Unexpected Business Strategies Helped Replace Window Pane Succeed

How to Replace Window Panes

A damaged or cracked window is a nuisance. It could also be a chance to upgrade your glass to energy efficient or insulated windows and enjoy benefits such as greater comfort, a higher potential for resales, and less costs.

This is a project you could take on yourself for only a fraction of the cost of hiring an expert. It requires the right tools and an hour or two of your time.

Glass

Replace your single-paned windows with tempered insulate glass to improve energy efficiency, reduce noise, and maintain the historical integrity of your home's older. A majority of homeowners with hand tools can repair replacement windows with ease. In addition to a new pane, the following items are required: latex glazing putty; glazier's points; pliers; and the use of a heat gun to warm the old putty if required. Before starting, wear gloves and safety glasses as working with broken glass can cause injuries.

Begin by removing any broken pieces of glass. This is best accomplished with a pair of pliers, however, flathead screwdrivers can be effective in the pinch. Make use of a wood chisel or putty knives to remove any old putty remaining around the frame and the window sash. Be careful not to break the window sash. Be careful and slow. This should be done on a ladder, not on the ground. Also, ensure that someone lower to keep it in place.

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

After installing the glass Apply some caulking on the edges. This will make the glass weatherproof. Install a glazier's point on both sides of the frame. This will help secure the pane. The points shouldn't be tight enough to cause friction between the frame and the sash however they should not be loose.

Before applying the putty to the surface, gently knead it until it becomes soft and free from lumps. Cut it into pencil-sized pieces. Place the first strip 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 tiny triangular metal pieces that allow glass to be secured to the frame without causing damage to the delicate surface. Understanding how to use these hidden little helpers is easy and could save you money on professional installation or the cost of buying new glass.

After the old putty as well as the glazier's point are gone Clean the frame thoroughly with a knife to get rid of any remaining residue. If needed, lightly sand the wood along grooves of the rabbet to smooth rough spots. If you sand wood, protect it with painter's tape to protect it from damage caused by accidental sanding.

Take the dimensions of the frame and write down accurate measurements. Take these dimensions to an hardware store or home center, and have the new pane cut 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 push firmly using your hands. Use the chisel's point or the back of the putty knife to smudge the glaziers' points as shown in Figure 11. After you're done, the points should be level with the top edge of the pane and the shoulders that are raised of the points should be just below the rabbet's lip. groove.

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

When the glazing compound is dry, you're ready to install the new window sash. The first step is to coat the wood with a thick coat of linseed oil. This will prevent the new putty from drying out or cracking when it absorbs moisture. Use a brush to apply this coat, or even the tip of the blade. Then, use the chisel that is on the back of the putty tool or the back of the handle to gently hit the new sash, or glazier's point into grooves of the rabbet. Repeat this process at intervals of 10 inches around the frame.

Putty

A baseball thrown at you, an errant rock or a fallen branch can cause a window pane to break or crack. Fortunately, the majority of windows can be repaired by simply placing a new piece in place. The glass is held in place using a small metal clip called the glazier's pointed and putty, often called glazing compound. Remove the old pane and clean the area with a rag, a pull-type scraper, or a wood chisel. Wear safety glasses and gloves when working. You'll need a heat gun in the event that the window is glued into the frame.

If you are planning to install your original sash, remove the mold that holds the old pane. Then you can sand the sash down to ensure it's smooth and ready for new caulk. Once the sash is installed and sanded, apply a fresh caulk made of silicone around the glass to ensure that it won't leak or discolor in time.

Take out the glazing points in the rabbets. These are the grooves on the sash, where the glass is. If they are hard to chisel, hold an instrument like a heat gun over them to soften first. When using a heat tool, be sure to not scratch the sash or its railings.

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

If the new pane is cracked you can fill it with a solvent-based glue or silicone caulk prior pressing it into the sash. If the crack is not sealed, you'll need to use putty to keep water from getting in. When the putty dries and the film is oily, wipe it off the glass with a rag and allow it to dry completely prior to painting. Paint after the putty has dried completely. It will not create a solid seal and may leak or discolor with time.

Paint

If you've suffered a break in a window pane, you may be worried about the expense of a new one. It's true that replacing a single pane glass doesn't have to be expensive when you do it on your own. In fact windows with double panes can be replaced at only a fraction of the cost of a professional.

If you are working on a large-sized window, ensure that it is securely fixed to the frame. By using the correct tools and techniques you can make this task relatively easy and speedy.

Once you're ready to begin taking off the old window by prying out the metal glazing points that are attached to it. These are small metal triangles which act as "nails" to hold the window within the frame. They are submerged beneath a bead or glazing glue that hardens to a solid wedge that holds the frame firmly in position and hides the points.

After removing the old pane, clean the frame and wood. Scrape off any paint that has been used and sand down the rabbet grooves in which the glazing points were placed. These should be sanded to bare wood, to allow you to paint them the same shade as the rest of the frame. After the sanding process, apply a coat of flax oil on the wood that is not sanded down to help extend its lifespan.

The next step is to measure the dimensions of the window opening. You'll need to take vertical and nearest 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 allow for seasonal changes in the glass. Take these measurements to the 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.