How to Replace Window Panes

A damaged or cracked window seal replacement windows (http://spacebohemian.com/front/bbs/board.php?bo_Table=free&wr_id=2725947) is an issue. It could also be a chance to upgrade your glass to energy efficient or insulated windows to reap benefits like improved comfort, increased potential for resales, and less costs.

You can do it yourself at less than what it would cost to hire an expert. You'll need only the proper tools and a few hours of your time.

Glass

Replace your old single-paned windows using tempered or insulated glass to increase energy efficiency, reduce noise, and protect the historic integrity of your home's older. The process of replacing a window pane is relatively easy and can be completed by anyone with basic hand tools. In addition to a new pane, the following components are required: latex glazing putty; Glazier's points; pliers and Window Seal Replacement an electric heater to warm the old putty, if needed. Wear safety glasses and gloves before you begin. Working with broken glass could result in serious injuries.

Take away any broken glass pieces remaining. This is best accomplished with pliers, but flathead screwdrivers can be effective in a pinch. Utilize a wood chisel or putty knives, to take away any old putty remaining around the frame and the window sash. Be careful and slow and be careful not to break the current window sash. This should be done on a ladder, not on the ground. Also, ensure that someone below the sash hold it steady.

After you've removed all the old putty, it is time to prepare the window frame to accommodate the new pane. To allow for seasonal expansion or contraction and contraction, subtract 1/8 inch from the measurements of width and height. Take these measurements to the nearest hardware store or home center and have a piece of stock glass cut to size. Alternately, you can cut the glass yourself, if you have the tools you need.

After installing the glass, apply caulking on the edges. This will make the glass weatherproof. Install a glazier’s point on both sides of the frame. This will secure the pane. The points should not be so tight as to cause friction between the frame and sash however they shouldn't be too loose.

Before applying the putty, work it in a gentle manner until it is smooth and free of lumps. Then make it into pencil-sized strips. Apply the first strip to the frame's corner. Work from one corner to another, making sure it is even and smooth.

Glazier's Points

The glazier’s points are small triangular metal pieces which help to secure the glass into the window frame without causing any damage to the fragile surface. Knowing how to use these hidden tiny helpers is simple and can save you money on a 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 using a utility knife to get rid of any remaining traces. If needed it is necessary to lightly sand the wood along the grooves of the rabbet to smooth out rough areas. If you decide to sand the wood, be sure to protect it by using painter's tape to prevent accidental damage.

Note down the dimensions of the frame. These dimensions can be taken 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 pane in the frame and push it in using your hands. Then use the point of your chisel, or the back end of the putty knife to pierce the glazier's facets, as shown in Figure 11. When you're done taping, they should be in line with the top edge of the pane and the raised shoulders of the points should be below the rabbet's lip. groove.

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

Once the glazing compound has dried, you're ready to install the new window sash. The first step is to coat the wood with a heavy coat of linseed oil. This will stop the new putty from sucking in the moisture and deteriorating and cracking with time. Apply the coating using a brush this coat, or the tip of the putty blade. Then use the chisel that is on the back of the tool or the back of the putty handle to gently hit the new sash, or glazier's point into the grooves of the rabbet. Repeat this procedure every 10 inches along the frame's perimeter.

Putty

A baseball thrown at you, an errant rock or a fallen branch can cause a window pane to crack or break. Most windows can be replaced easily by putting in a new piece. The glass is held in place with small clips made of metal called a glazier's point and putty, often called glazing compound. Before installing a new pane, first take out the old one and clean up the area with an abrasive and the pull-type paint scraper or a wood chisel. Wear safety glasses and gloves while doing this work. You'll require a heat gun when the window is fixed to the frame.

If you are planning to reinstall your original sash, remove the molding that holds the old pane. Sand the sash until it is flat and ready to receive new caulk. After the sash has been re-installed and sanded, apply a fresh silicone caulk to the glass to ensure that it will not leak or change color as time passes.

Remove the glazing points from the rabbets, or the grooves in the sash, where the glass sits. If they're hard to chisel out, try placing the hand tool, such as a heat gun over them to soften them up first. When using a heated tool, Window Seal Replacement be sure to not scratch the sash's railings and sash.

After the old points of glazing and putty are removed, make a bed for the new pane. Roll a rope made of glazing compound between your fingers and make it about 1/2 inch thick. Then, push it into the rabbets, where the glass will sit. It is essential that the glass sits on the putty on both sides So if you have to tap it, gently press the glass into the rabbet using your thumb.

If the new pane has a crack then you can seal it with a solvent-based glue or silicone caulk before pressing it into the sash. If not, you'll have to putty over the crack to create a tight seal and keep water out. After the putty has dried remove the oily film off the glass and let it dry completely before you paint. Paint before the putty has dried completely. It won't create a solid seal and may be leaking or discoloring over time.

Paint

If you've had a broken window glass replacement pane, you might be worried about the expense of replacing it. But the truth is that replacing a single glass pane doesn't have to break the bank if you do it yourself. In fact even windows with double panes can be replaced for a fraction of the cost of an expert.

First, if you are working on a large-sized window, make sure it is securely attached to the frame. This job can be done relatively easy and fast using the proper tools and techniques.

Once you're ready to begin with the removal of the old window pane by prying out the metal glazing points that are attached to it. These are tiny metal triangles that act as "nails" that hold the window in the frame. They are submerged beneath a bead or glazing putty which hardens into solid wedge which holds the wood frame in place and hides the points.

After removing the old pane, clean the frame and the wood. Scrape off any old paint and sand down the rabbet grooves that the glazing points were. These should be sanded down to bare wood, so that you can paint them the same color as the rest of the frame. After sanding the wood, apply a layer of flax oil. This will help to extend its life.

Next, measure the width of the window's opening. You'll need to take horizontal and vertical measurements of the entire opening, as well as the thickness of the old pane. To determine the exact size of the new pane subtract 1/8 inch from both measurements. This will allow for seasonal changes in the glass. Take these dimensions to the hardware or home improvement store and ask them to cut you 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.