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