How to Replace Window Pane 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, and benefit from greater comfort, a higher potential for resales, and less costs.

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

Glass

Replace your old single-paned windows with tempered or insulate glass to improve the efficiency of your energy, reduce noise, and preserve the historic integrity of your home's older. A majority of homeowners with hand tools can replace the window pane. You will also require an extra window pane, glazier's tips, pliers, and latex glazing putty. If you need to you can use a heating gun to warm the old putty. Wear safety glasses and gloves before you begin. Working with broken glass could cause serious injuries.

Take out any broken glass pieces remaining. It is best to use pliers for this however, a flathead may be used equally. Make use of a wood chisel or putty knife to get rid of any remaining old putty around the frame and window sash. Be careful and slow, taking care not to break the existing window sash. This should be done on an elevated ladder, not on the ground. Also, have someone lower to hold it steady.

After you have removed all of the old putty, you can prepare the window frame to fit the new pane. To allow for seasonal expansion or contraction by subtracting 1/8 inch from the measurements of the width and height. These measurements can be sent to an hardware or home centers store to have a piece cut of glass that is in stock to the correct size. Alternatively, you can cut the glass yourself if have the appropriate tools.

After putting in the new glass Apply a small amount of caulking on the edges. This will make the glass weatherproof. Then, you can install a glazier's pointing on the frame's opposite side to hold the pane in the right place. The points shouldn't be so tight as to cause friction between the sash and the frame, but they also shouldn't be too loose.

Before applying the putty knead it thoroughly 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 to ensure it's even and smooth.

Glazier's Points

The glazier's points are tiny triangular pieces of steel which help to secure the glass to the frame without causing damage to the delicate surface. It's easy to understand how to use this nefarious tool, and you'll save money on the expense of a professional installation.

After taking off the old putty, glazier points and any leftovers Clean the frame thoroughly using a utility knife. If needed, lightly sand the wood in the rabbet grooves to smooth out rough areas. If you sand wood protect it with painter’s tape to protect it from damage caused by accidental sanding.

Note down the dimensions of the frame. These dimensions can be taken to a home center or hardware store and the new pane will be cut slightly smaller. This will ensure that the pane fits perfectly and allows for expansion and contraction.

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

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

Install the new window sash once the glazing compound has dried. The first step is to coat the wood with an even layer of linseed. This will prevent the new putty from sucking up moisture and drying out and cracking with time. Apply the coating using a brush this coat, or the tip of the 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 grooves of the rabbet. Repeat this procedure every 10 inches around the frame's perimeter.

Putty

A hurled baseball or a rock that is errant or a fallen branch can cause a window to crack or break. Fortunately, windows can be replaced by simply putting a brand new piece of glass in its the proper place. The glass is held in place with tiny metal clips known as a glazier's point, and putty, which is often called glazing compound. Remove the old pane and clean the area using the rag, a pull-type scraper or wood chisel. Wear gloves and safety glasses while doing this work. You'll require a heat gun in the event that the window is glued into the frame.

If you're planning to install your original sash, you must remove the molding that supports the old pane. Sand the sash until it is flat and ready for new caulk. Once the sash is re-installed and sanded, apply a fresh caulk made of silicone around the glass to ensure it will not leak or change color over time.

Remove the glazing points from the rabbets, the grooves in the sash where the glass sits. If they're difficult to chisel, hold a hand tool such as a heating gun over them to soften first. If you're using a heated gun, be cautious not to scratch the sash or its railings by holding the tool too close.

Create the bed for your new pane after you have removed the old glaze and putty. Roll a rope made of glazing compound between your fingers, and then make it about 1/2 inch thick. Then, press it into the rabbets, where the glass will be. The glass must rest against the putty on both sides. If needed you want to tap your glass lightly into the rabbet with your thumb.

If the new pane is cracked, you can apply a silicone caulk or glass glue that is based on solvents to seal the crack before pressing it into the sash. If the crack is not sealed, you'll need to use putty to keep the water out. Once the putty is dry, wipe the oily film off the glass and allow it to dry completely before painting. If you paint before the putty is fully dry, it won't form an effective seal and could be leaking or discoloring over time.

Paint

You might be worried about replacing a damaged piece of glass. The truth is, replacing a single pane of glass doesn't have to be costly when you do it on your own. Even replacement double glazed window-paned windows can be replaced for a fraction of the price it will cost for a professional.

First, if you're working on a large window, ensure that it is securely fastened to the frame. This task can be done relatively easy and quick with the proper tools and techniques.

When you are ready to start, remove the old window pane. Take out the glazing points made of metal that are attached to it. They are basically tiny metal triangles that function as "nails" that hold the window in in the wood frame. They are submerged under a bead of glazing putty, which hardens into a solid, molded wedge that secures the window in place and conceals the points.

After removal of the old pane clean the frame and wood. Scrape off any old paint, and sand the rabbet grooves in which the glazing points were. Sand them down to clean wood surfaces, so that you can paint the frames with the same shade. After sanding, apply a coat of flax oil to the bare wood to prolong its life.

Then, take measurements of the dimensions of the window opening. You'll need to take horizontal and vertical measurements of the entire opening, and Replace window pane also the thickness of the old pane. To get 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 bring 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.