How to Fix Broken Window Glass
Most homeowners would rather avoid repairing windows and hire some else to do it depite the potential high costs involved. Its actually very easy to do once you’ve done it few times and the savings can be well worth the trouble. Just be sure to use extra caution whenever working around glass and ladders.
Things You'll Need:
- Heavy work gloves
- Safety glasses
- Replacement glass
- Putty knife
- Glazing compound
- Paintbrush
- Linseed oil
- Measuring tape
- Wire brush
- Glaziers points
- 5-in-1 tool
- Sandpaper
Wear heavy gloves and eye protection when working around
broken glass.Remove all broken glass, putty and glazier's points
from the broken window.Repair any damage to sash if necessary before starting the
glazing process.Measure for the new piece of glass. Subtract 1/8 of an inch to
allow for expansion. Be sure to allow for any glass that fits into any
slots. If the window is out of square, trace a pattern onto paper or
cardboard.Clean and sand the bare wood. A small wire brush works well
for this.Prime the sash with oil based primer or a mixture of boiled
linseed oil and mineral spirits depending on the type of glazing
used. Allow time for the primer to dry.Apply a thin bed of glazing to the backstop and set the glass
in place using glazier points. Knead the putty until it is soft and
work it into pencil sized strips and and lay them into the sash.Smooth out the putty using a putty knife dipped
in linseed oil. It will take a little practice to get it to look the
way you want it to. Work slowly and draw off the excess using long
continuous strokes to work the putty until it matches your old
windows. If it doesn't look right just remove the putty and try it
again until you are happy with the appearance.Allow the glazing to skin over
one to three weeks before priming. Use an oil-based primer before
you paint the sash. Be sure to overlap the paint line onto the glass
to seal out moisture.