This is the question we hear most: "Only the outer pane broke — the inside pane is fine. Can't you just replace the one pane?" The honest answer is no, and here's why.
A double-pane window isn't two loose sheets of glass. It's a single insulated glass unit (IGU) — two panes bonded to a spacer around the perimeter, with a sealed air or argon gap between them. That sealed gap is what does the insulating. Because the unit is sealed as one factory-made piece, there's no way to swap out just the broken pane without breaking the seal — and the moment the seal is broken, the insulating gap is gone and the window fogs.
So the fix is to replace the entire insulated glass unit as one piece. The good news: your window frame and sash stay right where they are. We remove the old sealed unit, drop in a new matched dual-pane unit, and you keep the existing window — faster and far cheaper than replacing the whole window.
If you see haze, condensation, or a cloudy film between the panes that won't wipe off from either side, the seal has failed and moisture is trapped in the gap. It isn't dirt and it can't be cleaned — the insulating gas has escaped and the window has lost much of its efficiency, which shows up as a warmer room and a higher cooling bill.
The fix is the same as a broken pane: we replace the insulated glass unit. We match the new unit to your existing glass so it looks and performs like the original, and your frame stays in place.
One honest note on timing: a made-to-size insulated glass unit takes a few days to fabricate — it isn't a same-day part. But because your frame stays in place, the install itself is quick once the unit is ready. Most quotes are free from photos; some on-site measurements carry a small trip fee, and we tell you before we come out.
Because your frame stays and only the sealed unit is replaced, insulated glass repair costs a fraction of a full window replacement. Standard residential double-pane units run roughly $250 to $650 installed, depending on size and glass options. Low-E coatings, tempered glass, oversized panels, and specialty shapes run higher. We confirm the exact price after seeing your photos or measuring the opening.
Most glass companies cover their work with a vague "comprehensive warranty" explained only at the estimate — no clear duration, no split between labor and materials. Sonshine states the terms up front: a lifetime warranty on both labor and materials, which does not cover glass that breaks after installation. That holds because our own crew measures, fits, and installs every unit, so the same people who did the work stand behind it.
No. A double-pane window is a single factory-sealed insulated glass unit, so the broken pane can't be swapped on its own without breaking the seal that makes the window insulate. We replace the whole sealed unit and keep your existing frame — faster and cheaper than a full window replacement.
That haze is a failed seal with moisture trapped between the panes — it isn't dirt and can't be cleaned from either side. We replace the insulated glass unit to restore clarity and the window's energy efficiency, keeping your existing frame.
Usually just the insulated glass unit. Your frame, sash, and hardware stay in place unless they're damaged, which avoids tear-out and any stucco or drywall repair.
Yes. We match the thickness, Low-E coating, tint, and gas fill so the new unit looks and performs like the rest of your windows.
Standard residential double-pane units run roughly $250 to $650 installed, depending on size. Low-E, tempered, oversized, or specialty glass runs higher. We confirm the exact price after seeing your photos or the opening.
The matched insulated unit is made to size, so it takes a few days to fabricate — it isn't a same-day part. The install itself is quick because your frame stays in place. We work business hours only.
Text or call with photos of the window during business hours. We'll confirm whether it's a broken pane or a failed seal, quote the matched insulated glass unit, and our own crew installs it into your existing frame. Serving Costa Mesa, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin, and communities across Orange County since 1977.