How to Replace Window Panes

A damaged or cracked window can be a source of frustration. It can also be a chance to upgrade your glass to energy-efficient or insulated windows and benefit from greater comfort, a higher resale value and reduced utility costs.

It's a task you can take on yourself for only a fraction of the cost of hiring a professional. It requires the right tools and only an hour or two of your time.

Glass

Replace your single-paned windows with tempered insulated glass to increase energy efficiency, cut down on noise, and preserve the historical integrity of your older home. A majority of homeowners with hand tools can repair a window pane. You'll also require an extra window pane, glazier's suggestions, pliers, and latex glaze putty. If necessary, you can use a heating gun to warm the old putty. Wear safety glasses and gloves prior to beginning. Working with broken glass could result in serious injuries.

Take out any broken glass pieces remaining. It is recommended to use pliers however a flathead could be useful equally. Use a wood chisel, or putty knives, to take away any old putty remaining around the frame and window sash. Work slowly and carefully and be careful not to damage the old window sash. It is a good idea to work using a sturdy ladder rather than the ground, and to place someone on the sash to help keep it steady.

Make sure the window frame is ready to accept the new pane after you have removed the old putty. Measure the width and height of the sash opening, subtracting 1/8 inch from each measurement (to allow for seasonal expansion and contraction). Take these measurements to the nearest hardware store or home center and get a piece of stock glass cut to size. You can also cut the glass by yourself if you have the right tools.

After putting the new pane in place After installing the new pane, apply a small amount of caulking around the edge to seal it against weather. Install a glazier's pointing on both sides of the frame. This will help secure the pane. The points shouldn't be too tight that they create friction between the frame and sash but they shouldn't be loose.

Before applying the putty to the surface, you must knead it thoroughly until it becomes soft and free of lumps. Then you can roll it into pencil-sized strips. Apply the first strip to the corner of the frame, moving from one corner to the next to ensure it is smooth and even.

Glazier's Points

The glazier's points are tiny triangular metal pieces which help to secure the glass into the window frame without causing damage to the delicate surface. It's easy to learn how to use this secret tool, and you'll be able to save money on the expense of an installation by a professional.

After taking off the old putty, glazier points as well as any remaining residue Clean the frame thoroughly using a utility knife. Lightly sand the wood into the rabbet grooves to smooth rough areas. If you sand wood, protect it with painter’s tape to avoid accidental damage.

Measure the empty frame's dimensions and write down accurate measurements. Take these dimensions to an hardware store or home center, and have the new pane cut smaller than the frame's opening. This will ensure that the pane fits snugly and allows for expansion and [empty] contraction.

Place the new pane in the frame and push it into the frame using your hand. Make use of the point of the chisel or the back of the putty knife to smudge the glaziers' points as illustrated in Figure 11. When you're done taping, they should be flush with the top edge of the pane. the shoulders that are raised of the points should be just below the rabbet's lip. groove.

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

Install the new window sash after the glazing compound has dried. First, coat the wood with a thick layer of linseed. This will keep the new putty from taking in the moisture and drying out and cracking with time. Apply the coating using a brush this coat, or the point of the blade. Then, use the chisel on the back of the tool or the back of the handle to gently hit the new sash, or glazier's tip into the rabbet grooves. Repeat this procedure every 10 inches around the perimeter of the frame.

Putty

A baseball hit, a rock thrown in error or a branch falling can cause a broken or cracked window. Luckily, most windows can be replaced by simply putting a brand new piece in place. The glass is held in place by a small metal clip, called the glazier's point, and putty. This compound is also called glazing compound. Before you install a new pane, first get rid of the old one and clean up the area with an abrasive and a pull-type paint scraper or the wood chisel. Wear safety glasses and gloves when you work. You'll need a heat gun when the window is fixed to the frame.

If you're planning to install the original sash, remove any pieces of molding that are used to secure the old pane. Then, sand the sash to ensure it's level and ready to be re-caulked. Once the sash is put back in place it is possible to apply a silicone caulk on the glass. This will ensure that it won't be leaking or fade over time.

Remove the glazing points from the rabbets, the grooves in the sash, where the glass sits. If they're hard to cut, place a hand tool such as a heating gun over them to allow them to soften before. If you're using a heat gun, make sure not to cause damage to the railings of the sash or the sash itself by placing the tool too tightly.

Once the old points of glazing and putty have been removed, prepare a bed for the new pane. Roll a rope with glazing compound between your fingers, and then make it about 1/2 inch thick. Then, you can press it into the rabbets, where the glass will rest. It is crucial that the glass rests against the putty in all places on each side If you have to, lightly tap the glass into the rabbet using your thumb.

If the new pane has damaged, you can use the silicone caulk or glass glue that is based on solvents to seal the crack before pressing it into the sash. In other cases, you'll need to apply putty on the crack to create an impervious seal to keep water out. Once the putty is dry remove the oily film off of the glass and let it dry completely before you paint. Paint after the putty is completely dry. It won't make a strong seal and could leak or discolor with time.

Paint

You may be concerned about replacing a broken piece of glass. However, replacing one glass pane does not need to cost a fortune when you do it yourself. Even a double glazed replacement windows-paned window could be replaced for a fraction of the price it will cost an expert.

If you are working on a large window, make sure that it is securely attached to the frame. With the right tools and techniques to complete this task easily and quick.

If you're ready to begin, begin by removing the old window pane by prying out the glazing points of metal that are attached to it. These are basically small metal triangles which function as "nails" that keep the window in in the wood frame. They are placed under a bead of glazing putty that is then cured to form a solid, molded wedge that holds the window firmly in place and hides the points.

Once you have the old pane removed, clean up the surrounding frame and wood. Scrape away any old paint and sand down the rabbet grooves, where the glazing points were. Sand them down to clean wooden surfaces so you can paint the frames the same shade. After the sanding process, apply a coat of flax oil on the bare wood to extend the life of the frame.

Then, you need to measure the width of the window opening. It is necessary to take vertical and horizontal measurements of the entire opening, written by wake-upcenter.com as well as the thickness of the old pane. Subtract 1/8 inch from each measurement to ensure you get the exact measurement for the new pane. This will allow for seasonal changes in the glass. Take these measurements to the hardware or home improvement store, and they will have a piece 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.