Replacing A Broken Glass Pane Youself
If you have a window in your home that is made up of several small panes of glass, and one of the panes has a crack in it, replacing it quickly will help reduce the risk of injury and damage to the rest of the window. You can replace a small pane of glass rather easily on your own with the proper tools. Here is some guidance to help you replace a glass pane on your own.
Preparing For The Replacement
Before you start a replacement, there are a few safety precautions to take so you lower the chance of getting hurt as you work on the project. Place a tarp on the floor or ground near the window you will be working on to help catch any shards that fall as you knock the pane out of the frame. Put on a pair of heavy-duty gloves and goggles to protect your skin and eyes.
Removing The Old Pane
Place some masking tape diagonally in both directions, forming an "X", across the pane of glass you are removing. This will help minimize the amount of glass that falls to the ground. Use the wooden end of a hammer to gently tap against the glass. Since it already has a crack in it, it should not take many hits until the glass releases from the frame. Pick out any shards left in the frame with a pair of needle-nose pliers. Smaller slivers can be removed with tweezers.
Placing The New Pane
Use a screwdriver or chisel to scrape away any pieces of glass along the frame edge. Wipe down the edge with a clean piece of cloth so it is clean before you place the new glass. Get a glass pane cut to size from a local glass or window shop. To put it in the frame, it is best to have a friend help you by holding it from the other side of the window so you have both hands to work with as you adhere it into place.
Glass putty is used to keep window panes in place. This can be bought at a local hardware store or you may be able to pick some up from the glass shop when you buy your new pane. To use, roll a piece of the putty between your fingers to help it become soft. Roll out a piece into a pencil-looking shape.
While your friend is holding the pane in place, attach the putty parallel to the edge of the pane so half of it covers the glass and the other half covers the frame. Press it into place and continue with the other three sides. Repeat with all four edges on the other side of the window. When the putty hardens, excess can be cut away with a utility knife.
For more information on window replacement, talk to a company like Ken Caryl Glass, Inc.