Reglazing Old Windows Glass

This page contains instructions for removing damaged window glaze and reglazing to restore these types of windows.

Reglazing old windows glass.

Take a shard of the old glass with you to match the thickness. The easiest glazing jobs usually fall to contractors who deal with newly manufactured windows with soft fresh putty. You can learn to reglaze your old windows yourself with just a little practice and some good training. Glazing forms the weathertight seal between your window s glass and wood but it wears down over time.

It is important that in painting the glazing the paint flows onto a small part of the glass to make a weather tight seal. Learning to reglaze your old windows is something that scares the pants off of many homeowners. Window glass called glazing has come a long way since the days when windows had only a single pane between you and the elements. Also buy a package of glazing points to hold the glass in place while.

Replace the glass and putty the window. When the putty hardens it creates a solid air tight seal around the glass. Whether you re reglazing windows during restoration or because of an errant baseball you ll have to seal between the glass and wood muntins and frame with putty a word still used to describe the material that keeps weather out of the joints. Not all used window related problems require a full window replacement.

It doesn t take much more than a stern look for new putty to virtually leap off the sash. For newer homes well maintained homes and those with relatively new windows window replacement is usually the most expensive and unnecessary option. To restore old wood and glass windows like this the missing and cracked glazing will need to be replaced. If you need new glass measure the opening subtract 1 8 in.

A primer is not needed. The glass panes in a window are called glazing. In case you are wondering when it comes to old or broken windows you generally have the choice to reglaze retrofit or. Wear gloves and eye protection when removing broken or cracked glass.

Check the bottom of this page for a video. Double pane insulated glass with low e coating is a major energy saver. Apply heat until the putty is softened then with a 5 in 1 tool remove the old putty. Remove the glazing as described above and using your 5 in 1 tool carefully remove the old metal glazing points from the wood that secured the glass in place.

It does require practice and a bit of an artist s touch to get it just right but like anything practice makes perfect. Lucky you with your 30 year old windows will need a source of heat to soften the putty. The glass should be cleaned so that all of the putty oils are removed. Here this old house general contractor tom silva installs a tilt in double hung sash photo by mark hooper.

If you have an old house it might be time to redo the glazing.