Glass windows get broken for a number of reasons – stray cricket balls, stones hit-up by the lawnmower, a bird that is trapped indoors, or a more sinister reason, house break-ins. Fixing the broken pane of glass should be a priority, as broken glass can be dangerous and it is a security hazard while it remains broken. However, if it has been caused by a break-in, be sure that all the necessary professionals have inspected it before you touch or replace it, such as the police who will inevitably dust it for prints, as well as the insurance assessor who will want to examine it as well.For large panes of glass, it is better to leave the replacement to professional glass fitters. If the pane is relatively small however, such as a cottage pane for example, replacing it can be as easy as one, two, three – here is how:
What you will need:
• Work gloves and eye protection
• Masking tape
• Towel
• Hammer
• Replacement glass (professionally cut to the right size)
• Long-nosed pliers
• Suitable fast-drying primer
• Flat-edge putty knife
• Caulk
• Glazing compound (or putty)
• Glaziers points (if it is a wooden window)
• Chisel or flat-headed screwdriver
• Paint brush and fast drying primer
• Tape measure
Removing the broken pane
The first thing that needs to be done is to remove the broken glass from the window frame. Before you begin, ensure that you are wearing adequate eye protection and work gloves. If the window in question is only cracked and not broken through, you will need to purposefully break it. To do this, stick some masking tape across the pane in a criss-cross fashion to help prevent shattering, put a towel over the glass and hit it hard enough with a hammer to break it. Once the glass is broken through, you can carefully wiggle the broken pieces out of the frame.You will also need to remove the glazing compound or putty from the perimeter of the window frame. If you are lucky, it will be so old and weather-worn that it will just break off. Sometimes however, it will have bonded firmly to the window frame and will have to be chiseled or scraped off with a flat-headed screwdriver or a small chisel. If you are working with a wooden window frame, be sure to also remove all the glazier's points (small triangular-shaped pieces of metal that hold the glass in place) with some long-nosed pliers. Once you have done this, give your window frame a quick sanding down to remove any glazing compound or putty that may have been left behind, and then paint it with a fast-drying primer. This will prevent metal window frames from rusting, and wooden window frames from absorbing all the oil out of the glazing compound, leaving it dry and brittle.
Installing the glass
Once the primer is dry, you will need to extend a long bead of caulk or a thin string of hand-rolled putty around the exterior of the window frame, to provide a reliable cushion on which the glass can sit, as well as providing a waterproof seal around the outside of the glass pane. Press the replacement glass firmly into the frame so that it presses down into the caulk or putty.If you are working with a wooden window, this is when you will need to install the new glazier's points to hold the replacement pane firmly in place. Start off by pressing them in with your thumb and then use a screwdriver to drive them firmly into place. Glazier's points will need to be installed on all four sides of the pane, approximately 5cm apart from one another.
To correctly seal the window, you will need to roll a piece of glazing compound or putty between your hands and make a string that is approximately 7cm in diameter. Using your fingers, press the string into place in the seam between the glass and the window frame, and then use a flat-edge putty knife to neaten up the edges. This is done by holding the knife at an angle between the glass and the window frame, and running it down each edge to create a smooth surface. Leave the putty or glazing compound to dry for a week or so and then you can paint the frame and clean the window pane with turpentine or methylated spirits.
Pictures:
Images courtesy of:
- Nulu Windows
- Swartland
- The Mount Nelson Hotel
For more information about Swartland click here to visit the website.
For more information about Nulu Windows click here to visit the website.
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