Single Pane Glass Repair in an Aluminum Frame, Part 2

This week we are going to continue our series on single pane window glass repair. Let's talk about broken glass in a fixed window, usually referred to as a picture window. The most common type will have metal stops on the outside, around all four edges of the window glass. Sometimes these stops will be held in place with screws, and other times there will be aluminum stops that snap in place. In some rare instances there will be a rubber material in place of metal. If you have the screw type, you remove all of the screws and each piece will come out. If you have the metal snap in stops, carefully pry the stop from the frame using a small, flat screwdriver or a putty knife. You want to start in a corner and work along the stop until it comes out. Don't pry too much because the stops can bend very easily. If you have the rubber type, pry a corner away using the screwdriver, grab it with your fingers, and pull out the rubber. The glass shouldn't fall out because there is a glue or tape on the edge, holding the glass in place.

From here, You can get your measurements for the new piece of glass. The glass edges will be exposed, and you can hook your tape measure to the edge and get your width and height. If there is a hole in the glass, measure the glass thickness. If there isn't a hole, put on some gloves and carefully push on the glass where the crack is located. This will expose the edge so you can measure it. When you go to get the new glass, you're going to need a tube of silicone to replace the glue or tape holding the glass in place. Once you get the glass home, you need to remove the old glass. Go inside and cut between the glass and frame using a utility knife with a new blade. This will cut away the silicone or tape that is holding the old glass. Be sure to wear heavy gloves during this process to avoid getting cut. Start at the top and cut across from one corner to the other. Then cut down one side, from top to bottom. Do the other side the same way. At this point the glass should fall out. You should place a tarp or sheet under the window to catch the glass as it falls out. Using a stiff putty knife, scrape off the old silicone or tape from the frame. If there were setting blocks on the bottom, be sure to reuse them. They act as shims to raise the glass off the bottom.

Now run a bead of silicone about 3/16" thick around the perimeter of the opening. Grab your new glass on the sides, angle the bottom in and the top out, set the glass on the setting blocks, then slowly raise the glass up into place. Push just hard enough that all four edges of the glass contact the silicone, but not so hard that the glass makes contact with the metal frame. Install your outside stops. Don't clean the glass for 24 hours so the silicone can set up.

Next week I will continue this series on window glass repair.

John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978. To learn more, visit How To Install Windows


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Space Shuttle Crew Home Improvement Project
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The space shuttle endeavour and its seven astronauts are making their way back to earth. The shuttle undocked from the international space station Friday ...
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Despite drop in oil, Americans seal up for winter
Reuters - Nov 30, 2008
Across the northern United States, contractors, home improvement retailers and nonprofit groups report that such weatherization efforts continue apace, ...

Home improvement contracts regulated
Daily American Online, PA - Nov 29, 2008
The bill will regulate written home improvement contracts and require contractors doing more than $5000 of work annually to be registered in the state. ...

Secondhand home improvement stores stock big savings
Trading Markets (press release), CA - Nov 30, 2008
The store is Stardust Building Supplies, a nonprofit organization that sells donated home improvement items at up to 80 percent off retail prices. ...

CNET News

The iPhone 2.2 software update, a hands-on report
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... from last to first in a circular fashion), and a bigger improvement, I think. It makes the first Home screen distinctly more convenient than the others, ...

Senior Citizens Beware of Lame Home Improvement Companies
Floral Park Dispatch, NY - Nov 28, 2008
Over the past year, at least three local senior citizens have been taken advantage of by an out-of-town home improvement contractor for tens of thousands of ...

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Their column has been in syndication for 20 years, and they have written 20 home improvement books. Each week the Hamiltons will compare the cost of a ...

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