How to Change the Glass in a Broken Window Pane
If you have the old type of windows with separate pieces of glass in each pane, you can change out the broken pane. With a little DIY experience, you can replace a the glass in one of these panes yourself and save the cost of a repairman. All you need is your replacement glass, which is available at most hardware stores or glass shops, and a few supplies and tools and you're ready to go to work. This technique will only work for wooden frame windows. Modern plastic framed energy efficient windows will need to be professionally done. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Needle-nose pliers
- Caulking gun
- Glazing compound
- Putty knife
- Glazing points
- Masking Tape
- Spray sealer
- Paintbrush
- Paint
- Replacement Glass
- Heavy Gloves
- Sandpaper
- Mineral Spirits
Instructions
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1
Put on the heavy gloves to prevent accidents. Use the needle nosed pliers to remove all the shards of broken glass still in the frame. If you need to break the glass, be sure to tape up the area with a few pieces of masking tape beforehand so the glass won't fly.
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2
Remove all the old putty or glazing compound with the putty knife. You can soften it with mineral spirits if needed. Remove all of the glazing points. Sand the frame and any dots of putty still left with a medium grit sandpaper. Line the inside of the frame with a thin bead of new putty. Use the putty knife to pat it down into place.
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3
Put the window glass carefully in place. Place glazing points every 5" around the frame by the glass, taking care to have two points close together near each corner. Press them into place with the putty knife. Put another thin bead of putty around the glass and press into place. Clean excess of glass and let it dry well. Drying times vary, so read the instructions to be sure.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure to dry all the stages really well before going to the next step to protect the finish.
Tape any glass that you need to break to make it safer and easier to pick up.
Resources
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
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Comments
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Sheila Wilkinson
Aug 17, 2008
Thanks for your comments - I love to hear new ideas and tips for doing things cheaper, easier and better. God bless you, Sheila -
projectmgr
Aug 13, 2008
Try to take the sash out if possible so you can lay it down on a flat surface to work. Putty is very difficult to work with as it is very stiff. Plexiglass is not as easy to see through as real glass and it scratches easily.
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Mike
Jan 24, 2008
If the window is a in rental property spend the extra couple of bucks and replace that piece of glass with plexglass. The new plexiglass looks like regular glass without the worries of it breaking. Just a thought.
