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Replacing window glass

Single glass or double glazing

For placing, there is little difference between a single glass and double/triple glazing. The main distinction is that you should not cut double glazing, so you will have to order it exactly to size. But, it is also more convenient to leave the cutting to the supplier in case of single glass too.

Materials

  • Glass
  • Glass sealant
  • Glass tape
  • Nails
  • Glass cubes
  • Wood putty

Tools

man measures window frame
  • Work gloves
  • Tape measure
  • Stanley knife
  • Chisel
  • Putty knife
  • Hammer or tacker
  • Pincers
  • Caulking gun
  • Placing glass in 6 steps
  1. Measure the glass pane
  2. Measuring the old window pane is surely the easiest way to go, but you will probably want to leave it until the ordered glass is delivered. In this case, measure the inside of the rebate and reduce the height and width with the so-called “glass deduction”. A rebate is not always entirely rectangular. The glass pane should be slightly smaller to prevent it from squeezing in places. The recommended deduction is 5 mm for single glazing and 7 mm for double glazing.

  3. Remove the old glass pane
  4. man places glass in window frame

    Cut the sealant around the glass pane with a Stanley knife. Then, use a putty knife or chisel to pry off the glazing beads – the slats that hold the glass against the rebate. Keep the top slat for last to prevent the glass from falling out of the rebate. Use the pliers to pull the nails out of the slats.

    Now, put on your safety gloves and carefully remove the glass from the rebate. A specially designed suction cup can be useful for large windows.

    Tip: Never hold a glass pane loosely. Instead, clamp it firmly in your gloved hands.

  5. Apply glass tape
  6. Stick the glass tape (available from the glass supplier) inside the rebate and the slats.

  7. Insert the new glass
  8. In the rebate, place two plastic blocks close to the corners on which the glass pane will be placed. These glass cubes are approx. 3 mm thick and are available at the glass suppliers. Now, place the glass pane in the rebate and hold it in place with one hand while you attach the top glazing bead. Nail the slat carefully, or a more convenient way is to use a tacker. Then attach the glazing beads to the sides, and finally to the bottom.

    Note: With double glazing, the thicker glass must be on the outside and the thinner on the inside.

  9. Seale
  10. caulking gun and work gloves in windowsill

    Now, seal the connection of the glass to the glazing beads all around with a caulking gun. Make sure that the kit gets into the cracks, and it’s better to use extra kit than too little. You can easily remove the excess kit by spraying it with soapy water from a plant sprayer and then wiping it off with a putty knife.

  11. Finishing
  12. Finally, fill the nail holes with putty and paint the frame.

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