Contemplating glass replacement is not a
favorite pastime. The first thing that probably comes to your mind when you see broken glass is the cost. Even if you are going to do the work yourself, the cost of materials and the time taken to perform the job subtract from your life in more ways than one.
However, you can also look at this as an opportunity. Windows are important components of your home or office but they often get forgotten in the hubbub of daily life and work. Once one of them breaks, you have a chance to think about this aperture and think about how you want it to look. Before you begin window glass replacement, take time to think about how you want the replacement to look.
Installing Replacement Glass
- Consider the kind of window that you have. You may have noticed that not every home has the same types of windows in it. In fact, most houses have different windows in distinct parts of the residence. Examples of common window types include casement, awning, double hung, fixed windows and more.
- Purchase the window parts that are appropriate for the sort of window that you have. Other materials that you need include a putty knife, caulk gun, glazing and sandpaper.
- Remove the broken window. Take care to notice that this means more than removing the glass. You also need to remove the frame of the window, which will actually separate from the wall. Typically, these are secured with spring-loaded fixtures that you can simply remove by hand.
- Scrape away the putty residue in the grooves of the frame with your putty knife. You should go at this carefully so that you do not scrape any of the wood with the knife. If you have a newer window, you may actually be able to pry out strips of the vinyl glazing rather than scrape anything off.
- Carefully take out any remaining shards of glass from the window frame. Metal glazing will need to be extracted as well. Use sand paper on the L-shaped grooves and remove any remaining paint or putty.
- Coat the wood of the frame with a sealer. Take a break while it dries.
- When the frame is dry, put dabs of glazing compound into the grooves that you have prepared. Insert the new glass and press down lightly in order to secure it. Use the knife to press glazing points down about every 10 inches. Be very gentle because the glazing points can easily break.
- Use the caulking gun to apply the glazing compound along the edge of the glass. Squeeze the trigger as you pull the tip of the gun along the open groove.
- Smooth the glazing with a cloth until it seamlessly meets the wood.
This process should work for any standard window sizes. You can even use a similar process to install replacement mirror glass. Painting the frame before you reinsert it into the wall is a good idea. You can probably do this the same day.
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