How to
Replace window pane Window Panes
A damaged or cracked window can cause a lot of trouble. It can also be a chance to upgrade your glass to energy efficient or insulated windows, and reap benefits like improved comfort, increased the value of resales and lower utility costs.
This is a project you could do yourself for a fraction of the cost of hiring an expert. You'll need only the proper tools and a few minutes of your time.
Glass
If your single pane windows are old broken, deteriorating or damaged replacing them with more modern glass that is tempered or insulated can increase energy efficiency and reduce noise while preserving the historical integrity of older homes. The procedure of replacing the window pane is easy and can be completed by most homeowners who possess basic hand tools. You'll also require an additional window pane, glazier's tips, pliers, and latex glaze putty. If you need to, you can use a heatgun to warm the old putty. Wear safety goggles and
Replace Window Pane gloves prior to starting. Working with broken glass could result in serious injuries.
Begin by removing any broken pieces of glass. It is best to use pliers for this however a flathead could be useful equally. Then, use a wood chisel, or putty knife, to remove the rest of the old putty from the frame and the sash. Be careful and slow, taking care not to break the existing window sash. This is best done on an elevated ladder, not on the ground. Also, have someone below the sash hold it steady.
Once you've removed all the old putty, it is time to prepare the window frame to fit the new pane. To allow for seasonal expansion or contraction by subtracting 1/8 inch from the measurements of the width and height. These measurements can be sent to an hardware or home centers store to get an item cut from glass stock to the proper size. Alternatively, you can cut the
glass window replacement yourself if have the appropriate tools.
After putting in the new glass, apply caulking on the edges. This will make the glass weatherproof. Install a glazier's pointing on both sides of the frame. This will help secure the pane. The points should not be so tight as to cause friction between the frame and sash, but they also should not be too loose.
Before applying the putty, make sure to knead it until it's soft and free of lumps. Roll it into pencil-sized strips. The first strip should be glued to the corner of the frame. Work from one corner to another to ensure it's even and smooth.
Glazier's Points
The glazier's points are tiny triangular pieces of steel which help to secure glass into the frame of a window without damaging or scratching the delicate surface. Learning how to use these hidden little helpers is easy and can save you money on professional installation or the cost of purchasing new glass.
After the old putty and the glazier's points have been removed and the frame is thoroughly cleaned with a knife to remove any remaining residue. Lightly sand the frame in the rabbet grooves to smooth rough areas. If you sand wood cover it with painter's tape to prevent accidental damage.
Note down the exact dimensions of the frame. These dimensions can be taken to a home center or hardware store and the new pane will be cut a bit smaller. This will ensure that the pane fits snugly and allows for expansion and contraction.
Place the new pane into the frame and push it in place with your hand. Then, you can use the point of your chisel, or the back end of the putty knife to make a tap on the glazier's points, as illustrated in Figure 11. When you're done, they should be flush with the top edge of the pane and the shoulders that are raised of the points should be below the rabbet's lip. groove.
Apply a thin layer of glazing compound on the rabbet grooves as well as the edges of new glass. This will protect and seal the edges. Let it dry and cure completely.
Install the new window sash after the glazing compound has dried. The first step is to coat the wood with an even layer of linseed. This will prevent the new putty from soaking in the moisture and drying out and cracking with time. Apply the coating using a brush this coat, or even the tip of the blade. Then use the chisel that is on the back of the tool or the back of the handle to gently hammer the new sash or glazier's point into rabbet grooves. Repeat this process in intervals of 10 inches all around the frame.
Putty
A baseball hit or a rock thrown in error, or a tree falling can result in a cracked or cracked window. Luckily, most windows can be repaired by simply putting a brand new piece in the proper place. The glass is held into place by a small metal clip, referred to as a glazier's point and putty. This compound is also referred to as glazing compound. Remove the old pane and clean the area using the rag, a scraper that is a pull type or a wood chisel. Wear safety glasses and gloves while doing this work. If the window is secured to the frame, you'll have to use a heat gun to soften the adhesive prior to prying it free.
If you're planning to replace the original sash, take off the mold that holds the old pane. Sand the sash until it is flat and ready to receive new caulk. Once the sash is installed and sanded, apply a fresh silicone caulk around the glass to ensure that it will not leak or change color as time passes.
Remove the glazing points from the rabbets. These are the grooves in the sash, where the glass is. If they're difficult to cut out, try placing the hand tool, such as a heat gun to soften them first. When using a heating tool, be sure to not damage the sash or its railings.
Once the old points of glazing and putty have been removed make a bed for the new pane. Roll a rope of glazing compound between your hands, shaping it to be around 1/2-inch thick. Then, press it into the rabbets in which the glass will be. The glass must rest against the putty on both sides. If needed you want to tap your glass lightly into the rabbet with your thumb.
If the new pane is cracked, you can cover it with a solvent-based glass glue or silicone caulk before pressing it into the sash. In other cases, you'll need to putty over the crack to create an airtight seal and keep water out. After the putty is dry then clean the oily film off the glass with a rag and allow it to dry completely prior to painting. Paint before the putty is completely dry. It won't form a good seal and may leak or discolor with time.
Paint
You may be concerned about replacing a broken piece of glass. It's true that replacing a single pane of glass doesn't need to be costly even if you do it your own. In fact, even a double-pane
window sash replacement can be replaced at less than the cost of a professional.
If you're working with a large glass window first ensure it is securely fixed to the frame. This job can be done relatively easy and fast using the proper tools and techniques.
Once you're ready to begin, begin by removing the old window pane by prying out the metal glazing points that are attached to it. These are tiny metal triangles which act as "nails", holding the window within the frame. They are submerged beneath a bead or glazing putty that hardens to an unbreakable wedge that holds the wood frame firmly in position and hides the points.
After taking off the old pane clean the frame and wood. Scrape off any old paint and sand the rabbet grooves where the glazing points were. These should be sanded to the point of being bare, so that you can paint them the same color as the rest of the frame. After sanding, apply a coat of flax oil on the wood that is not sanded down to prolong its life.
The next step is to measure the dimensions of the window opening. You will need to measure the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the entire opening, as well as the thickness.
