How to Replace Window Panes

A damaged window pane could be a source of frustration. It could also be an opportunity to upgrade your glass to energy-efficient or insulated windows and reap benefits like greater comfort, a higher the value of resales and lower utility bills.

It’s a project you can take on yourself for a fraction of the cost of hiring an expert. It requires the right equipment and an hour or two of your time.

Glass

replace window pane your single-paned windows with tempered insulation glass to improve energy efficiency, cut down on noise, and protect the historical integrity of your old home. The majority of homeowners with basic hand tools can replace the window pane. You will also need an extra window pane, glazier’s tips, pliers, and latex glaze putty. If necessary, you can use a heatgun to warm the old putty. Wear safety goggles and gloves before you begin. Working with broken glass could cause serious injuries.

Begin by removing any broken pieces of glass. This is best accomplished with a pair of pliers, though using a flathead screwdriver can also be used in a pinch. Then, use a wood chisel, or putty knife, to take the remainder of the old putty around the frame and the sash. Be careful not to damage the window sash. Work slowly and carefully. It is a good idea to do this on a stable ladder rather than on the ground, and to have someone stand below the sash in order to help hold it steady.

Make sure the window frame is ready to accommodate the new pane when you have removed the old glue. Measure the width and height of the sash opening and subtract 1/8 inch from each measurement (to allow for seasonal expansion and contraction). These measurements can be sent to a home center or hardware store to have a piece cut of glass stock to the proper size. You can also cut the glass yourself, if you have the tools you need.

After putting in the new glass After installing the glass, apply some caulking to the edge. This will make the glass weatherproof. Then, you can install a glazier’s pointing on the frame’s opposite side to hold the pane in its 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 on the surface, knead thoroughly until it is smooth and free of lumps. Then make it into pencil-sized strips. The first strip should be placed to 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 small triangular pieces that allow glass to be secured into a window frame without scratching or damaging the fragile surface. Knowing how to use these little helpers is easy and could save you money on professional installation or the cost of buying new glass.

After removing the old putty, glazier points, and any other remnants clean the frame thoroughly using a utility knife. If needed, lightly sand the wood along the grooves of the rabbets to smooth out rough areas. If you sand wood cover it with painter’s tape to prevent accidental damage.

Note down the dimensions of the frame. These dimensions can be taken to an hardware or home centers store, and the new pane will be cut a bit smaller. This will ensure that the pane fits snugly and allows for expansion and contraction.

Insert the new pane into the frame and push it in using your hands. Make use of the point of the chisel, or the back of the putty knife to tap the glaziers’ points as illustrated 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 rim groove.

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

Install the new window sash when the glazing compound has dried. First, coat the wood with an even layer of linseed. This will prevent the newly-created putty from drying out and cracking due to the moisture it absorbs. Apply the coating using a brush this coat, or the point of the putty 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 point into the rabbet grooves. Repeat this process at intervals of 10 inches around the frame.

Putty

A baseball that is thrown, an errant rock or a fallen branch can cause a window pane to crack or break. Luckily, most windows can be repaired by simply putting a new piece in the right place. The glass is held into position by a small metal clip, called a glazier’s point and putty. This compound is also known as glazing compound. Before you install a new pane, first remove the old one and clean up the area with an abrasive and an abrasive scraper that is a pull type or the wood chisel. Wear safety glasses and gloves when working. You’ll need a heating gun if the window is glued to the frame.

If you are planning to replace the original sash, gently remove the molding pieces that hold the old pane in place. Then you can sand the sash down to ensure it’s level and ready to be re-caulked. Once the sash is installed and sanded, apply a fresh silicone caulk to the glass to ensure that it will not leak or change color over time.

Remove the glazing points from the rabbets and the grooves in the sash where the glass sits. If they’re hard to cut, place an instrument like a heat gun over them to allow them to soften before. When using a heating tool, be careful to not damage the sash and its railings.

After the old points of glazing and putty have been removed prepare a bed for the new pane. Roll a rope made of glazing compound between your fingers and make it around 1/2 inch thick. Then, push it into the rabbets in which the glass will rest. The glass should rest against the putty on both sides. If needed 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 prior pressing it into the sash. If the crack is not sealed, you will need to apply putty to keep water from getting in. After the putty is dry and the film is oily, wipe it off the glass with the help of a rag. Allow it to completely dry before painting. Paint before the putty has completely dried. It won’t create a solid seal and could leak or discolor with time.

Paint

You may be concerned about replacing a broken piece of glass. But the truth is that replacing a single glass pane doesn’t have to break the bank If you can do it yourself. Even a double glazing replacement windows-paned window can be replaced for a fraction of what it will cost an expert.

First, if you are working on a large window, make sure it is securely fastened to the frame. By using the correct tools and techniques, you can complete this task easily and fast.

When you’re ready to start with the removal of the old window pane by removing the glazing points of metal that are connected to it. These are tiny metal triangles which act as “nails” to hold the window within the frame. They are placed beneath a layer of glazing putty that is then cured to form a solid, molded wedge that holds the window firmly in place and hides the edges.

After you have removed the old pane removed clean the surrounding frame and wood. Scrape off any old paint and sand down the rabbet grooves that the glazing points were. Sand them down to bare wooden surfaces so you can paint the frames with the same shade. After sanding, apply a layer of flax oil to the wood that is not sanded down to prolong its life.

Then, you need to measure the width of the window opening. It is necessary 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 that you have the exact size for the new pane. This will allow for seasonal changes in the glass. You can bring these measurements to a 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, replace window pane 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.