An errant ball, hurled stone, or a falling branch is all it takes to end the life of a windowpane. For most modern double-glazed windows, this means a trip to your local glass shop for repairs. For single-glazed windows, you can easily replace the pane yourself.
TOOLS REQUIRED
- Tape Measure
- Hammer
- Putty Knife
- Water Bucket
- Goggles Gloves
- Hacking Knife
- Chise
This leaflet teaches glazing techniques. You will learn how to hack out broken panes and how to fit new glass in wooden frames. Safety is primary concern when you are carrying, storing and working with glass. Never forget the potential risks of broken glass and sharp edges.
Step 1: Measuring for new glass
Measure the rebate both horizontally and vertically. Double check for squareness by measuring the diagonals which should be equal. If your frame is not square, cut a piece of stiff cardboard to the exact size of the rebate. The glazier will use this as a template for cutting the glass to the correct size, allowing for the necessary clearance.
Step 2: Hacking out broken glass
The process of clearing out an old rebate to take new glass is known as hacking out. Wear protective gloves and goggles to remove segments of glass from the broken window. Use a hacking knife to hack out old putty and glass. Carefully pull out panel pins with pliers or pincers. Clean out rebate using a dusting brush.
Step 3: Apply putty on inside
Never apply putty to bare wood. Use a primer to prevent wood sucking oil from the putty. When the primer is dry, knead the putty into a workable plastic state by squeezing it in your hands for a few minutes. Squeeze the putty roughly into the rebate using your thumb and forefinger.
Step 4: Fit glass
Working from the outside, put the pane of glass in the bedding putty and press it gently into place. Do not press the centre of the pane as this may cause it to crack. Tap in panel pins until they are flush with the glass, using a hammer. The hammer head should slide gently against the glass to secure the sprigs. (Do not aim blows as if you were knocking in a nail).
Step 5: Apply putty on outside
Fill the rebate on the outside of the window with putty, pressing it in with your thumb and forefinger. Use a putty knife to obtain a smooth finish, matching the angle on surrounding panes of the glass. Form the putty into a neat mitred join at the corners of the frame. To prevent the knife sticking, keep dipping it into a jar of water. This smoothes the putty and seals it onto the glass. Cut excess putty away from inside the window using the putty knife, then brush down with a dry brush to sea.
Step 6: Finished glass
Showing glass rebate, putty bedding, mitred putty edge and panel pins or sprigs holding the glass in place.
