How to Replace window pane Window Panes

A cracked window replacement pane is a nuisance. This can be an opportunity to upgrade your windows to energy efficient or insulated ones to enjoy advantages like improved comfort, higher resale value and reduced utility costs.

It's a task you can take on yourself for only a fraction of the cost of hiring an expert. It requires the right tools and an hour or two of your time.

Glass

Replace your old single-paned windows using tempered or insulated glass to increase energy efficiency, reduce noise, and preserve the historic integrity of your old home. The process of replacing the window pane is easy and can be accomplished by anyone with basic hand tools. In addition to a new pane, the following items are required such as latex glazing putty; pliers, glazier's points and a heat gun for warming the old putty if required. Before beginning, wear gloves and safety glasses as working with broken glass may cause injuries.

Begin by removing any remaining broken pieces of glass. This is best done using pliers, however, a flathead screwdriver may be used in the pinch. Use a wood chisel, or putty knives to remove any remaining old putty around the frame and window sash. Be careful not to break the window sash. Take your time and work slowly. It is recommended to do this on a stable ladder rather than on the ground, and to have someone stand below the sash to help hold it steady.

Make sure that the window frame is ready to receive the new pane when you have removed the old putty. To allow for seasonal expansion or contraction and contraction, subtract 1/8 inch from the measurements of width and height. These measurements can be taken to a hardware or home center store to have cut a piece of stock glass to the right size. Alternatively, you can cut the glass yourself, if you have the appropriate tools.

After installing the new glass, apply caulking to the edge. This will make the glass weatherproof. Then install a glazier's point on each side of the frame to secure the pane into place. The points shouldn't be so tight that they cause friction between the frame and sash, but they should also not be loose.

Before applying the putty on the surface, knead thoroughly until it is soft and free from lumps. Then make it into pencil-sized strips. Place the first strip in the corner of the frame, moving from one corner to another so that it is smooth and even.

Glazier's Points

The glazier's points are small triangular pieces of steel that help secure the glass into the window frame without causing any damage to the fragile surface. Learning how to use these little helpers is easy and can save you money on a professional installation or the cost of purchasing new glass.

After the old putty as well as the glazier's points have been removed, thoroughly clean the frame with a knife to get rid of any remaining residue. If needed, lightly sand the wood along the grooves of the rabbets to smooth out rough areas. If you sand wood protect it with painter's tape to prevent accidental damage.

Take the dimensions of the frame and note down precise measurements. These measurements can be brought to the hardware or home center store and the new pane will be cut a bit smaller. This will ensure a secure fit, and allow for expansion and contraction.

Place the new window in the frame and press it into place firmly by using your hands. Make use of the point of the chisel, or the edge of the putty blade to tap the glaziers' points as shown in Figure 11. The glazier's points should be in line with the top edge of your pane and the raised shoulders should be just below the lip.

Apply a thin layer glazing compound to the rabbet grooves and the edges of the glass. This will seal and protect the edges. Allow it to dry and cure completely.

Install the new window sash when the glazing compound has dried. First, you need to coat the wood with an even layer of linseed. This will keep the new putty from sucking up moisture and deteriorating and cracking with time. Use a brush to apply this coat, or even the tip of the blade. Then use the chisel on the back of the tool or the back of the handle to gently hammer the new sash or glazier's tip into the grooves of the rabbet. Repeat this process in intervals of 10 inches all around the frame.

Putty

A baseball thrown at you or a rock that is errant or a falling branch can cause a window to break or crack. The majority of windows can be replaced easily by simply putting in a fresh piece. The glass is held in place by a small metal clip, called a glazier's point and putty. This compound is also called glazing compound. Before installing a replacement glass for windows pane, first take out the old one and clean the area with the help of a rag, the pull-type paint scraper or the wood chisel. Wear protective glasses and gloves while working. If the window is glued to the frame, you'll have to employ a heat gun in order to soften the adhesive before taking it off.

If you are planning to reinstall the original sash, take off the mold that holds the old pane. Sand the sash until it is flat and ready for new caulk. Once the sash is installed then, apply a new silicone caulk to the glass to ensure that it doesn't swell or fade over time.

Remove the glazing points from the rabbets, the grooves in the sash where the glass sits. If they're difficult to work out, you can try holding an instrument like a heat gun to soften them first. When using a heated tool, be sure to not damage the sash or its railings.

After the old glaze points and putty have been removed, make a bed for the new pane. Roll a rope made of glazing compound between your fingers and make it around 1/2 inch thick. Place it into the rabbets where the glass will be placed. It is crucial that the glass sits on the putty in all places on both sides If you have to do so, gently tap the glass into the rabbet using your thumb.

If the new pane has damaged, you can use the silicone caulk or glass glue made from solvents to seal the crack before pressing it in the sash. In other cases, you'll need to putty over the crack to form a tight seal and keep water out. After the putty is dry, clean the oily film off the glass with a rag and allow it to dry completely prior to painting. If you paint before the putty has completely dry, it won't form an effective seal and could be leaking or discoloring over time.

Paint

You may be concerned about replacing a damaged piece of glass. But the truth is that replacing one glass pane does not require a huge amount of money If you can do it yourself. In fact even windows with double panes can be replaced for only a fraction of the cost of a professional.

First, if you are working on a large-sized window, ensure that it is securely fixed to the frame. This can be made relatively simple and fast with the right tools and techniques.

Once you're ready to begin with the removal of the old window pane by prying out the glazing points made of metal that are attached to it. These are tiny metal triangles that act as "nails", holding the window within the frame. They are submerged under a bead of glazing putty, which transforms into a solid formed wedge that holds the window firmly in place and conceals the points.

Once you have the old pane taken away, clean up the surrounding frame and wood. Scrape off any paint that has been used, and sand the rabbet grooves where the glazing points were placed. Sand them down to clean wood surfaces, so that you can paint the frames the same color. After sanding, apply a layer of flax oil on the wood that is not sanded down to help extend its lifespan.

Then, Replace Window Pane take measurements of the dimensions of the window opening. It is necessary to take vertical and horizontal measurements of the entire opening and also the thickness of the old pane. Subtract 1/8 inch from each measurement to ensure that you get the exact measurement for the new pane. This will also allow for expansion and contraction of the glass during seasonal change. Take these measurements to the hardware or home improvement store, and they will have cut the glass for you.

Now, it's time to bed the new window pane. To do this, place the pane inside the frame and move it around until a 1/16 inch of putty remains between the edge of the glass and the sash on all four sides. Use a putty knife to smear the putty evenly, making sure that there isn't an excessive amount of excess putty in the corners and along the edges. When the putty dries, it can be painted with the same color as the frame to prevent water and air from leaking into the frame and causing fogging.