Replacing broken glass in a double-hung window is a simple job that requires no special tools or advanced home-repair shills. Glass in a double-hung window is typically held in place with small triangular steel glazier's points, installed every few inches along the perimeter of the pane. A bead of glazier's compound or putty covers the glazier's points and prevents air leaks around the glass. Once the broken glass, glazier's points and old putty are removed, installation of new glass typically takes under an hour. All necessary materials and supplies are available at your local glass-repair shop. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Remove and discard broken glass from the window frame. Use a putty knife to pry out loose chunks of putty. Hard-to-remove putty may have to be warmed and softened with a heat gun. Pry and scrape all of the putty from the window frame. Remove old glazier's points from the frame, using needle-nose pliers. Use a sash brush to dust debris from the window frame to prepare it to receive the new glass.
2. Roll pea-sized bits of putty and press them a few inches apart on the ledge of the window frame where the new glass will be installed. Position the new pane in the frame and press lightly near the perimeter of the glass. The bits of putty will temporarily hold the glass in place as you install the glazier's points.
3. Install one glazier's point every 4 or 5 inches along the edge of the glass. Hold the back of the point against the edge of the glass. Use a putty knife to push the point into the wooden frame, as far as it will go.
4. Roll a handful of putty into a long rope, about 1/2 inch in diameter. The exact diameter is unimportant as excess putty will later be removed. Gently press the putty rope into the crevice between the edge of the glass and the window frame. Continue to form a bead of putty all the way around the glass.
5. Rest the blade of the putty knife on the edge of the window frame at a 45-degree angle with the tip of the blade touching the glass. Draw the blade toward you, bevelling the bead of putty. Wipe excess putty from the knife. Repeat until the putty around the entire window is smoothed and bevelled. Once the putty has dried it may be painted to match the window frame.
Tags: window frame, glazier points, broken glass, edge glass, from window, from window frame
