How to Glaze a Window

Many older houses have wooden-framed windows with glazed windowpanes. Glazing dries out over time, and must be replaced. Repairing glazed windows can maximize your house's insulation efficiency, as well as its value and overall beauty. Following these steps removes the guesswork and frustration from this job.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Safety glasses
• Work gloves
• Rag
• Duct tape
• Hammer
• Putty knife
• Heat gun
• Needle-nosed pliers
• Sandpaper
• Oil based primer
• Paint brush
• Window putty
• Pane of glass
• Wooden window frame
• Glazing points
• Paint

Remove Old Glass and Putty

1. Put on safety glasses and work gloves.

2. Cover old glass with rag, or put an "X" of duct tape on either side to prevent shattering.

3. Tap the center of glass gently with a hammer to break window.

4. Remove the old glass by hand.

5. Remove the old putty with a putty knife or small chisel. You can also heat the putty with a heat gun to soften it.

6. Remove any glazing points (these are metal fasteners that keep the glass in place) by hand or with needle-nosed pliers.

7. Sand window frame with sandpaper.

8. Paint exposed wood with an oil-based primer or linseed oil. This prevents the wood from drying out.

Glaze Window

1. Remove work gloves and knead a hand full of putty until warm. Form a putty rope approximately 1/16-inch in diameter.

2. Place the putty rope along the windowpane's inside edge. Use a putty knife to press putty firmly into place.

3. Put on work gloves and place the new pane of glass in frame, pressing gently to make sure the glass and putty form a complete seal.

4. At the center of each side of the pane, place a glazier's point flat on the glass and place the edge of the putty knife against the point's raised edge.

5. Apply downward pressure with the putty knife, until the glazing point is firmly in the wood.

6. Repeat this process on the other side of the window. Then add glazing points to the center of the top and bottom on both sides.

7. Place another rope of putty along the window frame.

8. Use the putty knife at a 45-degree angle to remove the excess putty from both sides of the windowpane.

9. After allowing 7-10 days for the putty to dry, paint the putty to match the rest of the window.

Tips & Warnings

• For windowpanes 12 inches or longer, space the glazing points approximately 4 to 6 inches apart.