Where can I get plexiglass sheets cut in Hamilton?

We connect you with a local pro who cuts acrylic and polycarbonate to size, from one frame insert to a stack of counter guards. Send the dimensions, thickness and what it's for through the plexiglass quote form. If glass or the other plastic would suit better, they'll say so before cutting.

What is plexiglass made of?

Plexiglass is the common name for acrylic, a clear plastic sheet made from a material called PMMA. It's lighter than glass and far harder to break, but it scratches more easily. Polycarbonate looks similar and is tougher still. Neither is PVC, the plastic in vinyl window frames, though the names get mixed up.

Which takes a harder hit, acrylic or polycarbonate?

Polycarbonate, by a wide margin. It flexes and dents where acrylic would crack, which is why it's used for guards and panels that could be struck. Acrylic is stiffer, clearer and usually cheaper. For a frame or display, acrylic is fine; for a shed window facing a laneway, choose polycarbonate.

Can I put plexiglass in a window instead of glass?

In some windows, yes: sheds, garages, basement inserts and interior storms. It won't insulate like a sealed unit, it scratches more easily, and outdoors it needs UV protection. It isn't a swap for safety glass in a door or for a sealed double-pane window. For a broken house window, see broken window glass.

Is plexiglass a sensible stopgap after a break-in?

It can be. Once the broken glass is safely cleared and you've taken photos for insurance, a polycarbonate panel over the opening keeps weather out and lets light in, which plywood doesn't. It's temporary; proper glass comes after. For a shop, our storefront glass page sets out the usual order.

Plexiglass · Hamilton

Plexiglass and polycarbonate sheet, cut to your measurements

Plastic sheet is lighter than glass, hard to break and easy to work: right for some jobs around a house, shop or yard, and wrong for others. We connect you with an independent local professional who cuts acrylic and polycarbonate to size, and who'll tell you if the job really needs glass.

Acrylic or polycarbonate, matched to the job
Cut, drilled and edged to size
Honest about where glass is required

Get a free quote 905-540-1432

Leave the film on until the sheet's in place; it saves the faces from scratches.

The three options

Acrylic, polycarbonate or glass: which one fits?

Plexiglass is the everyday name for acrylic. Polycarbonate looks similar but is a different plastic, and the two behave very differently when something hits them.

Acrylic (plexiglass)

Clear, stiff and much harder to break than glass, but it scratches and can crack if drilled carelessly. Good for frames, displays and light shelves; glass shelves sag less under weight.

Polycarbonate

Flexes instead of cracking, even under a solid hit. The surface is softer and it usually costs more. Good for guards, sheds and greenhouses.

Glass

Resists scratches and won't haze in the sun, but it's heavier, and some places require safety glass. See glass cut to size.

Common uses

Where plastic sheet earns its place

Storm and basement panels

Interior storms, basement inserts and shed panes, light enough to lift out. Our storm windows page covers the glass options.

Counter guards

Acrylic usually; polycarbonate where they'll get bumped.

Signs and displays

Acrylic takes paint and vinyl lettering well, and its edges polish clear.

Greenhouses and sheds

Polycarbonate, often twin-wall. Up on the Mountain, where wind and snow hit harder than in the Lower City, a panel that flexes beats one that shatters.

The cutting

How it's cut, drilled and finished

Plastic cuts easily, but not every sheet cuts the same way.

Cut
Thin acrylic is scored and snapped; thicker sheet and polycarbonate are sawn, with the film left on.
Drill
Acrylic cracks at the hole without the right bit and speed. Polycarbonate is more forgiving.
Finish the edges
Acrylic edges polish clear; polycarbonate is left smooth rather than glossy.

Choosing a sheet

How thick, and will it haze in the sun?

Thickness

Thicker sheet spans further without bowing. The pro sizes it to the span and how it's fixed.

Sun

Standard polycarbonate can yellow outdoors unless it's UV-protected. Acrylic copes with sun well.

Scratches

Both scratch more than glass. Clean with a soft cloth and mild soap, never an ammonia cleaner.

Know the limits

Where the code still calls for safety glass

In a house, the Ontario Building Code calls for tempered or laminated safety glass in doors, sliding and storm doors, sidelights that could pass for a door, shower enclosures and glass guards. Plastic isn't a drop-in swap in those spots, and the pro will say what the current code allows. If you just want glass that's harder to break, security film on the existing pane is another route.

What affects the quote

What goes into a plexiglass quote

Cut plastic is priced by the sheet and the work:

Acrylic or polycarbonate
Thickness and overall size
UV-protected, scratch-resistant or frosted sheet
Number of pieces, shapes and holes
Edge finish
Pickup, or fitting into a frame

Send the dimensions, the thickness if you know it, and what it's for.

Get a plexiglass quote

Free quotes from independent local pros.

Heritage houses

Plastic storm panels on a heritage house

On a designated property or in a heritage conservation district, the City's Heritage Permit list covers installing storm windows and names temporary and removable ones. A plastic storm panel is still a storm, so check before ordering; repairing broken glass usually needs no permit. Our heritage district guide explains how to tell if your house is covered.

Questions

Plexiglass and polycarbonate questions

Explore your options

Local pros cut acrylic and polycarbonate for homes and shops, including Downtown Hamilton, Crown Point & Ottawa Street, Hamilton Mountain and Stoney Creek.

Send the size, thickness and what it's for

We'll pass it to a local pro who cuts acrylic and polycarbonate, and they'll say so if the spot needs safety glass instead.