| Have you ever thought about fixing a broken | | | | of flying glass. As my Father always used to tell me, |
| window in your house, but didn't think you could do it | | | | "Better safe than sorry". Now, go inside with a |
| because nobody ever taught you how to cut glass? | | | | hammer in hand and knock the glass out of the |
| Well, you really don't have to know how to cut glass | | | | center part of the window. It's best to leave some |
| in order to repair your window. If you knew how to | | | | glass sticking out around the edge. You can grab the |
| remove the frame, you could order a replacement | | | | protruding glass and use it as leverage to pop the old |
| piece of glass from your local glass shop already cut | | | | putty loose. The more old putty that you can get to |
| to the proper size. Then, it's just a matter of installing | | | | come out along with the glass, the less scraping you |
| the new glass into the frame. But, there are so many | | | | will have to do. I have done some wood window |
| different kinds of window out there, there is no way | | | | replacements where the putty was dried and |
| i could explain them all in one article. So, this is going | | | | cracked, and it practically fell out on it's own. On the |
| to be the first in a series of articles describing the | | | | flip side, i have done some where the putty had |
| repair procedure for each type of window.There are | | | | almost become a part of the wood. The only way to |
| really two categories of windows out there. They | | | | separate the putty from the frame in those |
| are single pane windows and dual pane windows. | | | | instances is to use a putty knife to scrape it down to |
| Then, within those two categories, there are several | | | | the wood. While removing the putty, you will find |
| types of windows in each category. Let's start with | | | | little pieces of metal that are used to hold the glass in |
| the single pane window category. This would be older | | | | place while applying the putty. The wood windows |
| windows that were around before the building | | | | use push points, and you can get a package of new |
| industry became more energy conscious. It just | | | | ones at the hardware store. If you're working with |
| means that there is a single piece of glass in the | | | | the metal casement window, the metal clips are |
| frame that surrounds it. A lot of homeowners | | | | called sash clips. You might have a harder time finding |
| mistakenly think a horizontal sliding window must be a | | | | these. Frankly, i don't see any problem reusing |
| double pane window, since there is a pane of glass in | | | | them.Once you have all the glass and putty removed, |
| the sliding panel and another pane in the stationary | | | | clean the frame with a paint brush. Then measure |
| panel. The terminology refers to the number of | | | | the width at three spots:bottom, middle, and top. |
| panes in the sliding or fixed panel alone. In other | | | | Take the smallest measurement and deduct 1/8" for |
| words, a single pane horizontal sliding window has a | | | | wood windows and 3/8" for steel casements. Then, |
| single pane of glass in the sliding panel, and a single | | | | measure the height at the left side, center, and right |
| pane in the fixed panel. A double pane slider would | | | | side. Take the smallest measurement and deduct 1/8" |
| actually have two pieces of glass in both the sliding | | | | on wood windows and 1/4" on casements. When |
| panel and fixed panel. The pieces in each panel are | | | | you order your new glass, order double strength |
| separated by approximately 3/8" of air, and have a | | | | glass, and give the width first, then the height. When |
| metal spacer around the edge of the glass.So, let's | | | | you get the new glass home, the installation process |
| get back to the single pane repairs. One of the more | | | | is slightly different between wood and steel windows. |
| common types of single pane windows are the type | | | | If it's wood, put a thin bead of caulk on the frame |
| that uses putty to hold the glass in the frame. All old | | | | where the glass is going to make contact. Install the |
| wood windows are done this way. Old metal | | | | glass. The caulk will hold the glass in place while you |
| casement windows are usually done this way as well. | | | | install the push points. You can either apply putty or |
| The casement window is the kind with the handle on | | | | use white caulk instead. If you're going to use caulk, |
| the inside bottom corner that you crank, and the | | | | cut the tip below the tapered part, and cut at a 45 |
| window opens outward on a top and bottom pivot. | | | | degree angle. You want the largest possible hole to |
| Let's focus this article on the putty style | | | | allow the caulk to cover the large area previously |
| replacements.Before you begin, pick a local glass shop | | | | covered by the putty. The caulk method is faster |
| in your area where you will go to pick up the new | | | | than putty, but it requires more skill to make the job |
| glass. Make sure they are going to be open the day | | | | look nice. If you have steel casements, the only |
| you do the work, and confirm with them that if you | | | | option is putty. The area is just too large to use |
| call in an order for a pane of glass in the morning, | | | | caulk. The sash clips install differently than the push |
| you can pick it up in an hour or two. You dont want | | | | points. The push points stick into the wood, but the |
| to remove the glass from the window frame, then | | | | sash clips insert into small holes in the side of the |
| find out the glass shop won't have your glass cut | | | | casement frame. Sometimes the holes get plugged |
| until next week. If they can't guarantee a two hour | | | | with old putty and it's easy to overlook them. Take |
| turnaround, keep looking.The fastest and easiest way | | | | your time applying the putty. Make sure you use the |
| to remove the old glass is to break it out. Put an old | | | | putty knife to smooth the surface. You just repaired |
| sheet or a tarp on the ground below the window. | | | | your putty window.I will be on Christmas vacation for |
| Then, put on some gloves. Use gloves with a material | | | | the next two weeks, but when I come back, I will |
| that will prevent a piece of glass from cutting your | | | | continue this series of articles on repairing single pane |
| hands. A pair of gardening gloves should work fine. | | | | windows.John Rocco has been installing |
| Get yourself a pair of safety glasses as well. Trust | | | | replacement windows since 1978. |
| me, you don't want to get hit in the eye with a piece | | | | |