How to Replace Window Pane Window Panes

A cracked window pane can cause a lot of trouble. It can also be a chance to upgrade your glass to energy efficient or insulated windows to benefit from more comfort, higher potential for resales, and less bills.

It's a task you can do yourself for a fraction of the cost of hiring an expert. You only need the right tools and a few minutes of your time.

Glass

If your single-pane windows are outdated, deteriorating or broken, replacing them with newer glass that is tempered or insulated will increase energy efficiency and decrease noise while maintaining the historic integrity of older homes. The majority of homeowners with basic hand tools can repair windows with ease. You will also need an extra window pane, glazier's tips pliers, and latex glazing putty. If necessary you may use a heating gun to warm the old putty. Before starting, put on protective gloves and goggles since working with broken glass can cause injuries.

Begin by removing any broken pieces of glass. This is best done using a pair of pliers, but flathead screwdrivers can work in the pinch. Then, use a wooden chisel or putty knife remove the rest of the old putty from around the frame and the sash. Be careful not to scratch the window sash. Work slowly and carefully. This can be done best on a ladder, not the ground. Also, have someone on the ground to hold it steady.

Prepare the window frame to accept the new pane after you have removed the old putty. To allow for seasonal expansion or contraction, subtract 1/8 inch each from the measurements of width and height. These measurements can be sent to a home center or hardware store to have an item cut from stock glass to the right size. You can cut the glass yourself if you have the right tools.

After putting in the new pane after installing the new pane, put a tiny amount of caulking around the edges to ensure it is weatherproof. Then, place a glazier's tip on the frame's opposite side to hold the pane in place. The points should not be too tight that they create friction between the frame and the sash, but they should also not be loose.

Before applying the putty on the surface, you must knead it thoroughly until it becomes soft and free of lumps. Cut it into pencil-sized pieces. Apply the first strip to the frame's corner. Work from corner to corner to ensure it's even and smooth.

Glazier's Points

The glazier’s points are small triangular pieces of steel that allow glass to be secured to the frame without causing damage to the delicate surface. Knowing how to use these little helpers is easy and could save you money on professional installation or the cost of new glass.

After getting rid of the old putty glazier points and any leftovers Clean the frame thoroughly with an utility knife. Lightly sand the wood in the rabbet grooves if needed to smooth rough areas. If you do sand the wood, ensure you protect it with painter's tack to avoid accidental damage.

Measure the empty frame's dimensions and write down accurate measurements. These dimensions can be taken to an hardware or home centers store, and the new pane will be cut a bit smaller. This will ensure that the pane fits perfectly and allows for expansion and contraction.

Place the new pane into the frame and push it in using your hands. Utilize 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 sit in line with the top edge of your pane, and the raised shoulders should be just beneath that lip.

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

Install the new window sash once the glazing compound has dried. First, saturate the wood with a heavy coat of linseed oil. This will prevent the new putty from taking in the moisture and deteriorating and cracking with time. Use a brush to apply this coat, or the tip of the blade. Then use the chisel on the back of the putty tool or the back of the putty handle to gently hit the new sash, or glazier's point into grooves of the rabbet. Repeat this procedure every 10 inches along the frame's perimeter.

Putty

A baseball that is thrown or an unintentional rock, or replace window pane falling branch could cause a window pane to crack or break. The majority of windows can be replaced by simply putting in a fresh piece. The glass is held in place with a small metal clip called the glazier's pointed and putty, also called glazing compound. Before you install a new pane, first remove the old one and clean up the area using an abrasive and a pull-type paint scraper or the wood chisel. Wear gloves and safety glasses when working. If the window seal replacement is glued to the frame, you'll need to use a heat gun to soften the adhesive before taking it off.

If you plan to reinstall the original sash in the future, take care to remove any molding pieces that are used to secure the old pane. Sand replace Window Pane the sash until it's flat and ready for new caulk. After the sash has been re-installed and sanded, apply a fresh silicone caulk to the glass to ensure it doesn't swell or fade as time passes.

Take out the glazing points in the rabbets. These are the grooves on the sash, which is where the glass is. If they're difficult to cut out, you can try holding an instrument like a heat gun to soften them first. When using a heat tool, be sure to not scratch the sash and its railings.

Create a bed for your new pane after you have removed the old glaze points and putty. Roll a rope of glazing compound between your hands, and form it to be around 1/2-inch thick. Press it into the rabbets where the glass will be put. It's important that the glass is positioned against the putty in all places on both sides, so if you need to tap it, gently press the glass into the rabbet using your thumb.

If the new pane has a crack you can fill it with a solvent-based glass glue or silicone caulk prior pressing it into the sash. If not, you'll have to putty over the crack to form an airtight seal and keep water out. After the putty has dried, wipe the oily film from the glass and let it dry completely before painting. Paint after the putty is completely dry. It won't create a solid seal and could leak or discolor with time.

Paint

You might be worried about replacing a broken pane of glass. But the truth is that replacing one glass pane does not have to break the bank If you can do it yourself. In fact windows with double panes can be replaced at a fraction of the cost of an expert.

If you're working with a large glass window first, ensure that it is securely fixed to the frame. This job can be done relatively easy and fast using the proper tools and techniques.

When you are ready to start, remove the old window pane. Pry out the metal glazing points attached to it. These are tiny metal triangles that function as "nails", holding the window in place. They are buried under a bead of glazing putty, which hardens into a solid, moulded wedge that secures the window in place and hides the window's points.

Once you have the old pane taken away, clean up the surrounding frame and wood. Scrape away any old paint and sand down the rabbet grooves, where the glazing points were. These should be sanded to bare wood, so that you can paint them the same color as the rest of the frame. After the sanding process, apply a coat of flax oil to the wood that is not sanded down to extend the life of the frame.

The next step is to determine the width of the window opening. It is necessary to measure the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the entire opening as well as the thickness. 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. You can take these measurements to a hardware or home improvement store 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.