Broken window glass can be replaced by regular glass or by
plastic unbreakable glass, usually an acrylic … check with your
local glazier to determine the thickness and type of glass you
should use.
Before starting to replace broken glass, put on a pair of
gloves and a pair of glasses. It is easy for bits of glass to chip
and fly. Glass, in both wood and metal frames, is normally held in
place by a mechanical fastener. In wood these are usually
glazier's points, a small triangle of thin metal. In metal spring
clips are used. Putty or glazing compound is then applied to keep
out rain.
The following steps are suggested for replacing broken
window glass:
-
Carefully remove all pieces of glass being careful to clean
up the area around the window to prevent injury and cuts. Use
pliers to grip pieces of glass still in the window.
-
With a chisel, remove the old putty. Be careful not to gouge
the wood frame. As you proceed around the frame you will find
glaziers points (small steel triangles) in wood frames or
spring clips in metal window frames. Save the points or clips.
Be sure all old putty is removed so the glass will slide into
place easily.
-
With sandpaper or a rasp, clean off bits of putty which
remain on the wood or metal sash.
-
Paint the frame with an oil based wood preservative or an
oil base primer. This seals the wood surface under the putty
and prevents the metal frame from rusting. A fast drying
primer is the most convenient.
-
Measure the size of the glass with a yardstick or folding
rule. A steel rule may sag causing errors in dimensions. Allow
3mm clearance on all sides so reduce each measured dimension
by 6mm. Buy the glass cut to the correct size.
-
Put a thin ribbon of glazing compound in the groove on the
frame for the glass to rest on. Keep the thickness of this
glazing compound fairly uniform so when you press the glass
down into the compound it will not crack.
-
Install the glass, press it onto the glazing compound and
insert the glaziers points (small metal triangles) which you
removed. Push these in with a large screwdriver. If you use a
hammer be careful not to break the glass. The points should be
placed every 150mm to 200mm. The spring clips for metal
windows should be inserted in the holes provided in the steel
frame.
-
Knead the glazing compound and form it into strings no
bigger than a pencil. Lay a string of compound along one side
at a time and force it onto the glass and wood frame with the
tip of a putty knife. Smudges from the compound can be removed
later with a cloth dipped in turpentine.
-
After the glazing compound has dried, paint it to finish
sealing the seams between the glass and the compound, and the
wood and the compound.
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