Plate glass question

[germdoc]

My daughter cracked the inside of a dobule glass picture window that's about 4x3'. (Don't ask how, but it involved candles on a napkin.) The outer pane is not cracked.

Questions: how easy will this be to replace myself? I've never installed a window before. Is it installed from the inside (remove the trim) or outside (aluminum frame)? Or should I hire someone to do it?

[LarryG]

If it's a sealed insulating glass unit, you'll have to have it repaired or replaced. The air space is filled with an inert gas, and the unit is hermetically sealed.

OTOH if it's simple double-glazing, i.e. two completely independent sheets of glass, you may be able to replace it yourself.

How the window comes apart is something you'll have to figure out, as there are many ways. Usually, though, there's some kind of snap-in glazing stop. It could be either inside glazed or outside glazed.

[eccentrictinkerer]

You should be able to order the insulated glass from your local glass supplier. Up here in Minneapolis I get mine from Hopkins Glass.

The windows I've replaced just required removing the inside trim (stop?) and pulling the glass assembly out. Sometimes I've encountered a sticky putty that required some extra effort. Try to move the whole window assembly to a workbench. Much safer and easier to clean up.

I use clear window caulk to re-install. I've been lucky, the largest pane (pain) I've dealt with was about a foot square.

Good luck!

J.D.

[Uncle Cracker]

I'd have a pro come out and give you an estimate. It won't cost you anything, and you may learn some things you won't be able to see on your own. Then you can better decide if you want to tackle the job yourself, or it may be cheap enough that you'll hire it out and not have to worry about it.

[cabinetman]

Having done many of them of varying sizes, it's not only a PITA, but a mishagoss. I'll try to talk you out of doing it yourself.

You won't know exactly what the glass combination is until it's removed. If it's tempered, there will be a small label in one of the corners. It could be a laminated arrangement, or a two pane sealed with argon gas. As for how it's installed, it may have visible fasteners on either side, or, a fitted moulding that connects to the window frame by a compression fit. In some cases, the glass may be glazed in which is like a waterproof adhesive. This can be extremely hard to remove. Or, it may have a gasket fit that seats in the trim holding it in.

So, the problem is logistic. You have to remove it to know what to order. Upon the window being ready, you'll have to go get it and handle it to install it. If for some reason you have a glitch and break, crack, or chip the new window, you are back to the order desk.

This is one of the homeowners repair dilemmas that is better left to an experienced glazier. I haven't gone into the safety factors of removal and installation. If the glass is glazed in, the probability of breakage in removing it is very high. I'm not saying you can't pull this off without a hitch, because you're a pretty smart guy. If you had done one of these previously, I would say give it a shot. But for what it costs, I don't think it's worth the hassle to add this to your resume.
.

[JR]

FWIW, when my brother was a building contractor he told me he always had the glazier do the work on windows and mirrors. His reasoning seemed to be that the specialty skills are not obvious but they are important, and handling and disposal is dangerous and a pain in the rear.

YMMV,
JR

[germdoc]

Thanks for the advice. I got a quote for the glass--$131--and for the labor--$275. I guess I'll have to bite the bullet, cause it's a big piece of glass. Must be really heavy too.

A friend of mine pointed out the benefits of having someone else install something--if they screw up, they pay for it. He was referring to installing a high-end dishwasher, not that difficult, but it you do it and it leaks and causes damage, guess who has to deal with it.

I would really hate to cut off a body part handling a large piece of glass. It'd be heck to get the blood stains out of the wood floor.

[Uncle Cracker]

I think it's money well spent. Some things just aren't worth the trouble. Leaks can be a real PITA, too, and this way you'll have somebody whose fat may be held to the fire if that happens. Have you checked to see if accidental breakage is covered under your homeowners' policy?

[gsmittle]

I would really hate to cut off a body part handling a large piece of glass. It'd be heck to get the blood stains out of the wood floor.

Might help to put down a couple of fresh coats of urethane on the floor...

IMO, this is one of those pay-the-experts-to-do-it projects, along with roofing, carpeting, and large concrete work.

g.

[slieber967]

plate glass

i think i would be tempted to put a piece of clear packing tape over the crack and wait until spring. it might be difficult to get the job you want in the winter. sometimes it's better to wait even if you have to look at it every day.

kc
slieber967@aol.com