![doublepane glass in old sashes doublepane glass in old sashes](https://joineryworkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Babra-2-copy.jpg)
Step 3 Prep the Rabbets Photo by Kindra Clineff TIP: When removing putty from a pane that isn't broken, Tom holds a piece of metal flashing over the glass to dissipate the heat. Use the chiseled point of the tool to rake out the warm putty.
#DOUBLEPANE GLASS IN OLD SASHES CRACKED#
Put doubled sheets of aluminum foil on the adjacent panes to keep them from being cracked by the heat. Gradually soften the putty that's still intact by holding a heat gun about an inch away and moving it back and forth. Pry out any loose putty with a painter's tool. Step 2 Remove the Old Putty Photo by Kindra Clineff If the sash is still in the window opening, or the pane has a crack or two but is otherwise intact, it's best to remove the putty first, then the glass. With gloved hands, wiggle free any pieces that remain embedded in the putty. Tap the center of the rag-covered pane with a hammer to loosen the shards. "Trying to reglaze a sash that's still in it's opening takes longer, and it's far more difficult to do a good job." Step 1 Remove the Glass Photo by Kindra Clineffĭon gloves and safety glasses and cover the broken pane with a rag. (In that case, Tom removes all the old putty it's too far gone to patch.) Whatever the glazing project, he recommends taking out the window sash and laying it flat on a workbench, if possible.
![doublepane glass in old sashes doublepane glass in old sashes](https://img1.etsystatic.com/125/1/11170123/il_570xN.1055745489_95qc.jpg)
The reglazing technique Tom demonstrates on these pages also comes in handy when the old putty itself cracks or falls out but the glass remains intact. "You want to end up with neat, crisp creases in the corners and straight runs in between." It's one of the rare homeowner projects that doesn't require some practice to tool the putty," says Tom Silva, This Old House general contractor. And for most modern, double-glazed windows, that means a trip to the local glass shop for repairs.īut for old-fashioned, single-glazed wood sash, you can easily replace the pane yourself. Crack! An errant baseball, a hurled stone, or a falling branch is all it takes to end the life of a windowpane.