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Repairing Putty Window Glass
How to Replace Single Pane Window Glass from a Window Frame
By Mark J. Donovan
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Do you have an old single pane window that needs a window
pane repaired or replaced? You might be surprised to know that repairing putty window
glass is not so difficult to do, even for the neophyte DIYer. When it comes
to repairing or replacing an old window glass pane all you really need to do
is learn how to remove the old pane from the frame and install a new one.
The actual cutting of the new window glass pane can be left to the
professional glass cutters. Simply take the piece of removed glass, or glass
measurements, to your local glass store and have them cut you a replacement
piece. You can then easily install the new pane in the frame to have the
window looking like new again. |
With old single pane windows, glazing putty is used to hold the window pane
in the frame. To repair a broken or damaged single window pane your best method
is to simply break it out of the frame. Place an old sheet underneath the window
and put on some safety glasses and heavy work gloves. Then use a hammer to knock
out the glass from the window frame. It’s best to knock out the center of the
glass leaving shards around the window frame edge. After knocking out the center
of the glass use your gloved hands to pull out the shards of glass still stuck
in the frame. As you pull out the shards of glass, flex the glass to loosen up
and remove the old dried out window putty.
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After removing the glass, use a putty knife to remove the
residual window putty and glass. Make sure to scrape the window frame down
to the wood. While scraping away the putty you’ll find small pieces of
metal, known as push points, imbedded into the putty and the window frame.
They are used to hold the window glass in place until the putty has been
installed and had time to dry. Discard the old push points as you’ll use new
ones when installing the new window pane. Make sure to pick up some push
points at your local hardware store before starting your putty window glass
repair. |
After removing all the glazing putty and glass shards from the window frame,
clean it out thoroughly with a vacuum cleaner or small brush. Then measure the
height and width of the window frame. Make sure to measure the height and width,
each, at three places to get a very accurate assessment of the window frame
opening. Record these measurements and take them to your glass store where a new
window pane can be cut to the measured dimensions. The glass cutter should use
the smallest measurement for both the height and the width, minus an additional
1/8th inch, for determining the actual cut sizes.
After returning home with your newly cut piece of glass apply a thin bead of
window glazing putty around the window frame where the window pane will sit.
Then place the glass pane into the window frame. The thin bead of window putty
will help hold the window pane in place while you insert the push points into
the window frame. Use a flat blade screw driver to push the push points into the
window frame, however be careful not to break the glass in the process.
Finally, put another 1/8th inch thin bead of glazing putty over the window pane
and around the window frame. Press it firmly into place and use your putty knife
to keep the putty line straight. After the glazing putty has cured, lightly sand
the putty and then apply paint to complete the window glass putty repair.
For more information on
Installing a New Window, see the
Installing a New Window Ebook from
HomeAdditionPlus.com. The Installing a New Window Ebook provides easy to
understand, step-by-step instructions, on how to remove an old window and
install a new one. Pictures are included for every key step in the process.
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