Even if you don’t live near a park or on a golf course, chances
are you will have to repair a broken window sometime, especially if
you have kids.
Even some of the smaller windows can pose big problems in
repairing. Here are some tips to follow next time you have to fix a
window.
Even if you don’t live near a park or on a golf course, chances are you will have to repair a broken window sometime, especially if you have kids.
Even some of the smaller windows can pose big problems in repairing. Here are some tips to follow next time you have to fix a window.
The first step is to remove the old broken glass. You’ll probably want to wear gloves to knock out or remove the glass. A vacuum cleaner can be used around the area to pick up small shards.
Once the glass is removed, you can remove the glaze around the window with a putty knife. If it doesn’t come out, you can soften it and then remove it with mineral spirits, according to a Lowes.com tutorial.
Measure the opening for the new glass. The glass you buy for the window should be three millimeters smaller than the actual measurement of the frame, according to a tutorial at eHow.com.
Apply caulking around the frame and then gently press the new glass in place. Lowes.com advises pressing glazing points (small fasteners that hold the window in place) every couple inches around the pane with the putty knife.
Apply another coat of caulking along the window to seal it in place and remove the excess with your putty knife.
Once it dries, you can repaint it. Lowes.com advises overlapping the glass a little with the paint to create a good seal.
Do you have a home improvement question or a tip to share that has worked for you? If so, we’d love to hear it. The home improvement tip runs on Wednesdays. Send your questions and comments to nm*****@**********rs.com or call (408) 842-6400 and ask for Nathan Mixter.
