How to Replace Window Panes
A damaged window pane can be an issue. It could also be an opportunity to upgrade your glass to energy efficient or insulated windows and enjoy benefits such as more comfort, higher the value of resales and lower utility bills.
You can do it yourself at only a fraction of the cost it would cost to employ an expert. It requires the right equipment and an hour or two of your time.
Glass
Replace your single-paned windows using tempered or insulated glass to increase the efficiency of your energy, reduce noise, and preserve the historical integrity of your old home. The replacement of windows is simple and can be done by homeowners with basic hand tools. You will also require an additional window pane, glazier's tips, pliers, and latex glaze putty. If you need to you can use a heating gun to warm the old putty. Wear safety glasses and gloves prior to starting. Working with broken glass can cause serious injuries.
Begin by removing any remaining broken pieces of glass. This can be done with a pair of pliers, though using a flathead screwdriver can also be effective in a pinch. Make use of a wood chisel or putty knives, to take away any remaining old putty around the frame and the window sash. Be careful to not damage the window sash. Work slowly and carefully. It is recommended to do this on a stable ladder rather than on the ground and to place someone on the sash in order to help hold it in place.
Once you have removed all the old putty, prepare the window frame to fit the new pane. Find the width and the height of the opening in the sash by subtracting 1/8 inch from each measurement (to allow for seasonal expansion and contraction). Bring 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 you have the tools you need.
After installing the glass, apply caulking on the edges. This will make the glass weatherproof. Then install a glazier's point on each side of the frame to secure the pane into place. The points shouldn't be tight enough to cause friction between the frame and sash, but they should also not be loose.
Before applying the putty on the surface, gently knead it until it is smooth and free of lumps. Make it into pencil-sized strips. The first strip should be glued to the corner of the frame. Work from one corner to the next and ensure that it is even and smooth.
Glazier's Points
The glazier's points are small triangular pieces of metal that help secure the glass into the window frame without causing any damage to the fragile surface. It's simple to learn how to use this secret tool and you can save money on the expense of an expert installation.
After taking off the old putty, glazier points as well as any remaining residue, clean the frame thoroughly using an utility knife. Lightly sand the wood in the rabbet grooves, if necessary, to smooth rough areas. If you decide to sand wood, protect it with painter's tape to avoid accidental damage.
Take the dimensions of the frame and note down precise measurements. These measurements can be brought to the hardware or home center store, and the new frame will be cut a bit smaller. This will ensure a tight fit and leave room for expansion and contraction.
Place the new pane in the frame and press it down 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 facets, 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 of the points should be just below the lip of the rabbet groove.
Apply a small amount of glazing compound over the edges of the new glass and in the rabbet grooves to seal and protect them. Let it dry and cure completely.
Install the new window sash when the glazing compound has dried. First, coat the wood with a thick layer of linseed. This will stop the new putty from soaking up moisture and drying out and cracking with time. Apply the coating using a brush this coat, or the tip 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 point into the rabbet grooves. Repeat this process at intervals of 10 inches all around the frame.
Putty
A baseball hit, a rock thrown in error or a branch falling can cause a broken or cracked window pane. Fortunately, windows can be replaced by simply putting a new piece of glass in its the proper place. The glass is held in place by a small metal clip called a glazier's point, and putty, also called glazing compound. Remove the old pane and clean the area with an abrasive, scraper that is a pull type or a wood chisel. Wear safety glasses and gloves when working. You'll require a heat gun when the window is fixed to the frame.
If you're planning to
replace Window pane your original sash, you must remove the mold that holds the old pane. Sand the sash until it's flat and ready to receive new caulk. After the sash has been re-installed then, apply a new caulk made of silicone around the glass to ensure it won't leak or discolor over time.
Take out the glazing points in the rabbets. These are the grooves in the
sash window replacement, where the glass is located. If they are hard to chisel, hold an instrument such as a heating gun over them to allow them to soften before. If you're using a heat gun, make sure not to damage the railings of the sash or the sash itself by using the tool too close.
Once the old glazing points and putty have been removed make a bed for the new pane. Roll a piece of glazing compound between your hands, forming it to be about 1/2-inch thick. Then, push it into the rabbets where the glass will sit. The glass must rest against the putty on both sides. If necessary gently tap your glass into the rabbet with your thumb.
If the new pane has cracked,
replace window Pane you can apply the silicone caulk or glass glue based on solvents to fill in the crack prior to pressing it in the sash. Otherwise, you'll need to apply putty over the crack to form an impervious seal to keep water out. After the putty has dried, wipe the oily film from the glass and let it dry completely before you paint. Paint before the putty has completely dried. It won't create a solid seal and could discolor or leak over time.
Paint
You might be worried about replacing a broken piece of glass. In reality, replacing a single piece of glass doesn't need to be costly when you do it on your own. Even a double-paned window can be replaced for a fraction of what it costs for a professional.
If you're working with large glass windows, first make sure it is securely attached to the frame. This task can be done relatively easy and fast with the right tools and techniques.
When you are ready to start, remove the old window pane. Take out the metal glazing points that are attached to it. They are basically tiny metal triangles that act as "nails" that keep the window in within the frame of wood. They are submerged under a bead of glazing putty, which hardens into a solid, moulded wedge that holds the window firmly in place and hides the points.
After removing the old pane, clean the frame and the wood. Scrape off any paint that has been used and sand down the rabbet grooves where the glazing points were. Sand them to bare wooden surfaces so you can paint the frames the same color. After the sanding process, apply a coat of flax oil to the bare wood to help extend its lifespan.
Next, measure the dimensions of the window opening. You'll need to take vertical and horizontal measurements of the entire opening, and also the thickness of the old pane. To get the exact size of the new pane subtract 1/8 inch from both measurements. This will also allow for expansion and contraction of the glass during seasons of changes. You can take these measurements to a hardware store 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.