How to Replace Window Panes

A cracked window pane can be a nuisance. It could also be an opportunity to upgrade your glass to energy-efficient or insulated windows to reap benefits like improved comfort, increased potential for resales, and less costs.

It's a task you can do yourself for a fraction of the cost of hiring a professional. It requires the right equipment and an hour or two of your time.

Glass

Replace your single-paned windows using tempered or insulated glass to increase energy efficiency, reduce noise, and maintain the original character of your older home. Most homeowners with basic hand tools can replace a window pane. Alongside a replacement pane, the following tools are required such as latex glazing putty; pliers, glazier's points and the use of a heat gun to warm the old putty if required. Before beginning, wear protective gloves and goggles since working with broken glass may cause injuries.

Begin by removing any remaining broken pieces of glass. It is best to use pliers however a flathead could work as well. Then, use a wood chisel or putty knife to remove the rest of the old putty around the frame and the sash. Work slowly and carefully, taking care not to break the existing window sash. It is recommended to do this using a sturdy ladder instead of the ground and have someone standing below the sash in order to help hold it steady.

Prepare the window frame to accommodate the new pane after you have removed the old glue. To allow for seasonal expansion or contraction, subtract 1/8 inch each 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. You can cut the glass yourself if you possess the right tools.

After putting in the new glass After installing the glass, apply some caulking around the edge. This will make the glass weatherproof. Then, you can install a glazier's pointing on the frame's opposite side to secure the pane in place. The points should not be so tight that they create friction between the frame and sash However, they should not be loose.

Before applying the putty, knead it thoroughly until it's soft and free of lumps. Then, roll it into pencil-size strips. Place the first strip in the corner of the frame, working from one corner to the next to ensure it is even and smooth.

Glazier's Points

The glazier's facets are small triangular pieces of metal that allow glass to be secured into a window frame without scratching or replacement damaging the delicate surface. Understanding how to use these hidden tiny helpers is simple and can save you money on professional installation or the cost of purchasing new glass.

After getting rid of the old putty glazier points and any residue Clean the frame thoroughly using an utility knife. If necessary you can 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 avoid accidental damage.

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

Place the new pane into the frame and press it in place with your hand. Make use of the chisel's point or the edge of the putty blade to smudge the glaziers' points as illustrated in Figure 11. The glazier's points should be flush against the top edge of your pane and the shoulders should be just below the lip.

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

Install the new window sash when the glazing compound has dried. The first step is to coat the wood with a heavy coat of Linseed oil. This will prevent the new putty from taking up moisture and deteriorating and cracking with time. Use a brush to apply this coat, or the point of the blade. Then, use the chisel on the back of the putty tool or the back of the handle to gently smash the new sash or glazier's point into the rabbet grooves. Repeat this procedure every 10 inches around the perimeter of the frame.

Putty

A baseball hit or a rock thrown in error, or a tree falling could result in a broken or cracked window. Luckily, most windows can be repaired by simply putting a new piece of glass in its the proper place. The glass is held in place by tiny metal clips known as the glazier's pointed and putty, also called glazing compound. Before installing a new pane, first take out the old one and clean up the area with a rag and the pull-type paint scraper or an abrasive wood chisel. Wear gloves and safety glasses while working. You'll need a heating gun in the event that the window is glued into the frame.

If you are planning to install the original sash, take off the molding that holds the old pane. Then you can sand the sash down to ensure it's level and ready for a new caulk. Once the sash is installed then, apply a new 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 and the grooves in the sash that the glass is. If they're difficult to work out, you can try holding an instrument like a heat gun over them to soften them up first. When using a heating tool, make sure to not damage the sash or its railings.

After the old glazing points and putty have been removed, prepare a bed for the new pane. Roll a piece of glazing compound between your hands, shaping it to be around 1/2-inch thick. Place it into the rabbets, where the glass will be placed. The glass must rest against the putty on both sides. If necessary gently tap your glass into the rabbet with your thumb.

If the new pane is cracked, you can cover it with a solvent-based glue or silicone caulk prior to pressing it into the sash. If the crack isn't sealed, you will need to use putty to keep water from getting in. After the putty has dried clean the oily film from the glass and let it dry completely before you paint. If you paint before the putty is completely dry, it won't create a solid seal and could discolor or leak in time.

Paint

If you've had a broken window pane, you may be worried about the cost of a new one. The truth is, replacing a single pane glass doesn't need to be expensive if you do it on your own. Even a double glazing replacement window-paned window could be replaced at a fraction of the cost it costs a professional.

If you are working on a large-sized window, make sure it is securely fastened to the frame. Using the proper tools and techniques, you can make this task relatively easy and fast.

When you're ready to start taking off the old window pane by removing the metal glazing points that are connected to it. They are basically tiny metal triangles which function as "nails" that keep the window glass replacement in within the frame of wood. They are buried beneath a glaze putty or bead which hardens into solid wedge which holds the wood frame securely in place and hides the sharp edges.

After removal of the old pane clean the frame and wood. Scrape off any paint that has been used, and sand the rabbet grooves in which the glazing points were. Sand them down to clean wooden surfaces so you can paint the frames the same shade. After sanding, apply a coat of flax oil on the wood's surface to extend the life of the frame.

The next step is to measure the dimensions of the window's opening. It is necessary to measure the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the entire opening, as well as the thickness. 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 seasons of change. You can take these measurements to a hardware store 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.