You'll Never Guess This Replace Window Pane's Secrets

How to Replace Window Panes

A cracked window pane can be a source of frustration. It can also be a chance to upgrade your glass to energy-efficient or insulated windows and enjoy benefits such as greater comfort, a higher the value of resales and lower utility 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 Window Pane your single-paned windows with tempered insulated glass to increase energy efficiency, cut down on noise, and preserve the historic integrity of your old home. A majority of homeowners with hand tools can repair a window pane. Alongside a replacement pane, the following components are required for the replacement process: latex glazing putty pliers, glazier's points and a heat gun for warming the old putty if required. Wear safety glasses and gloves prior to starting. Working with broken glass can cause serious injuries.

Take out any broken glass pieces that remain. It is best to use pliers for this however, a flathead may work equally. Use a wood chisel, or putty knives, to take away any old putty remaining around the frame and window sash. Take your time and work slowly, taking care not to damage the old window sash. This can be done best on an elevated ladder, not on the ground. Also, have someone lower to hold it steady.

After you've removed all the old putty, it is time to prepare the window frame to accommodate the new pane. Measure the width and height of the sash opening, subtracting 1/8 inch from each measurement (to allow for seasonal expansion and contraction). Bring these measurements to an hardware store or home center and get a piece of stock glass cut to size. You can also cut the glass yourself if you have the appropriate tools.

After installing the new pane After installing the new pane, apply a small amount of caulking around the edge to ensure it is weatherproof. Install a glazier’s point on both sides of the frame. This will secure the pane. The points should not be tight enough to cause friction between the frame and the sash, but they should also not be loose.

Before applying the putty, make sure to knead it until it is soft and free of lumps. Then you can roll 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 tiny triangular pieces of metal that help secure the glass to the frame without damaging the delicate surface. Learning how to use these hidden tiny helpers is simple and can save you money on a professional installation or the cost of new glass.

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

Measure the empty frame's dimensions and write down accurate measurements. These measurements can be brought to a home center or hardware store and the new pane will be cut to a smaller size. This will ensure that the pane fits perfectly and allows for expansion and contraction.

Place the new pane in the frame and press it into place firmly with your hand. Then, use the tip of your chisel or back of the putty knife to make a tap on the glazier's 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 of the points should be just below the lip of the rabbet groove.

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

After the glazing compound dries it's time to put in the new window sash. The first step is to coat the wood with a thick layer of linseed. This will stop the new putty drying out or cracking as it absorbs moisture. Use a brush to apply this coat, or the point of the blade. Then, use the chisel on the back of the tool or the back of the putty handle to gently hit 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 thrown, a rock thrown in error or a branch falling can cause a broken or cracked window. The majority of windows can be replaced easily by putting in a new piece. The glass is held in place by a small metal clip, also known as the glazier's point, and putty. This compound is also known as glazing compound. Before you install a new pane, first take out the old one and clean up the area with the help of a rag, an abrasive scraper that is a pull type or an abrasive wood chisel. Wear protective glasses and gloves while working. If the window is glued to the frame, you'll need to make use of a heat gun to soften the adhesive before cutting it loose.

If you are planning to install the original sash, take off the molding that holds the old pane. Then you can sand the sash down to make sure it's flat and ready for new caulk. Once the sash is installed and sanded, apply a fresh caulk made of silicone around the glass to ensure it doesn't swell or fade over time.

Remove the glazing points from the rabbets. These are the grooves on the sash where the glass is. If they're difficult to chisel, use an instrument like a heat gun over them to soften first. If you're using a heating gun, make sure not to cause damage to the sash or its railings by holding the tool too tightly.

Create the bed for your new pane after removing the old putty and glazing points. Roll a rope with glazing compound between your fingers, and then make it about 1/2 inch thick. Place it into the rabbets, where the glass will be put. The glass must rest against the putty on both sides. If necessary gently tap your glass into the rabbet using your thumb.

If the new pane has cracked, you can use a silicone caulk or glass glue that is based on solvents to cover the crack prior to pressing it into the sash. Otherwise, you'll need to putty over the crack to form a tight seal and keep water out. When the putty dries, clean the oily film off the glass using the help of a rag. Allow it to dry completely before painting. Paint before the putty is completely dry. It won't form a good seal and could discolor or replace Window pane leak over time.

Paint

You may be concerned about replacing a damaged piece of glass. It's true that replacing a single pane glass doesn't have to be expensive even if you do it your own. In fact, even a double glazed window replacement-pane window can be replaced at less than the cost of an expert.

If you are working on a large-sized window, make sure that it is securely fastened to the frame. Using the proper tools and techniques to accomplish this task fairly easily and fast.

Once you're ready to begin with the removal of the old window by prying out the glazing points of metal that are connected to it. These are small metal triangles which act as "nails", holding the window within the frame. They are submerged beneath a glaze putty or bead which hardens into solid wedge which holds the wood frame firmly in position and conceals the edges.

Once you have the old pane removed clean the surrounding frame and wood. Scrape off any old paint and sand down the rabbet grooves where the glazing points were placed. Sand them to bare wood surfaces, so that you can paint the frames with the same color. After sanding, apply a layer of flax oil to the wood's surface to prolong its life.

The next step is to determine the size of the window opening. You'll need to take horizontal and vertical measurements of the entire opening, and also the thickness of the old pane. Subtract 1/8 inch from each measurement to ensure that you have the exact 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 a hardware or home improvement store and ask them to cut you cut the glass 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.