The Most Common Replace Window Pane Mistake Every Newbie Makes

How to Replace Window Panes

A damaged or cracked window can cause a lot of trouble. It can also be an opportunity to upgrade your glass to energy efficient or insulated windows to enjoy benefits such as improved comfort, increased potential for resales, and less costs.

It's a task you can tackle yourself at only a fraction of the cost of hiring a professional. You'll need only the appropriate tools and a few minutes of your time.

Glass

If your single-pane windows are outdated damaged, cracked or deteriorating replacing them with more modern insulated or tempered glass can improve energy efficiency and reduce noise while maintaining the original character of older homes. Most homeowners with basic hand tools can replace the window pane. In addition to a replacement pane, the following tools are required for the replacement windows glass process: latex glazing putty glazier's points; pliers; and the use of a heat gun to warm the old putty if required. Wear safety glasses and windowreplacement gloves prior to starting. Working with broken glass could cause serious injuries.

Take away any broken glass pieces remaining. It is best to use pliers for this, but a flathead can be useful equally. Utilize a wood chisel or putty knife to get rid of any old putty that remains around the frame and the window sash. Be careful and slow, taking care not to damage the old window sash. This is best done on a ladder, not the ground. Also, you should have someone lower to hold it steady.

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

After putting in the new pane after installing the new pane, put a tiny amount of caulking around the edge to seal it against weather. Then, you can install a glazier's pointing on each side of the frame to secure the pane into the right place. The points should not be so tight that they cause friction between the frame and sash, but they should also not be loose.

Before applying the putty, knead it thoroughly until it is soft and free of lumps. Then make it into pencil-sized strips. The first strip should be glued to the frame's corner. Work from one corner to another and ensure that it is even and smooth.

Glazier's Points

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

After getting rid of the old putty glazier points, and any other remnants clean the frame thoroughly using an utility knife. Lightly sand the wood in the rabbet grooves, if necessary, to smooth out rough areas. If you do sand your wood, make sure to protect it with painter's tack to avoid accidental damage.

Write down the exact dimensions of the frame. Take these dimensions to an hardware store or home center and request that the new pane cut smaller than the frame's opening. This will ensure a snug fit, and allow for expansion and contraction.

Place the new window in the frame and press it into place firmly by using your hands. Then, you can use the point of your chisel or the back end of the putty knife to make a tap on the glazier's points, as illustrated in Figure 11. When you're done taping, they should be in line with the top edge of the pane, and the shoulders that are raised of the points should be just below the rabbet's rim groove.

Apply a small amount of glazing compound on the edges of the new glass and in the rabbet grooves, to seal and protect them. Allow it to dry and cure completely.

Once the glazing compound has dried, you're ready to install the new window sash. First, coat the wood with a thick coat of linseed oil. This will prevent the new putty from drying out and cracking due to the moisture it absorbs. Apply this coat with a brush or the edge of your putty knife, and then use the chisel or the back end of the knife to gently press the new sash and glazier's point into the rabbet grooves. Repeat this process every 10 inches around the perimeter of the frame.

Putty

A baseball thrown or a rock thrown by error, or a fallen tree can cause a broken or cracked window pane. The majority of windows can be repaired easily by installing a new piece. The glass is held in position by a small metal clip, referred to as the glazier's point, and putty. This compound is also called glazing compound. Before installing a replacement pane, first get rid of the old one and clean up the area using an abrasive and a pull-type paint scraper or a wood chisel. Wear gloves and safety glasses when working. If the window is secured to the frame, you'll need to use a heat gun to soften the adhesive before cutting it loose.

If you are planning to replace the original sash in the future, take care to remove any pieces of molding that are used to secure the old pane. Then, sand the sash to ensure it's smooth and ready for a new caulk. After the sash has been put back in place it is possible to apply a silicone caulk on the glass. This will ensure that it won't be leaking or fade over time.

Remove the glazing points from the rabbets and the grooves in the sash where the glass sits. If they're difficult to cut, place an instrument such as a heatgun over them for a few minutes to soften them. When using a heat tool, be careful to not scratch the sash's railings and sash.

Make a bed for your new pane by removing the old putty and glazing points. Roll a rope with glazing compound between your fingers, and make it about 1/2 inch thick. Then, you can press it into the rabbets in which the glass will be. It is essential that the glass sits on the putty in all places on both sides If you have to do so, gently tap the glass into the rabbet with your thumb.

If the new pane has a crack then you can seal it with a solvent-based glass glue or silicone caulk prior pressing it into the sash. If the crack is not sealed, you'll need to apply putty to keep water from getting in. Once the putty is dry, wipe the oily film from the glass and let it dry completely before you paint. Paint after the putty has dried completely. It will not form a good seal and may be leaking or discoloring over time.

Paint

You might be worried about replacing a damaged piece of glass. However, replacing a single glass pane doesn't require a huge amount of money If you can do it yourself. Even double-paned windows can be replaced for a fraction of what it will cost a professional.

First, if you are working on a large window, make sure that it is securely fixed to the frame. This can be done relatively easy and quick with the proper tools and techniques.

Once you're ready to begin, begin by removing the old window pane by prying out the metal glazing points that are attached to it. These are tiny triangles of metal which act as "nails", holding the window in the frame. They are submerged under a bead of glazing putty, which transforms into a solid molded wedge that holds the window firmly in place and conceals the points.

Once you have the old pane removed Clean up the frame and wood. Scrape away any paint and sand down the rabbet grooves where the glazing points were. These should be sanded down to bare wood, so that you can paint them the same shade as the rest of the frame. After sanding the wood you can apply a layer flax oil. This will help extend its life.

Next, measure the size of the window opening. You will need to measure the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the entire opening as well as the thickness. Subtract 1/8 inch from each measurement to ensure you get the exact measurement for the new pane. This will allow for seasonal changes in the glass. Take these dimensions to your local hardware or home improvement store 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.