How to Replace Window pane Window Panes

A cracked window handle replacement pane is an inconvenience. It can also be an opportunity to upgrade your glass to energy efficient or replace window pane insulated windows and benefit from greater comfort, a higher potential for resales, and less costs.

You can do it yourself for less than what it would cost to hire an expert. You only need the appropriate tools and a few hours of your time.

Glass

Replace your old single-paned windows with tempered insulation glass to improve energy efficiency, reduce noise, and maintain the historical integrity of your old home. The procedure of replacing the window pane is easy and can be completed by homeowners with basic hand tools. You'll also require a replacement window pane, glazier's tips pliers, and latex glaze putty. If you need to, you can use a heatgun to warm the old putty. Wear safety goggles and gloves prior to starting. Working with broken glass could cause serious injuries.

Remove any broken glass pieces remaining. This is best accomplished with a pair of pliers, but a flathead screwdriver can also work in the pinch. Then, use a wooden chisel or putty knife to remove the rest of the old putty from the frame and sash. Be careful to not break the window sash. Be careful and slow. This should be done on a ladder, not on the ground. Also, have someone below the sash ensure it is held steady.

Prepare the window frame to accommodate the new pane when you have removed the old putty. To allow for seasonal expansion or contraction by subtracting 1/8 inch from the measurements of width and height. Bring these measurements to an hardware store or home center and find a piece glass cut to size. You can cut the glass yourself if you have the appropriate tools.

After installing the glass, apply a small amount of caulking on the edges. This will make the glass weatherproof. Then install a glazier's point on the frame's opposite side to hold the pane in place. The points should not be so tight that they create friction between the sash and the frame, but they also shouldn't be loose.

Before putting the putty on, make sure to knead it until it's soft and free of lumps. Then, roll it into pencil-size strips. The first strip should be glued to the frame's corner. Work from one corner to the next to ensure it's even and smooth.

Glazier's Points

The glazier's points are the small triangular pieces of metal that help secure glass into the frame of a window without scratching or damaging the delicate 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 removing the old putty, glazier points as well as any remaining remnants, clean the frame thoroughly using a utility knife. Lightly sand the wood into the rabbet grooves, if necessary, to smooth rough areas. If you sand wood cover it with painter's tape to prevent accidental damage.

Note down the exact dimensions of the frame. These measurements can be taken to an hardware or home centers store, and the new pane will be cut slightly smaller. This will ensure that the pane fits perfectly and allows for expansion and contraction.

Insert the new pane into the frame and push firmly with your hands. Make use of the point of the chisel, or the back of the putty blade to tap in the glazier's points as illustrated in Figure 11. When you're done taping, they should be level with the top edge of the pane and the raised shoulders of the points should be below the rabbet's lip. groove.

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

After the glazing compound dries it's time to put in the new window sash. First, you need to coat the wood with a thick layer of linseed. This will stop the new putty from sucking in the 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 putty tool or the back of the handle to gently smash the new sash or glazier's point into grooves of the rabbet. Repeat this procedure every 10 inches around the frame's perimeter.

Putty

A hurled baseball, an errant rock or falling branch could cause a window to crack or break. The majority of windows can be repaired easily by simply putting in a fresh piece. The glass is held in place by a small metal clip, referred to as a glazier's point and putty. This compound is also called glazing compound. Remove the old pane and clean the area with the rag, a pull-type scraper or wood chisel. Wear protective glasses and gloves when you work. You'll need a heat gun if the window is glued into the frame.

If you are planning to reinstall your original sash, remove the molding that holds the old pane. Sand the sash until it is flat and ready for new caulk. Once the sash is re-installed, apply a new silicone caulk to the glass to ensure that it won't leak or discolor as time passes.

Take the glazing points out of the rabbets, the grooves in the sash where the glass is. If they're hard to cut, place the hand tool, such as a heating gun over them to soften first. When using a heated tool, make sure to avoid damaging the sash's railings and sash.

Prepare a bed for your new pane after removing the old glaze points and putty. Roll a rope of glazing compound between your hands, forming it to be around 1/2-inch thick. Then, push it into the rabbets where the glass will be. It is essential that the glass sits on the putty on both sides So if you have to tap it, gently press the glass into the rabbet using your thumb.

If the new pane has cracked, you can apply a silicone caulk or glass glue that is based on solvents to seal the crack before pressing it into the sash. If the crack isn't sealed, you'll need to apply putty to keep the water out. After the putty has dried remove the oily film off the glass and allow it to dry completely before you paint. Paint before the putty is completely dry. It won't make a strong seal and could leak or discolor with time.

Paint

If you've had a broken window pane, then you may be concerned about the expense of replacing it. In reality, replacing a single pane glass doesn't have to be costly when you do it on your own. Even a double-paned window can be replaced for a fraction of the price it costs a professional.

If you are working on a large-sized window, ensure that it is securely fastened to the frame. With the right tools and techniques to complete this task easily and quick.

When you are ready to begin, remove the old window pane. Take out the metal glazing points that are attached to it. These are basically small metal triangles which function as "nails" which hold the window in in the wood frame. They are buried under a bead of glazing putty that hardens into a solid, formed wedge which holds the window in place and hides the points.

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

The next step is to determine the width of the window opening. It is necessary to take vertical and horizontal measurements of the entire opening and also the thickness of the old pane. To determine the exact size of the new pane, subtract 1/8 inch from both measurements. This will allow for seasonal changes in the glass. Bring these measurements to your local hardware or home improvement store and have the glass cut for you.

Now, it's time to bed the new window pane replacement 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.