How to Replace Window Panes

A damaged or cracked window is an issue. It could be a chance to upgrade your windows to energy efficient or insulated ones and enjoy benefits such as improved comfort, increased resale values and reduced utility costs.

You can do it yourself for less than what it would cost to hire an expert. You'll need only the appropriate tools and a few minutes of your time.

Glass

Replace your old single-paned windows with tempered or insulation glass to improve energy efficiency, reduce noise, and protect the historic integrity of your home's older. Most homeowners with basic hand tools can replace the window pane. You will also need an extra window pane, glazier's suggestions, pliers, and latex glazing putty. If you need to, you can make use of a heat gun to warm the old putty. Before starting, wear gloves and safety goggles as working with broken glass may cause injuries.

Take out any broken glass pieces that remain. It is recommended to use pliers for this however a flathead could be useful equally. Then, use a wooden chisel or putty knife to take the remainder of the old putty from the frame and sash. Be careful to not damage the replacement window handle sash. Be careful and slow. This is best done on a ladder, not on the ground. Also, you should have someone below the sash ensure it is held steady.

Prepare the window frame to accommodate the new pane after you have removed the old glue. To allow for seasonal expansion or contraction, subtract 1/8 inch each from the measurements of the width and height. Take these measurements to a hardware store or home center, and get a piece of stock glass cut to size. Alternatively, you can cut the glass yourself if have the right tools.

After installing the new glass, apply some caulking around the edge. This will make the glass weatherproof. Then, you can install a glazier's pointing on each side of the frame to hold the pane in place. The points shouldn't be so tight that they create friction between the sash and frame, but they also shouldn't be loose.

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

Glazier's Points

The glazier's facets are tiny triangular pieces of steel which help to secure glass into the frame of a window without damaging or scratching the delicate surface. It's easy to understand legalidad.net`s recent blog post how to use this hidden tool, and you'll save money on the expense of an installation by a professional.

Once the old putty and the glazier's points have been removed Clean the frame thoroughly with a knife to remove any remaining traces. Lightly sand the wood in the rabbet grooves, if necessary, to smooth out rough areas. If you sand wood protect it with painter's tape to avoid accidental damage.

Write down the dimensions of the frame. These measurements can be brought to a home center or hardware store and the new pane will be cut slightly smaller. This will ensure a secure fit and leave room for expansion and contraction.

Place the new pane into the frame and press it down with your hands. Then, you can use the point of your chisel, or the back of the putty knife to make a tap on the glazier's facets, as shown in Figure 11. The glazier's points should be flush against the top edge of your pane and the shoulders raised should be just below the lip.

Apply a thin layer glazing compound on the rabbet grooves as well as the edges of the glass. This will protect and seal the edges. Allow this to dry and cure fully.

After the glazing compound dries it's time to put in the new window sash. First, coat the wood with a thick layer of linseed. This will keep the new putty from soaking up the moisture and drying out and cracking with time. Apply the coat using a brush or the tip of your putty knife, and then employ the chisel or back end from the putty knife to gently press the new sash and glazier's points into the rabbet grooves. Repeat this process every 10 inches around the perimeter of the frame.

Putty

A hurled baseball or a rock that is errant or a fallen branch can cause a window to break or crack. The majority of windows can be replaced by simply putting in a fresh piece. The glass is held into position by a small metal clip, called a glazier's point and putty. This compound is also referred to as glazing compound. Before installing a new pane, first take out the old one and clean up the area with an abrasive and a pull-type paint scraper or a wood chisel. Wear safety glasses and gloves when you work. If the window is attached to the frame, you'll need use a heat gun to soften the adhesive prior to prying it free.

If you are planning to replace your original sash, remove the molding that supports the old pane. Then, sand the sash to make sure it's flat and ready to be re-caulked. After the sash has been re-installed, apply a new silicone caulk to the glass to ensure that it won't leak or discolor as time passes.

Take the glazing points out of the rabbets, or the grooves in the sash where the glass sits. If they are hard to cut, place a hand tool like a heat gun over them to soften first. When using a heat tool, make sure to not damage the sash's railings and sash.

Once the old points of glazing and putty have been removed prepare a bed for the new pane. Roll a rope with glazing compound between your fingers, and make it around 1/2 inch thick. Place it into the rabbets where the glass will be placed. It's important that the glass sits on the putty on each side So if you have to do so, gently tap the glass into the rabbet using your thumb.

If the new pane is damaged, you can use the silicone caulk or glass glue made from solvents to fill in the crack before pressing it in the sash. If not, you'll have to putty over the crack to create an airtight seal and keep water out. After the putty has dried, clean the oily film off the glass using a rag and allow it to dry completely prior to painting. If you paint before the putty is completely dry, it won't create a solid seal and could leak or discolor in time.

Paint

You may be concerned about replacing a damaged piece of glass. But the truth is that replacing a single glass pane doesn't need to cost a fortune when you do it yourself. In fact windows with double glazing replacement windows panes can be replaced for a fraction of the cost of an expert.

If you are working with a large glass window, first make sure it is securely attached to the frame. With the right tools and techniques, you can accomplish this task fairly easily and fast.

When you are ready to start, remove the old window pane. Remove the glazing points made of metal that are attached to it. These are tiny metal triangles that act as "nails" to hold the window in place. They are buried beneath a bead or glazing glue which hardens into an unbreakable wedge that holds the frame in place and conceals the edges.

After removing the old pane, clean the frame and the wood. Scrape off any 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 the frame. After sanding the wood you can apply a layer flax oil. This will help to extend its life.

The next step is to determine the size of the window opening. You will need to take vertical and horizontal measurements of the entire opening as well as the thickness of the old pane. Subtract 1/8 inch from each measurement to ensure you get a precise size for the new pane. This will also allow for expansion and contraction of the glass in times of seasonal changes. Take these dimensions to your local hardware or home improvement store and ask them to cut you a piece 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.