Fixing or Replacing Broken Window Glass to Save Heating Costs This Winter
- By Amy U. Goodmann
- Published 12/28/2011
- Home Management
- Unrated
With winter and cold weather soon to be upon us you want to reduce furnace and heating bill costs by repairing or replacing any cracked window panes or windows as promptly as you possibly can. Replacing a pane of glass successfully requires overall taking simple precautions, and paying attention to detail and details. It’s a case overall of measure twice cut once and take great care. Give yourself and your family comfort as well as keeping heating fuel costs within your budget.
You can buy a new pane of glass cut to size at your local glass retail outlet or big box hardware or heating supply store or alternatively you can cut the glass yourself from standard size sheets. Either way, no doubt about it with winter chill and Jack Frost on his way a cracked window should be repaired promptly. Proceed slowly through the steps, the payoff to your work and workmanship comes in being methodical.
Windows glass is set into a rabbet, an L-shaped channel in the edge of a frame designed to hold sheet material in place firm and tight. The glass is then embedded in putty or putty like material and further secured with glazier’s points. To replace broken glass, remove the old glass window material, the old glazing putty as well as glazier’s points. Then, take the very exact measurements if the opening.
Glass is sold in standard thicknesses measured in fractions of an inch or in Canada in metric measurements. A common size is ¼ of an inch. Measure the glass that you are replacing to the nearest 1/32 of an inch. If it is in the available size, for safety and comfort’s sake purchase the next larger size up.
Cutting glass is not difficult at all or by any means. It is simply a matter of practice and confidence. Like anything else learned new you might break a pane or two before you acquire the knack. So start with scrap glass. Practice scoring with the glass cutter until you gets the “feel” for the
amount of pressure needed for a clean-cut that is firm but not heavy.
The replacement glass should measure 1/8 inch less than the actual opening. This provides a 1/ 16 inch space for heat expansion and contraction of the frame on each edge of the installed glass.
Special tools for working with glass include a glass cutter as well as flat nosed pliers. To install a new pane you will need the wedge-shape fasteners called “glazier’s points” as well as glazing compound to both cushion the glass as well a make a good solid watertight seal.
Traditional glazing compound (often referred to simply as “putty”) generally can be purchased at home hardware or plumbing and heating supply outlets comes in a can or plastic container and is oil-based. This putty material is most often worked by hand. It dries more than quickly when exposed to air especially warm or hot temperatures air. Hence when workings with putty ensure that you reseal the can or plastic container tightly. Newer type glazing materials are usually latex based. These synthetics are longer lasting yet more expensive and costly than older style oil based products. They come in tubes and can be applied with a caulking gun.
Generally it can be estimated that one pound of putty will fill about 13 linear feet. Very sticky putty is most difficult to work with. A professional installer’s tip is to wrap it briefly in newspaper or newspaper like materials to absorb and mop up at least some of the oil. On the other side you can soften stiff oil based putty with a little linseed oil easily available at your local hardware or paint store.
A broken windowpane can be replaced without removing the frame, but overall it will be easier if you do remove the frame and lay it flat to work on it. This makes more sense if, while you are about it, you want to replace crumbled glazing compound and touch up or repaint.
Lastly the shmendrick advises that it is important to wear safety glasses and protective gloves always when working with glass. Leather gloves are best suited to the task.
You can buy a new pane of glass cut to size at your local glass retail outlet or big box hardware or heating supply store or alternatively you can cut the glass yourself from standard size sheets. Either way, no doubt about it with winter chill and Jack Frost on his way a cracked window should be repaired promptly. Proceed slowly through the steps, the payoff to your work and workmanship comes in being methodical.
Windows glass is set into a rabbet, an L-shaped channel in the edge of a frame designed to hold sheet material in place firm and tight. The glass is then embedded in putty or putty like material and further secured with glazier’s points. To replace broken glass, remove the old glass window material, the old glazing putty as well as glazier’s points. Then, take the very exact measurements if the opening.
Glass is sold in standard thicknesses measured in fractions of an inch or in Canada in metric measurements. A common size is ¼ of an inch. Measure the glass that you are replacing to the nearest 1/32 of an inch. If it is in the available size, for safety and comfort’s sake purchase the next larger size up.
Cutting glass is not difficult at all or by any means. It is simply a matter of practice and confidence. Like anything else learned new you might break a pane or two before you acquire the knack. So start with scrap glass. Practice scoring with the glass cutter until you gets the “feel” for the
The replacement glass should measure 1/8 inch less than the actual opening. This provides a 1/ 16 inch space for heat expansion and contraction of the frame on each edge of the installed glass.
Special tools for working with glass include a glass cutter as well as flat nosed pliers. To install a new pane you will need the wedge-shape fasteners called “glazier’s points” as well as glazing compound to both cushion the glass as well a make a good solid watertight seal.
Traditional glazing compound (often referred to simply as “putty”) generally can be purchased at home hardware or plumbing and heating supply outlets comes in a can or plastic container and is oil-based. This putty material is most often worked by hand. It dries more than quickly when exposed to air especially warm or hot temperatures air. Hence when workings with putty ensure that you reseal the can or plastic container tightly. Newer type glazing materials are usually latex based. These synthetics are longer lasting yet more expensive and costly than older style oil based products. They come in tubes and can be applied with a caulking gun.
Generally it can be estimated that one pound of putty will fill about 13 linear feet. Very sticky putty is most difficult to work with. A professional installer’s tip is to wrap it briefly in newspaper or newspaper like materials to absorb and mop up at least some of the oil. On the other side you can soften stiff oil based putty with a little linseed oil easily available at your local hardware or paint store.
A broken windowpane can be replaced without removing the frame, but overall it will be easier if you do remove the frame and lay it flat to work on it. This makes more sense if, while you are about it, you want to replace crumbled glazing compound and touch up or repaint.
Lastly the shmendrick advises that it is important to wear safety glasses and protective gloves always when working with glass. Leather gloves are best suited to the task.
Amy U. Goodmann
Amy U. Goodmann Furnasman Home Heating & cooling One of Winnipeg's biggest furnace retailers Furnasman's Winnipeg Furnaces St. Vital Transcona Tuxedo Selkirk Manitoba Professional Installers Heating New Homes Contractor Supply Online
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