Seven Reasons Why Replace Window Pane Is Important

How to replace window Pane Window Panes

A cracked window pane is a nuisance. This can be an opportunity to upgrade to energy-efficient windows or insulated ones and enjoy advantages like improved comfort, higher resale value and lower utility costs.

You can do it yourself for a only a fraction of the cost it would cost to hire an expert. You only need the proper tools and a few hours 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 historic integrity of your old home. Most homeowners with basic hand tools can repair the window pane. Alongside a replacement pane, the following items are required for the replacement window seals process: latex glazing putty Glazier's points; pliers and the use of a heat gun to warm the old putty, if necessary. Wear safety goggles and gloves prior to starting. Working with broken glass can cause serious injuries.

Take out any broken glass pieces that remain. This can be done with pliers, but flathead screwdrivers can be effective in the pinch. Utilize a wood chisel or putty knives, to take away any remaining old putty around the frame and window sash. Work slowly and carefully, taking care not to damage the old window sash. This can be done best on a ladder, not on the ground. Also, you should have someone below the sash keep it in place.

Once you have removed all the old putty, you can prepare the window frame to fit the new pane. Take measurements of the width and height of the opening for the sash, subtracting 1/8 inch from each measurement (to allow for seasonal expansion and contraction). These measurements can be sent to a hardware or home center store to get cut a piece of glass stock to the proper size. You can also cut the glass yourself, if you have the tools you need.

After putting the new pane in place after installing the new pane, put a tiny amount of caulking along the edge to make it weatherproof. Install a glazier's point on both sides of the frame. This will help secure the pane. The points shouldn't be too tight that they cause friction between the sash and frame, but they also should not be too loose.

Before putting the putty on, make sure to knead it until it is soft and free of lumps. Then, roll it into pencil-size strips. Apply the first strip to the corner of the frame, moving from one corner to the other so that it is even and smooth.

Glazier's Points

The glazier's points are small triangular pieces which help to secure glass into the frame of a window without damaging or scratching the delicate surface. It's easy to understand how to use this nefarious tool, and you'll save money on the cost of an installation by a professional.

After getting rid of the old putty glazier points as well as any remaining residue Clean the frame thoroughly with an utility knife. If needed it is necessary to lightly sand the wood along grooves of the rabbets to smooth rough areas. If you do sand your wood, be sure to protect it with painter's tape to avoid accidental damage.

Take the dimensions of the frame and write down accurate measurements. Bring these measurements to a hardware store or a home center and request that the new pane made slightly smaller than the frame's opening. This will ensure a snug fit and leave room for expansion and contraction.

Place the new pane into the frame and push it into place firmly using your hand. Then, use the tip of your chisel or back end of the putty knife to make a tap on the glazier's points, as illustrated in Figure 11. The glazier's points should be aligned with the top edge of your pane, and the shoulders should be just beneath that lip.

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

Install the new window sash after the glazing compound has dried. The first step is to coat the wood with a thick layer of linseed. This will keep the new putty from taking up moisture and deteriorating and cracking with time. Apply this coat with a brush or the tip of your knife, then use the chisel or the back end of the knife to gently hammer in the new sash and glazier's tips into the grooves of the rabbet. Repeat this process in intervals of 10 inches all around the frame.

Putty

A hurled baseball, an errant rock or falling branch could cause a window to crack or break. Fortunately, windows can be easily replaced by simply putting a new piece of glass in its the right place. The glass is held in place with a small metal clip called a glazier's point and putty, often called glazing compound. Before installing a new pane, first remove the old one and clean the area using an abrasive and Replace Window Pane an abrasive scraper that is a pull type or a wood chisel. Wear gloves and safety glasses when working. You'll require a heat gun when the window is fixed into the frame.

If you are planning to replace the original sash, remove any molding pieces that secure the old pane. Sand the sash until it is flat and ready to receive new caulk. Once the sash is re-installed, apply a new caulk made of silicone around the glass to ensure it will not leak or change color as time passes.

Remove the glazing points in the rabbets. These are the grooves in the sash, which is where the glass is located. If they're hard to chisel, use the hand tool, like a heat gun over them to soften first. When using a heating tool, be sure to not damage the sash and its railings.

After the old glaze points and putty have been removed make a bed for the new pane. Roll a piece of glazing compound between your hands, shaping it to be around 1/2-inch thick. Then, you can press it into the rabbets where the glass will rest. The glass must be positioned against the putty on both sides. If needed you want to tap your glass lightly into the rabbet using your thumb.

If the new pane has cracked, you can use a silicone caulk or glass glue made from solvents to seal the crack prior to pressing it in the sash. Otherwise, you'll need to putty over the crack to create an impervious seal to keep water out. Once the putty is dry, wipe the oily film off of the glass and allow it to dry completely before painting. Paint before the putty has completely dried. It won't make a strong seal and could discolor or leak over time.

Paint

If you've had a broken window pane, you might be concerned about the expense of a new one. But the truth is that replacing a single glass pane doesn't have to break the bank If you can do it yourself. In fact windows with double panes can be replaced for only a fraction of the cost of a professional.

If you are working with a large glass window, first make sure it is securely attached to the frame. This can be done relatively easy and fast using the appropriate tools and techniques.

When you are ready to begin with the removal of the window pane. Take out the metal glazing points that are attached to it. They are basically tiny metal triangles that function as "nails" that hold the window in place within the frame of wood. They are buried under a bead of glazing putty, which is then cured to form a solid, moulded wedge that secures the window in place and hides the points.

After removing the old pane, clean the frame and wood. Scrape off any old paint, and sand the rabbet grooves where the glazing points were. These should be sanded to the point of being bare, to allow you to paint them the same color as the rest of the frame. After sanding the wood then apply a layer of flax oil. This will help prolong the life of the frame.

The next step is to measure the dimensions of the window's opening. You will need to take vertical and horizontal measurements of the entire opening and also the thickness of the old pane. Subtract 1/8 inch from each measurement to ensure 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 store or home improvement shop 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.