Replacing a pane is cheaper than replacing a window.
Window glass is susceptible to breaking for a wide variety of reasons and is almost inevitable as the glass ages. If the glass is single pane and installed in a wooden frame, homeowners can replace the glass themselves rather than paying a professional to perform the repair. The process is not as challenging as many think but requires a trip to the hardware store for some special tools that make the job look more professional. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Put on safety glasses and work gloves before you begin the replacement process. It's also a good idea to place a tarp on the inside floor and outside ground to catch debris, such as broken glass that may fall out.
2. Walk to the outside of the window and place a ladder near it, if needed, so you can access it easily. Examine the perimeter of the glass where a thin layer of putty exists. Plug in a heat gun and hold it 1 inch away from the putty for five to 10 seconds. Continue working your way around the perimeter of the window glass.
3. Scrape the softened putty off of the entire perimeter using a painter's tool.
4. Push the glass pane out from the inside of the home so that it falls to the outside. If the pane is badly cracked, tap it with a hammer from the inside to force the pieces out of the frame. If needed, work any remaining shards loose with a pair of needle nose pliers.
5. Look into the bottom edge of the glass to see if there are small metal points. If so, grasp them with the needle nose pliers and pull them out.
6. Scrape the window frame with a paint scraper to remove all paint. Then sand the frame with a fine-grit sandpaper until no more paint remains.
7. Paint primer onto all areas of the wooden frame using a paint brush and allow it to dry completely.
8. Insert the new piece of glass into the wooden frame. Open a tub of glazing compound and scoop up 1/8 cup in your bare hands. Knead it until the putty is warm and roll it into a 1/4 inch strand before pressing it into the area where the frame meets the glass. Place a new metal glazier's point at the center of each side of the glass and press it into the wood frame using a putty knife.
9. Scoop out more putty and roll it into a 3/4 inch diameter strand. Press it into the perimeter edge of the window the glass just as before.
10. Hold a putty knife at a 45-degree angle and run it all the way around the perimeter of the glass to smooth the glazing putty and scrape off the excess.
Tags: wooden frame, around perimeter, frame using, frame with, from inside
