How to Replace Window Panes

A damaged or cracked window can cause a lot of trouble. It can also be a chance to upgrade your glass to energy efficient or insulated windows and enjoy benefits such as improved comfort, increased resale value and reduced utility costs.

You can do it yourself at less than what it would cost to hire an expert. It requires the right tools and only an hour or two of your time.

Glass

replace window pane your single-paned windows using tempered or insulation glass to improve the efficiency of your energy, reduce noise, and preserve the historical integrity of your home's older. The replacement windows prices of the window pane is easy and can be completed by most homeowners who possess basic hand tools. In addition to a replacement pane, the following items are required for the replacement process: latex glazing putty Glazier's points; pliers and an electric heater to warm the old putty, if needed. Before beginning, wear protective gloves and goggles since working with broken glass could cause injuries.

Remove any broken glass pieces remaining. It is best to use pliers for this however, a flathead may be useful equally. Use a wood chisel, or putty knife to get rid of any old putty that remains around the frame and the window sash. Be careful not to damage the window sash. Take your time and work slowly. This can be done best on a ladder, not the ground. Also, have someone on the ground to keep it in place.

Once you've removed all the old putty, prepare the window frame to fit the new pane. To allow for seasonal expansion or contraction, subtract 1/8 inch each from the measurements of width and height. Take these measurements to an hardware store or home center, and have a piece of stock glass cut to size. Alternatively, you can cut the glass yourself if have the right tools.

After putting in the new glass, apply caulking on the edges. This will make the glass weatherproof. Install a glazier's point on both sides of the frame. This will secure the pane. The points shouldn't be tight enough to create friction between the frame and the sash, but they should also not be loose.

Before putting the putty on, make sure to knead it until it is soft and free of lumps. Cut it into pencil-sized pieces. The first strip should be placed to the corner of the frame, working from one corner to the next to ensure it is smooth and even.

Glazier's Points

The glazier's points are tiny triangular pieces of metal which help to secure the glass to the frame without damaging the delicate surface. Understanding how to use these tiny helpers is simple and can save you money on professional installation or the cost of new glass.

After removing the old putty, glazier points as well as any remaining residue, clean the frame thoroughly using an utility knife. If needed you can lightly sand the wood along the rabbet grooves to smooth rough spots. If you decide to sand the wood, be sure to protect it with painter's tack to avoid accidental damage.

Write down the exact dimensions of the frame. These measurements can be brought to an hardware or home centers 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 in the frame and push it into place firmly with your hand. Then, use the tip of your chisel, or the back end of the putty knife to tap in the glazier's points as shown in Figure 11. The glazier's points should sit flush against the top edge of the pane and the shoulders should be just below the lip.

Apply a small amount 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.

Once the glazing compound has dried, you're ready to install the new window sash. First, saturate the wood with a heavy coat of linseed oil. This will keep the new putty from soaking up moisture and deteriorating and cracking with time. Apply the coating using a brush this coat, or the tip of the blade. Then use the chisel on the back of the tool or the back of the putty handle to gently hammer the new sash or glazier's tip into the grooves of the rabbet. Repeat this process every 10 inches around the perimeter of the frame.

Putty

A baseball that is thrown, an errant rock or a falling branch can cause a window to crack or break. Fortunately, windows can be easily replaced by simply putting a brand new piece of glass in its place. The glass is held in place by small clips made of metal called the glazier's pointed and putty, which is often called glazing compound. Before installing a new pane, first remove the old one and clean up the area using an abrasive and an abrasive scraper that is a pull type or an abrasive wood chisel. Wear protective glasses and gloves when you work. If the window is secured to the frame, you'll need to make use of a heat gun to soften the adhesive prior to cutting it loose.

If you are planning to install your original sash, you must remove the molding that supports the old pane. Then you can sand the sash down to ensure it's smooth and ready to be re-caulked. Once the sash is re-installed then, apply a new silicone caulk to the glass to ensure that it will not leak or change color over time.

Take the glazing points out of the rabbets, the grooves in the sash where the glass is. If they're hard to chisel, use the hand tool, such as a heating gun over them to soften first. When using a heated tool, be sure to not scratch 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 fingers and make it about 1/2 inch thick. Place it into the rabbets where the glass will be put. The glass must be positioned against the putty on both sides. If you need to 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 before pressing it into the sash. Otherwise, you'll need to apply putty over the crack to create an airtight seal and keep water out. When the putty dries, clean the oily film off the glass with an abrasive and allow it to completely dry before painting. If you paint before the putty is completely dry, it won't create a strong seal and may leak or discolor over time.

Paint

If you've experienced a broken window pane, you might be worried about the expense of a new one. It's true that replacing a single piece of glass doesn't need to be costly even if you do it your own. In fact even windows with double panes can be replaced for only a fraction of the cost of a professional.

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

Once you're ready to begin taking off the old window pane by removing the glazing points made of metal that are connected to it. They are basically tiny metal triangles which function as "nails" that hold the window in within the frame of wood. They are placed beneath a layer of glazing putty that transforms into a solid moulded wedge which holds the window in place and hides the edges.

After taking off the old pane clean the frame and wood. Scrape off any old paint, and sand the rabbet grooves that the glazing points were. These should be sanded to bare wood, to allow you to paint them the same shade as the rest of the frame. After sanding the wood then apply a layer of flax oil. This will help extend its life.

Then, you need to measure the width of the window opening. It is necessary to take vertical and horizontal measurements of the entire opening, and also the thickness of the old pane. Subtract 1/8 inch from each measurement to ensure that you get a precise size 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 get the glass cut for you.

Now, Replace window Pane 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.