How to Remove Old Window Glaze
Window glazing becomes hard and brittle if it exposed to the elements for a long time or if it is applied to a window without putting a layer of paint on top. Every time that you paint an exterior of a house, you should check the condition of the glazing and replace the spots where the glazing is cracked or missing.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Glazing knife
- 2-inch putty knife
- Screwdriver
- Hammer
- Utility knife
- 3-inch paint scraper
- Sandpaper
Instructions
-
-
1
Take a stiff putty knife that is not more than an inch or two wide and start to remove the larger pieces of old glazing. A glazing tool is often the ideal tool here, but other tools such as a putty knife can also be used. Be mindful of the window points that hold the window in place. Try not to loosen up the metal window points.
-
2
Take a utility knife, one that has a dull blade, and cut away any piece of glazing that is cracked or checked. Be careful not to bear down to hard with the knife. Get rid of whatever glazing that you can. If it takes a major effort to remove a piece of glazing, then it may be better to leave it in place.
-
-
3
Make sure the glass is held tightly in place by window points. With a slotted screwdriver and hammer you can gently tap on the top of the metal points until they hold the windowpane tightly in place. If the glass pane is loose then you can add more window points. First put them in place using a hand-held screwdriver to push them into place, then you can tap the end of the screwdriver with a hammer if need be.
-
4
Scrape and sand the edge of the wood surface until it is bare and smooth. First you should use a narrow paint scraper and then only go over the bare wood with a piece of medium sandpaper, if you really have to. Be certain that all little stragglers of wood are removed.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Sandpaper should only be used sparingly to clean up the bare wood surface. For taking pieces of old paint and glazing use a metal scraper.
Be careful with the knives. Don’t score or break the glass.
