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How to Replace Window Panes

A damaged or cracked window can cause a lot of trouble. It could be a chance to upgrade your windows to energy efficient or insulated ones, replaced and reap benefits like increased comfort, increased resale values and lower utility costs.

It's a project you can tackle yourself at only a fraction of the cost of hiring an expert. You only need the appropriate tools and a few hours of your time.

Glass

If your single-pane windows are old damaged, cracked or deteriorating replacing them with more modern insulated or tempered glass can increase energy efficiency and reduce noise while maintaining the historical integrity of older homes. The majority of homeowners with basic hand tools can replace a window pane. Alongside a replacement pane, the following components are required for the replacement process: latex glazing putty glazier's points; pliers; and a heat gun for warming the old putty, if needed. Before beginning, wear protective gloves and goggles since working with broken glass may cause injuries.

Begin by removing any remaining broken pieces of glass. This is best accomplished with pliers, however, a flathead screwdriver can also work in a pinch. Utilize a wood chisel or putty knives, to take away any remaining old putty around the frame and window sash. Be careful not to break the window sash. Work slowly and carefully. This is best done on a ladder, not the ground. Also, have someone below the sash ensure it is held steady.

Once you have removed all the old putty, prepare the window frame to fit the new pane. Take measurements of the width and height of the opening for the sash by 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 find a piece glass cut to size. Alternately, you can cut the glass yourself if you have the right tools.

After putting in the new glass, apply caulking on the edges. This will make the glass weatherproof. Install a glazier's pointing on both sides of the frame. This will help secure the pane. The points should not be so tight as to cause friction between the sash and frame however they should not be too loose.

Before putting the putty on, knead it thoroughly until it's soft and free of lumps. Make it into pencil-sized strips. Apply the first strip to the corner of the frame. Work from corner to corner to ensure it's even and smooth.

Glazier's Points

The glazier's points are tiny triangular pieces of steel that help secure glass into a window frame without scratching or damaging the fragile surface. Knowing how to use these hidden tiny helpers is simple 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 remove any remaining traces. Lightly sand the wood in the rabbet grooves to smooth out rough areas. If you sand wood, cover it with painter's tape to avoid accidental damage.

Take the dimensions of the frame and write down accurate measurements. These measurements can be brought to the hardware or home center store and the new pane will be cut a bit smaller. This will ensure a secure fit and leave room for expansion and contraction.

Insert the new pane into the frame and push it in with your hands. Make use of the point of the chisel, or the edge of the putty blade to tap in the glaziers' points as shown in Figure 11. The glazier's point should be aligned with the top edge of your pane and the shoulders raised should be just below that lip.

Apply a thin layer of glazing compound over the edges of the new glass and into the rabbet grooves to seal and protect them. Let it dry and cure completely.

After the glazing compound dries, you're ready to install the new window replacement companies sash. First, you need to coat the wood with a thick layer of linseed. This will prevent the new putty from sucking in the moisture and drying out and cracking over time. Apply this coat with a brush or the tip of your knife, and 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 procedure every 10 inches around the perimeter of the frame.

Putty

A hurled baseball, an errant rock or a fallen branch can cause a window pane to crack or break. Fortunately, the majority of windows can be replaced by simply putting a brand new piece in place. The glass is held in place using a small metal clip called a glazier's point and putty, often called glazing compound. Remove the old pane and clean the area using a rag, a pull-type scraper, or a wood chisel. Wear protective glasses and gloves when you work. You'll need a heat gun when the window is fixed into the frame.

If you plan to reinstall the original sash, remove the molding pieces that hold the old pane in place. Sand the sash until it is flat and ready for new caulk. Once the sash is re-installed then, apply a new silicone caulk around the glass to ensure that it doesn't swell or fade in time.

Take the glazing points out of the rabbets, the grooves in the sash where the glass sits. If they are hard to cut, place the hand tool, such as a heatgun over them to soften first. If you're using a heating gun, make sure not to scratch the sash or its railings by placing the tool too tightly.

Make the bed for your new pane after removing the old glaze points and putty. Roll a rope with glazing compound between your fingers and make it around 1/2 inch thick. Place it into the rabbets, where the glass will be placed. 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 damaged, you can use the silicone caulk or glass glue made from solvents to cover the crack before pressing it in the sash. If the crack isn't sealed, you'll need to apply putty to keep the water out. After the putty has dried then clean the oily film off the glass with the help of a rag. Allow it to dry completely before painting. Paint after the putty is completely dry. It will not create a solid seal and may leak or discolor with time.

Paint

You might be worried about replacing a broken piece of glass. However, replacing one glass pane does not require a huge amount of money when you do it yourself. In fact, even a double-pane window can be replaced for only a fraction of the cost of an expert.

If you are working with large glass windows first, ensure that it is securely attached to the frame. This task can be made relatively simple and fast using the appropriate tools and techniques.

Once you're ready to begin with the removal of the old window by removing the glazing points made of metal that are attached to it. These are tiny triangles of metal which act as "nails" to hold the window within the frame. They are submerged beneath a layer of glazing putty that hardens into a solid, molded wedge that holds the window firmly in place and hides the edges.

After you have the old pane taken away clean the surrounding frame and wood. Scrape off any old paint, and sand the rabbet grooves that 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 the frame. After sanding the wood you can apply a layer flax oil. This will help to prolong the life of the frame.

The next step is to determine the width of the window opening. You will need to measure the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the entire opening as well as the thickness. To determine the exact dimensions 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. Take these dimensions to a hardware or home improvement store, and they will have 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.