walls, retail storefronts, hotel lobbies, and multi-tenant properties. We coordinate with building management for access, provide COI and NYC DOB documentation on request, and schedule work around business hours. High-rise restoration performed by IRATA- and SPRAT-trained rope access technicians – no scaffold rental required for most facade work.
What Our Customers Say
OUR GLASS RESTORATION PROCESS
REQUEST ESTIMATE
Fill out the form, call, or email photos of the damage with your building's address. We respond within one business day with a preliminary viability determination - restoration possible, or replacement recommended.
ON-SITE DIAGNOSTIC
Free on-site visit to assess damage depth, glass type, and access requirements. This step is required before any quote - restoration feasibility depends on glass composition, coating type, and damage severity, none of which can be confirmed from photos alone.
RECEIVE QUOTE
Detailed pricing within 24 to 72 hours. Includes labor, equipment, and any access costs. For projects where restoration is borderline, we provide both restoration and replacement cost comparisons so you can make an informed decision.
APPROVE & DEPOSIT
Confirm the quote and pay a 50% deposit to secure scheduling. For commercial projects with COI requirements, insurance documentation is prepared at this stage - typically 1 to 2 business days.
SCHEDULE RESTORATION
Approve the quote and confirm scheduling. Interior work typically requires no advance preparation. Exterior high-rise work is scheduled around wind conditions - we do not work above 30 mph.
RESTORATION & HANDOFF
Our technician completes surface leveling, edge blending, and polish passes on-site. Final inspection with you present - we review the restored area in direct light before closing out. If the result doesn't meet the standard we committed to, we address it before leaving.
Our Glass Restoration Cases
Office Building Glass Restoration: When to Fix, When to Stop, and Why Disc Size Matters
Construction Scratches on Panoramic Glazing: Restoring a Development’s Windows Before Handover
Preparing a SoHo Jewelry Store for Opening: What Was Under the Construction Paper
Acid Graffiti on a Delancey Street Storefront – and Why the First Repair Made It Worse
Restoring 300 Window Panels After Construction Sparks Damage: 101 Park Avenue
How We Saved Glass That a DIY Repair Made Worse: Acid Graffiti Restoration in New York City
HOW WE ASSESS AND RESTORE YOUR GLASS
Glass restoration is not a cleaning service. Before starting any job, we run a structured diagnostic – because the wrong technique on the wrong glass type causes permanent damage that cannot be undone.
DAMAGE DEPTH ASSESSMENT – We use a light source at an oblique angle to map scratch depth and distribution across the affected area. Surface scratches confined to the glass body are restorable. Damage that has penetrated a Low-E or spectrally selective coating is not – polishing removes the coating along with the damage. We make this determination before quoting, not after starting.
GLASS TYPE VERIFICATION – Annealed, tempered, laminated, and IGU glass each respond differently to abrasive restoration. Tempered glass in particular requires careful assessment: the surface compression layer is shallow, and excessive material removal affects structural performance. We confirm glass type on-site, not from building specs alone.
SCRATCH TEST BEFORE FULL COMMITMENT – On every new surface, our technician starts on a small test area at minimal pressure and examines the result before proceeding. If micro-scratching appears, we stop and shift the method immediately – typically to Rapid Remover plus steel wool for chemical adhesive dissolution without metal-on-glass contact. This 10-minute check prevents irreversible damage.
RESTORATION SYSTEM – We use the Glass Renu professional system for primary restoration work, Winsol CC550 for acid-based oxidation and calcium deposit removal, and Bio Cleaner as an eco-friendly alternative for oxidation on sensitive surfaces. Each system has a specific application range – we select based on damage type and glass composition, not preference.
SURFACE COMPLETION & PROTECTION – After polishing to optical clarity, we perform edge blending to eliminate visible boundaries between the restored zone and surrounding glass. For properties with repeat graffiti exposure, we apply GraffitiGard anti-graffiti film immediately after restoration as a sacrificial layer over the repaired surface.
RELATED BUILDING SERVICES
Solar control, privacy, safety, and anti-graffiti protection. Authorized Solar Gard and Armorcoat installer. GraffitiGard sacrificial film applied after glass restoration for ongoing protection.
Interior and exterior cleaning for every building type – from 40-story high-rises to Brooklyn brownstones. SPRAT- and IRATA-trained rope access.
Brick, concrete, stone, and metal panel facades. Soft-wash for historic materials, high-pressure for heavy soiling. DOT permits included for street work.
Before you replace etched or scratched glass, find out whether it can be restored. Total Window Service brings the Glass Renu process directly to your property anywhere in New York City and saves the original glass wherever the damage allows. Send us photos and get a free viability assessment.
FAQ
How do I know if my glass can be restored or needs to be replaced?
The key variable is damage depth relative to glass type. Standard annealed or tempered glass with surface etching or scratches is typically restorable. If the glass has a Low-E or spectrally selective coating and the damage has reached it, restoration isn’t possible – the polishing process removes the coating along with the damaged layer. Glass with existing thermal stress cracks or prior DIY repair attempts always requires on-site assessment. We provide this assessment free of charge before any work is quoted.
What's the difference between scratch removal and graffiti removal?
Both involve controlled surface material removal and polishing – but graffiti etching from acid typically penetrates deeper and over a wider area than mechanical scratch damage. Acid etching also affects the silica structure of the glass differently than blade or abrasion scratches, which changes the abrasive sequence and tool geometry we use. In practice, acid graffiti jobs take longer and carry higher technical risk, particularly if a prior repair attempt has been made.
Can scratched glass be restored without replacing it?
Yes, in most cases – provided the scratch depth is within restorable range for that glass type and no prior repair attempts have been made that compound the damage. We run a test patch before committing to the full job; if the result isn’t satisfactory, we stop and discuss options rather than proceeding.
Do you work on high-rise glass?
Yes. Our rope-access technicians hold IRATA and SPRAT certifications for work at height. Glass restoration on upper-floor panels is performed from rope-access systems – no scaffold rental required for most façade work, which reduces cost and scheduling complexity for property managers.
What happens if the graffiti comes back after restoration?
Glass alone provides no protection against repeat etching. For storefronts and ground-floor commercial glazing with repeat vandalism history, we apply GraffitiGard anti-graffiti sacrificial film immediately after restoration. When the film is etched, it is removed and replaced – the underlying glass is untouched. Film replacement cost is a fraction of glass restoration cost.