How to Replace Window Panes

A damaged window pane can be an issue. It could also be a chance to upgrade your glass to energy efficient or insulated windows and enjoy benefits such as improved comfort, increased resale value and reduced utility costs.

You can do it yourself at less than what it would cost to hire an expert. It requires the right tools and only an hour or two of your time.

Glass

replace window pane (view Parkel Co) your single-paned windows using tempered or insulated glass to increase energy efficiency, cut down on noise, and maintain the historic integrity of your home's older. A majority of homeowners with hand tools can replace a window pane. In addition to a new pane, the following tools are required: latex glazing putty; glazier's points; pliers; and a heat gun for warming the old putty, if needed. Wear safety goggles and gloves prior to starting. Working with broken glass could result in serious injuries.

Remove any broken glass pieces remaining. It is recommended to use pliers however, a flathead may be useful equally. After that, use a wood chisel or putty knife to remove the remaining old putty around the frame and the sash. Be careful and slow making sure not to break the current window sash. This is best done on a ladder, not the ground. Also, you should have someone lower to ensure it is held steady.

Make sure the window frame is ready to accommodate the new pane when you have removed the old glue. To allow for seasonal expansion or contraction by subtracting 1/8 inch from the measurements of width and height. These measurements can be taken to a home center or hardware store to get an item cut from glass that is in stock to the correct size. Alternately, you can cut the glass yourself if have the appropriate tools.

After putting the new pane in place, run a small bead of caulking along the edge to ensure it is weatherproof. Install a glazier's pointing on both sides of the frame. This will help secure the pane. The points shouldn't be too tight that they create friction between the frame and the sash, but they should also not be loose.

Before putting the putty on, make sure to knead it until it is smooth and free of lumps. Then make it into pencil-sized strips. Apply the first strip to the corner of the frame. Work from corner to corner and ensure that it is even and smooth.

Glazier's Points

The glazier's points are small triangular pieces of metal that allow glass to be secured into the window frame without causing any damage to the fragile surface. It's simple to learn how to use this hidden tool and you can save money on the expense of an installation by a professional.

After removing the old putty, glazier points, and any other residue clean the frame thoroughly using an utility knife. Lightly sand the wood in the rabbet grooves if needed to smooth out rough areas. If you sand wood protect it with painter's tape to prevent accidental damage.

Write down the exact dimensions of the frame. Take these dimensions to a hardware store or home center and have the new pane made slightly smaller than the frame's opening. This will ensure a tight fit, and allow for expansion and contraction.

Place the new pane into the frame and push it into place firmly by using your hands. Use the chisel's point, or the edge of the putty blade to tap the glaziers' points as illustrated in Figure 11. After you're done, the points should be level with the top edge of the pane and the shoulders of the points should be below the rabbet's rim groove.

Apply a thin layer of glazing compound over the edges of the new glass and in the rabbet grooves, to seal and protect them. Let it dry and cure completely.

Once the glazing compound has dried and the glazing compound is dry, you can install the new window sash. First, you need to coat the wood with a thick layer of linseed. This will stop the new putty from taking in the moisture and deteriorating and cracking over time. Apply this coat using a brush or the tip of your putty knife, and then employ the chisel or back end of the knife to gently hammer the new sash and glazier's point into the grooves of the rabbet. Repeat this procedure every 10 inches around the perimeter of the frame.

Putty

A baseball hit or a rock thrown in error or a branch falling can result in a cracked or cracked window. Most windows can be repaired easily by installing a new piece. The glass is held in position by a small metal clip, also known as the glazier's point, and putty. This compound is also referred to as glazing compound. Remove the old pane and clean the area with an abrasive, scraper that is a pull type or a wood chisel. Wear gloves and Replace Window pane safety glasses while you do this work. If the window glass replacement is attached to the frame, you'll need make use of a heat gun to soften the adhesive prior to cutting it loose.

If you plan to reinstall the original sash, remove the molding pieces that hold the old pane in place. Then, sand the sash to make sure it's flat and ready to be re-caulked. After the sash has been re-installed and sanded, apply a fresh caulk made of silicone around the glass to ensure it doesn't swell or fade in time.

Remove the glazing points from the rabbets and the grooves in the sash where the glass is. If they are hard to chisel, use an instrument such as a heatgun over them for a few minutes to soften them. When using a heating tool, make sure to not scratch the sash and its railings.

Prepare the bed for your new pane after removing the old glaze points and putty. Roll a rope made of glazing compound between your fingers and make it about 1/2 inch thick. Press it into the rabbets, where the glass will be put. The glass must be positioned against the putty on both sides. If necessary you want to tap your glass lightly into the rabbet with your thumb.

If the new pane has a crack you can fill it with a solvent-based glue or silicone caulk before pressing it into the sash. In other cases, you'll need to putty over the crack to create a tight seal and keep water out. After the putty has dried, wipe the oily film off the glass and allow it to dry completely before you paint. If you paint before the putty is completely dry, it won't create a strong seal and may discolor or leak in time.

Paint

If you've experienced a broken window pane, you may be worried about the expense of replacing it. However, replacing one glass pane does not require a huge amount of money when you do it yourself. In fact windows with double panes can be replaced at only a fraction of the cost of a professional.

If you're working with large glass windows first ensure it is securely fixed to the frame. This task can be done relatively easy and fast with the proper tools and techniques.

Once you're ready to begin with the removal of the old window pane by removing the metal glazing points that are attached to it. These are tiny triangles of metal that function as "nails" that hold the window in the frame. They are buried under a bead of glazing putty that is then cured to form a solid, replace window Pane moulded wedge that holds the window firmly in place and hides the edges.

After you have removed 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 in which the glazing points were. These should be sanded down to bare wood to allow you to paint them the same color as the rest of the frame. After the sanding process, apply a coat of flax oil to the wood's surface to help extend its lifespan.

The next step is to determine the size of the window opening. You'll need to determine the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the entire opening, as well as the thickness. To determine the exact dimensions of the new pane, subtract 1/8 inch from both measurements. This will also allow for expansion and contraction of the glass during seasons of change. You can bring these measurements to a hardware or home improvement shop and have the glass cut 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.