How To Replace A Single-Paned Glass Window In A Wooden Frame
Baseballs and windows seem meant for each other in the springtime. If you have kids playing baseball in the yard, it sometimes looks as if it's only a matter of time before a baseball gets either hit or thrown through one of your windows. You'll have to fix the window quickly if you don't want bugs or spring rains coming into your home. Here is how to fix a single-paned glass window set into a wood frame.
You Will Need:
- New Glass Window Pane
- Putty Knife
- Measuring Tape
- Glazing Compound
- Glazing Stars
- Glazing Knife
- Heavy-Duty Gloves
- Eye Protection
Removing the Window Pane
You will have an easier time repairing the glass pane if you remove the sash from the wood window frame. Carefully remove all the unstable pieces of glass before you try to take out the window sash – remember to wear heavy work gloves to protect your hands while working with broken glass, and wear protective eye wear to protect against flying glass.
Pry up the interior stops (those long thin pieces of wood on the inside of the window frame that hold the sash into the wood frame) and remove them so you can take the sash out of the window frame. Find a nice flat surface to work on the window. Take your putty knife and scrape away the glazing compound from all around the sash – be very careful, as pieces of broken glass will still be stuck in the old glazing compound and can be a little dangerous to remove. Make sure the surface of the sash is completely free of any old glazing compound that could interfere with the installation of the new window pane.
Measuring the Window Opening
You will want to measure the length and width of the sash opening so you know how big of a pane you need to have cut – remember to make the measurements about 3/8" shorter than the exact measurement to give the wooden sash room to expand and contract when outside temperatures change (the wood expands in the summer when it's humid and warm outside, and it contracts in the winter when humidity and temperature drop).
Installing the New Window Pane
Place the new pane into the sash. Use the glazing stars to hold the pane firmly in place. You use the stars by laying them flat on the pane and sliding the pointy part of the star into the wood sash with your putty knife. Place a thick bead of glazing compound all around the interior of the sash and smooth it down at an angle between the sash and the glass with your glazing knife. Remove any excess glazing compound with your putty knife and a wet rag. Put the sash back into the window and replace the stops. Allow the glazing compound to dry for a couple of days before you paint over it.
For professional advice, contact a company like Simpson Windows and Doors.
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