While the sound of a shattering window glass can be jarring, the repair is not as difficult as it may seem. If you can remove the window sash, you can take it to a glass repair shop or hardware store and have the pane replaced; if the damage is in a fixed window, you can hire a handyman or make the repair yourself.

A handyman will charge $52 to remove and replace a 24-inch square window pane with double-strength glass. You can make the repair for $18, the cost of the materials, pocket a 66 percent saving, and learn a new life skill you'll probably repeat many times in your years as a homeowner.

Use a steel measuring tape to find the length and width of the opening and have the glass cut 1/8-inch smaller. Pick up glazier points and glazing putty with the new glass. For safety's sake, wear a pair of work gloves and eye protection, and use a screwdriver and pliers to remove the broken glass and old putty. Use a scraper to clean the perimeter of the frame. Then run a bead of putty around the frame, press the new glass in place with glazier points and gently tap it into the sash with a hammer. Finish the job with new glazing putty smoothed around the frame with your finger and a putty knife.