How to Replace Window Panes

A damaged or cracked window is an inconvenience. This can be an opportunity to upgrade your windows to energy efficient or insulated ones and enjoy benefits such as improved comfort, increased resale values and lower utility costs.

It's a task you can do yourself for less than the cost of hiring an expert. You'll need only the proper tools and a few hours of your time.

Glass

Replace your old single-paned windows with tempered or insulation glass to improve the efficiency of your energy, reduce noise, and preserve the original character of your home's older. The procedure of replacing a window pane is relatively easy and can be completed by most homeowners who possess basic hand tools. You will also need a replacement window pane, glazier's tips, pliers, and nearest latex glazing putty. If needed, you can use a heating gun to warm the old putty. Wear safety goggles and gloves prior to starting. Working with broken glass can cause serious injuries.

Take out any broken glass pieces that remain. It is recommended to use pliers for this, but a flathead can be used as well. Use a wood chisel, or putty knives to remove any old putty remaining around the frame and window sash. Be careful to not break the window sash. Be careful and slow. This can be done best on a ladder, not the ground. Also, ensure that someone below the sash ensure it is held steady.

Once you've removed all the old putty, you can prepare the window frame for the new pane. Measure the width and height of the opening for the sash and subtract 1/8 inch from each measurement (to allow for seasonal expansion and contraction). Bring these measurements to the nearest hardware store or home center, and find a piece glass cut to size. Alternatively, you can cut the glass yourself, if you have the tools you need.

After installing the new pane after installing the new pane, put a tiny amount of caulking around the edge to seal it against weather. Then install a glazier's point on each side of the frame to secure the pane into its place. The points shouldn't be too tight that they create friction between the sash and frame but they shouldn't be too loose.

Before applying the putty on the surface, you must knead it thoroughly until it is smooth and free of lumps. Then you can roll it into pencil-sized strips. The first strip should be placed in the corner of the frame, moving from one corner to the next so that it is smooth and even.

Glazier's Points

The glazier's points are the small triangular pieces which help to secure glass into frames for windows without damaging or scratching the delicate surface. Understanding how to use these hidden tiny pieces of help is simple and can save you money on a professional installation or the cost of buying new glass.

After removing the old putty, glazier points and any residue Clean the frame thoroughly using a utility knife. Lightly sand the wood into the rabbet grooves to smooth out rough areas. If you do sand your wood, ensure you protect it with painter's tack to avoid accidental damage.

Write down the dimensions of the frame. Take these dimensions to a hardware store or home center and request that the new pane cut slightly smaller than the frame's opening. This will ensure that the pane fits snugly and allows for expansion and contraction.

Insert the new pane into the frame and press it down using your hands. Then, use the tip of your chisel or the back of the putty knife to pierce the glazier's points as illustrated in Figure 11. When you're done taping, they should be level with the top edge of the pane, and the shoulders of the points should be just below the rabbet's rim groove.

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

Install the new window sash after the glazing compound has dried. The first step is to coat the wood with a heavy coat of linseed oil. This will keep the new putty from taking up moisture and drying out 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 putty handle to gently hammer the new sash or glazier's point into rabbet grooves. Repeat this process at intervals of 10 inches around the frame.

Putty

A baseball that is thrown, an errant rock or a falling branch can cause a window to crack or break. The majority of windows can be replaced easily by putting in a new piece. The glass is held into position by a small metal clip, referred to as a glazier's point and putty. This compound is also known as glazing compound. Before installing a new pane, first get rid of the old one and clean up the area using a rag and a pull-type paint scraper or a wood chisel. Wear gloves and safety glasses while doing this work. If the window glass replacement near me is glued to the frame, you'll need employ a heat gun in order to soften the adhesive prior to taking it off.

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. Sand the sash until it is flat and ready to receive new caulk. Once the sash is put back in place, you can apply a silicone caulk over the glass. This will ensure that it won't leak over time or discolor.

Remove the glazing points from the rabbets. These are the grooves on the sash where the glass is located. If they're hard to chisel out, try placing an instrument like a heat gun over them to soften them before you do. If you're using a heating gun, be careful not to scratch the railings of the sash or the sash itself by placing the tool too close.

Create the bed for your new pane by removing the old putty and glazing points. Roll a rope of glazing compound between your hands, shaping it to be about 1/2-inch thick. Place it into the rabbets where the glass will be put. The glass must rest against the putty on both sides. If necessary, lightly tap your glass into the rabbet with your thumb.

If the new pane is cracked, you can use a silicone caulk or a glass glue that is based on solvents to seal the crack prior to pressing it in the sash. In other cases, you'll need to putty over the crack to form an impervious seal to keep water out. After the putty is dry, clean the oily film off the glass using a rag and allow it to dry completely before painting. Paint before the putty has completely dried. It won't form a good seal and may leak or discolor with time.

Paint

You might be worried about replacing a damaged piece of glass. However, replacing one glass pane does not need to cost a fortune if you do it yourself. Even a double-paned window can be replaced for a fraction of what it will cost an expert.

First, if you are working on a large-sized window, ensure that it is securely fastened to the frame. This job is relatively easy and quick with the right tools and techniques.

When you are ready to begin taking down the old window pane. Take out the metal glazing points attached to it. These are tiny metal triangles which act as "nails" to hold the window in the frame. They are placed under a bead or glazing glue that sets to form solid wedge that holds the wood frame firmly in position and hides the points.

After removal of the old pane clean the frame and wood. Scrape off any old paint and sand the rabbet grooves that the glazing points were placed. Sand them to bare wood surfaces, so that you can paint the frames the same shade. After sanding, apply a coat of flax oil on the wood that is not sanded down to help extend its lifespan.

Then, take measurements of the dimensions of the window's opening. You will need 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 a precise size for the new pane. This will allow for seasonal changes in the glass. Take these measurements to the hardware or home improvement store, and they will 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.