How to Mend a Broken Window

Broken a window?

Now need to worry, you can call the experts or try and mend it yourself.

1. Always wear protective gloves and eyewear to ensure your safety. Glass is dangerous.

2. If the window is just cracked then use some masking tape and crisscross the window neatly, being careful. With the butt of a hammer gently break the glass and remove it from the frame it is in.

3. Using a chisel, neatly remove the putty. If the putty has been there a while it may now be very hard but don't worry, you can soften it up using linseed oil.

4. Once the putty you must now clean up frame with your chisel and then with some sand paper. You are now ready to add the new pane of glass.

5. Measure the opening and buy a piece of glass for a reputable glass maker (Leaving a gap of about 2 to 3mm). Remember to wear your gloves and eye wear here!!

6. Using some more linseed oil apply neatly around the frame,. This usually prevents your new putty from drying out too fast,

7. Roll out your putty (About the same thickness as a pen). with enough to cover the frame, you're ready to insert the glass into the frame. Now gently, yet firmly press against the putty. Any excess putty, simply take off with a putty knife. Secure the new glass in place with pins.

8. Take your putty and roll this out so it fits around the window. Neatly smooth the putty with a putty knife. Now remove any excess putty. Leave the window for at least 2 days to let the putty settle fully. Now clean your glass!

Remember be careful!.....

Remember at all times you must wear safety gloves and safety eye wear. This is very important and both these items can be bought from your local hardware store.

Glass not only cuts but when repairing broken frames, small pieces of glass can fly up and cause serious and permanent damage. When repairing glass, make sure you sweep up very carefully after you have finished as children may be playing near by and your may have pets wandering around, both which are vulnerable to small bits of glass.

If needs be, contact a professional glazing company and remember always to ask for their credentials prior to authorising them to work on your broken windows etc.

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