How to Replace Window Panes

A cracked window pane is an inconvenience. It could be a chance to upgrade your windows to energy efficient or insulated ones to enjoy advantages like improved comfort, increased resale values and lower utility costs.

This is a project you could do yourself for only a fraction of the cost of hiring an expert. It requires the right tools and only an hour or two of your time.

Glass

If your single pane windows are old, deteriorating or broken replacing them with more modern insulated or tempered glass can improve energy efficiency and reduce noise while also preserving the historic integrity of older homes. A majority of homeowners with hand tools can replace Window Pane windows with ease. In addition to a replacement window seals pane, the following tools are required such as latex glazing putty; Glazier's points; pliers and a heat gun for warming the old putty, if necessary. Wear safety goggles and gloves before you begin. Working with broken glass can cause serious injuries.

Remove any broken glass pieces remaining. This is best accomplished with the help of pliers however, a flathead screwdriver can also be used in the pinch. Utilize a wood chisel or putty knives, to take away any remaining old putty around the frame and window sash. Be careful not to scratch the window sash. Work slowly and carefully. It is a good idea to work using a sturdy ladder rather than the ground and to place someone on the sash to help hold it in place.

After you have removed all of the old putty, you can prepare the window frame to fit the new pane. Take measurements of the width and height of the opening in the sash and subtract 1/8 inch from each measurement (to allow for seasonal expansion and contraction). Bring these measurements to a hardware store or home center and have a piece of stock glass cut to size. You can cut the glass yourself if you have the appropriate tools.

After installing the new glass After installing the glass, apply some caulking around the edge. This will make the glass weatherproof. Install a glazier’s point on both sides of the frame. This will ensure the pane. The points shouldn't be so tight that they cause friction between the frame and sash but they shouldn't be too loose.

Before applying the putty, knead it thoroughly until it is soft and free of lumps. Cut it into pencil-sized pieces. The first strip should be placed in the corner of the frame, working from one corner to the next so that it is even and smooth.

Glazier's Points

The glazier's points are tiny triangular pieces of metal that allow glass to be secured to the frame without causing any damage to the fragile surface. Learning how to use these hidden tiny helpers is simple and could save you money on professional installation or the cost of purchasing new glass.

After removing the old putty, glazier points as well as any remaining remnants clean the frame thoroughly using a utility knife. If needed, lightly sand the wood along the grooves of the rabbet to smooth out rough areas. If you sand wood cover it with painter's tape to avoid accidental damage.

Note down the dimensions of the frame. Bring these measurements to an 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 in the frame and press it into place firmly using your hand. Then, use the tip of your chisel or back of the putty knife to make a tap on the glazier's points, as shown in Figure 11. When you're done taping, they should be flush 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 glazing compound on the rabbet grooves and the edges of the glass. This will seal and Replace Window Pane protect the edges. Let it dry and cure completely.

Install the new window sash after the glazing compound has dried. First, coat the wood with a heavy coat of linseed oil. This will keep the new putty from sucking up moisture and deteriorating and cracking over time. Apply the coat using a brush or the edge of your putty knife, and then employ the chisel or back end of the knife to gently hammer in the new sash and glazier's tips into the grooves of the rabbet. Repeat this process in intervals of 10 inches around the frame.

Putty

A baseball thrown at you or an unintentional rock, or a falling branch can cause a window pane to break or crack. Fortunately, the majority of windows can be easily replaced by simply placing a new piece in the right place. The glass is held in the position with a tiny metal clip, referred to as a glazier's point and putty. This compound is also referred to as glazing compound. Remove the old pane and clean the area using the rag, a scraper that is a pull type or a wood chisel. Wear gloves and safety glasses while working. If the window replacements is secured to the frame, you'll have to use a heat gun to soften the adhesive before prying it free.

If you're planning to install the original sash in the future, take care to remove the molding pieces that are used to secure the old pane. Then sand the sash to ensure it's level and ready for a new caulk. After the sash has been re-installed, apply a new silicone caulk to the glass to ensure it won't leak or discolor in time.

Remove the glazing points from the rabbets. These are the grooves in the sash where the glass is. If they're difficult to chisel, hold the hand tool, such as a heatgun over them for a few minutes to soften them. When using a heating tool, be sure to avoid damaging the sash's railings and sash.

Once the old glaze points and putty are removed, make a bed for the new pane. Roll a rope of glazing compound between your hands, and form it into a 1/2-inch thick. Then, press it into the rabbets, where the glass will be. It's important that the glass sits on the putty on both sides, so if you need to, lightly tap the glass into the rabbet with your thumb.

If the new pane has a crack you can fill it with a solvent-based glass glue or silicone caulk prior to pressing it into the sash. If the crack isn't sealed, you will require putty to keep the water out. When the putty dries, clean the oily film off the glass with a rag and allow it to completely dry before painting. If you paint before the putty has completely dry, it will not form a solid seal and could leak or discolor in time.

Paint

You might be worried about replacing a broken pane of glass. However, replacing a single glass pane doesn't have to break the bank if you do it yourself. In fact, even a double-pane window can be replaced at a fraction of the cost of a professional.

First, if you're working on a large-sized window, ensure that it is securely fixed to the frame. With the right tools and techniques, you can make this task relatively easy and speedy.

Once you're ready to begin taking off the old window by removing the glazing points of metal that are connected to it. They are basically tiny metal triangles that act as "nails" which hold the window in within the frame of wood. They are placed under a bead or glazing putty which hardens into a solid wedge that holds the frame in place and hides the sharp edges.

After you have the old pane removed clean the surrounding frame and wood. Scrape off any paint that has been used and sand down the rabbet grooves where the glazing points were. Sand them down to bare wooden surfaces, allowing you to paint the frames the same color. After sanding the wood then apply a layer of flax oil. This will help to extend its life.

Next, measure the size of the window's opening. You'll need to take vertical and horizontal measurements of the entire opening as well as the thickness of the old pane. 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 changes. You can bring these measurements to a hardware store or home improvement shop and get 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.