A broken window pane can allow your heat or cool air to escape your house and it can also become a safety hazard. Just because your window pane is broken or cracked, does not mean that you need to replace your whole door. Broken or cracked glass is one of the easiest problems to fix. If you need to know how to replace a window pane, here’s a simple way to replace a broken pane in a single pane window.
What You Will Need to Replace a Window Pane:
- Safety goggles
- Masking tape
- Hammer
- Chisel or scraper
- Linseed oil
- Clean cloth
- Tape measure
- Replacement glass
- Glaziers’ points for spring clips
- Putty knife
- Glaziers’ compound or putty
- Single-edge razor blade or glass scraper
- Rust-resistant paint and paintbrush
Removing a Broken Window Pane
Before you can replace your window pane, you need to remove the broken pane first. Wearing your gloves and safety goggles, cover the broken pane with a cloth or rag. Tap the center of the rag-covered pane with a hammer to loosen the pane or shards. With your gloved hands, remove any extra pieces that remain in the putty of the window pane. Using your chisel or scraper, pry out any loose putty that remains in the window frame. Using the same tool, pry the old metal glazing points out of the rabbets, grooves where the glass sits. Scrape the rabbets down to the bare wood and brush an exterior primer onto the bare wood so it won’t shorten the life of the new putty. When the paint dries, knead a handful of putty until it’s warm and press it into the rabbets, filling them in completely. Once you’ve successfully removed the broken window pane, measure the frame for the new piece of glass. Measure both ways across, from inside edge to inside edge, and subtract 1/16 to ⅛ inch each way. Go to your local hardware store and have double-strength glass cut to the precise dimensions.
Replacing a Broken Window Pane
After you have your new piece of glass cut to the correct dimensions, it’s time to replace the broken pane. Place the new piece of glass into the putty and apply even pressure with the tips of your fingers. Keep pushing the glass into the pane until it is centered in the opening and some of the putty remains between the face of the glass and the rabbet. In the center of each side of the pane, place a glazier’s point flat on the glass and fit the tip of the putty knife against the point’s shoulders. Using a slight downward pressure, gently rock the point from side to side until it’s in the wood. Repeat on all sides. If you have a window pane more than 12 inches or longer on a side, space the points 6 inches apart. After you’ve successfully installed your new piece of glass, warm a handful of putty into a long rope about ¾ inch in diameter. Place the rope around the edge of the glass and push it against the exposed rabbets. Take your putty knife and flatten the blade against the putty with your finger and pull the knife along one side of the pane. Be sure to leave a nice crease in the corner and collect the excess putty.
Window Pane Replacement
If you’ve successfully replaced your broken or cracked window pane and find more damage, DIY Door Store can help fix your problem. DIY Door Store has everything you would need to replace window panes on any door! We will help you find the right replacement part at a price you can feel good about. With parts from Therma-Tru, Fox, Masonite and Trapp Doors, we guarantee you’ll find the right piece for you. If you would like more information on how to replace a window pane, call us at (888) 998 - 3667 today!