Episode #7 - Broken Glass
The Handyguys February 28th, 2008
There are two major window film products. Many of you have probably seen the product that covers the entire window unit to block air leaks during the cold winter months. You put up the plastic sheeting with double-sided tape and heat it up with a hair dryer to pull it taut. These work fairly well for older leaky windows. Another product is the Gila window film that is applied to block UV rays and to provide interesting decorative looks for your windows. The Handyguys understand how the Gila film could aid a home in the heat of the southwest, but does this product really pay off in the north? Let us know what you think.
Bob from Tacoma, WA, asks the Handyguys how to repair a modern vinyl window that has been broken from an unknown projectile.Fixing a new vinyl window is a lot different than replacing the old wood windows we grew up with. You can’t just go down to the hardware store and get a new piece of glass. The new windows typically use a double (or triple) glass window unit with faux dividers that snap in between the glass or on the surface. Some older vinyl windows are not repairable when broken. Your only option is to completely replace the sash. Fortunately, with most newer windows, the glass is removable by removing the stops. The pictures below document this process. Listen to the podcast for more details.
Modern Vinyl Window Repair
Remove sash
Remove the stops
Replace the glass
(Handyguy Paul is showing us on a window he already fixed, so no pictures of this part.)
Reinstall the stops
Wood Frame Window Repair
As far as fixing glass on a older windows, Brian gives us a lesson in glazing windows:
Gather your tools — a 5 in 1 tool, utility knife, scraper, heat (maybe).
Remove old glazing
You may need to apply heat to get it out. A 5-in-1 tool is also helpful.
Remove glazing points with utility knife or needle nose pliers.
Remove glass; scrape and remove glazing that glass was set in.
Prime any bare wood with oil based primer or boiled linseed oil.
Get new glass from hardware store, measured to size. You want glass to be about 1/8″ smaller than the opening to allow for expansion.
Now do everything in reverse.
Put a thin bed of glazing compound on sash to set glass onto. Brian always uses Dap 33. You must knead it to warm it up. Get your hands into it.
Put glazing points around glass.
For smaller panes, you only need about one or two points on each side.
Glaze
Reach into the can of Dap 33 and pull out about a golfball-sized wad of glazing; roll it into a ball and knead it around a little so that it is more workable. Then roll it in your hands to form a long snake.
Run the glazing around the edges of the of the glass.
Draw off excess.
Use a 1-inch stiff putty knife to draw off excess putty and make a smooth bead of putty around edges of the window mutton and the pane of glass. This takes a little practice.
And Brian has another story about a funny incident at the hardware store… fortunately there is no blood in this story.
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- Comments(4)
OMG, I was seriously about to post something about repairing old windows. Mine was more posing the question of HOW?! …and is it worth it?! I’ve got some beautiful old windows in my new [old] house, but many are in dire need of some love. I bought new locks to install, but some need new glazing too. Anyways….once I’m ready to really get started I’m going to be checking back in on this page. In the meantime, I’m also having Anderson windows come out and give me an estimated cost on a few replacements.
Dear HouseObsession - Handyguy Brian here, I do think its worth it. The look of the old windows is very expensive to replicate in a modern window. If you live in a climate where super effeciency is not a major concern then I would go for re-glazing. If you need to cut your heating bills, are not concerned with keeping the original fabric of your house and can afford the investment then the Andersons may be the way to go. There are other brands too, Pella and Marvin come to mind (for wood on the inside). Make sure you shop around and compare prices.
Well, I’ve decided to do a little of both. On the side of the house (upstairs) where I am dealing with rotten headers & sills…I’m going to just replace them with vinyl double hung windows. You can’t see these windows from the street so it won’t infringe with the curb appeal of the house. It will however help out on heating costs…and of course I’ll be able to replace the rotten wood at the same time. I’m keeping the nice looking 12 over 1 windows downstairs and on the front. They’re less damaged and over time I can re-glaze them as necessary.
Did you say rotted wood? The show that is going live in just over an hour is about rotted window sills and rotted exterior wood. We are also covering ladders in that show. Here is the URL
http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/68/episode-11-a-step-up
Good luck with your project and let us know if you have any questions.