All it takes is just a single rock thrown by a lawnmower, a flying baseball, or a confused bird to break the glass in a window. Unfortunately, glass breaking is just part of what comes with owning a house.
Thankfully, if you have a wood-framed window with single-pane glass, which is still fairly common, then your damaged window should be easy to repair.
You’ll need a few simple materials and tools, some of which you already probably have in your home. And other materials are easy to get at any local hardware store. And once you know how to fix a window, you’ll know what to do the next time you have to put your skills to work on a task like this.
If you’re interested in learning more, then keep on reading and we’ll show you everything that you’ll want to know!
1. Remove the Broken Glass and Clean the Frame
With a putty knife in hand, pry up the hardened glazing compound that’s around the glass. It should come off in big pieces, as it’s usually pretty brittle and dry. If there are pieces of compound that are stuck to the wood, then scrape them off.
Using your putty knife, flat-head screwdriver, or pliers, pry out the old glazing points. These small fasteners are used to pin the glass into the recess of the frame. They have sharp points that are embedded in the wood.
It’s important that you always wear thick gloves and eye protection when you’re working with broken glass.
Using a razor scraper or chisel, scrape down the L-shaped channel around the frame where you took out the glazing points and glazing compound. Be careful and make sure to don’t gouge the wood.
Sand the wood down with sandpaper and then seal off any bare wood with a clear wood sealer or linseed oil.
Let the sealer fully dry.
2. Measure the Frame and Purchase the Glass
Measure the height and width of the window opening. Make sure to measure the outer edges of the L-chances.
Now, subtract one-eight of an inch from each measurement that you use for the size of the glass. When you undersize the pane slightly, you’ll make it easier to install and will have room for seasonal contraction and expansion.
Bring these measurements to your home center or hardware store and have them cut you a piece of glass to this size.
3. Mount the Glass
Roll out glazing compound into thin and long ropes. They should be about one-eighth of an inch in diameter.
Then, place the ropes into the channels around the perimeter of the window frame where the glass is going to sit. Press down gently around the perimeter of the glass with the tip of a putty knife. Make sure to slightly bed the glass and compress the glazing compound.
Press the glazing point into the bottom of the frame against the glass. This will force it into the wood with the tip of your putty knife. If you have to use extra force, you can tap the handle of the putty knife gently with a rubber mallet to drive the points in.
Then, install additional glazier’s points, two on each side. You should end up with a total of eight glazing points for each window pane.
On the backside of your window, you can use a putty knife to scrape off any glazing compound that might have seeped out.
4. Glaze the Window
Between your hands, roll more glazing compound and create ropes that are half of an inch thick. Apply these ropes to the space where the glass meets the frame of the window, over the glazing points. Use your finger and press the compound against the wood and glass.
Holding a putty knife at a 45-degree angle, run the blade of the knife along the bead of the glazing compound. You want to make an angled and flat wedge along the joint that’s between the window frame and the glass. If you see any gaps in the compound, then add a little more and smooth out the joint again with the putty knife.
After you’ve created a wedge-shaped seal with your glazing compound, gently remove any small chunks of compound that are on the glass. You can use the tip of your putty knife to do this.
You want to make sure that you’re not touching the finished bead of the compound.
5. Let the Glazing Cure, Then Paint
You should let the glazing compound dry and harden. This can take as long as five to seven days. After the compound is completely dry and hard, go ahead and paint the glazing and the exposed wood with exterior-grade paint.
It’s a good idea to paint onto the glass just a tiny bit so that you can make sure that you have an effective weather seal.
After the paint has dried completely, clean the glass.
It’s worth noting that you should follow all of the steps above if you know that your glass broke because of a harmless accident. If you fear that someone purposely broke your window, then you should make sure to get emergency window replacement so that your home remains safe and secure.
The Importance of Knowing How to Fix a Broken Window
Hopefully, after reading the above article, you now know how to fix a broken window. And if you ever feel out of your element, then don’t hesitate to contact a professional for help.
Are you looking for other home improvement articles like this one? If so, make sure to check out the rest of our blog today!
