If you have older single-paned wooden-framed windows in your home, and you are not yet ready to purchase replacement windows at this time, you may want to consider reglazing around the frames to help protect your home from unnecessary drafts. Over time the glass putty that holds a window pane into place will deteriorate. When the putty chips away, it leaves voids that will allow energy to escape. Here are some instructions you can follow when reglazing your single-paned windows.

Remove The Sash

Before you reglaze a window, you will need to remove the bottom sash portion from the frame, as it is much easier to do the reglazing work when the window is lying on a flat surface. You will be apply the glass putty to the exterior of your window, so removing it is necessary if it is on a second story in your home.

To remove the sash, first take out the tall wooden stops that hold it in place. These are located on the interior portion of your window, on each side of the frame, perpendicular to the sash. They are usually held into place with screws. If they have been painted, you will need to use a knife to cut through the paint so you can get to them to free them from the window frame area. 

Remove The Glazing

Once the sash has been removed, lie it on a table so you have leverage as you remove the deteriorating glazing. Chip away at the glazing using a painter's tool or a paint scraper. To remove glazing that is adhering well, use a heat gun to soften it so it can be pushed away from the glass and frame of the window.

Replace The Glazing

Purchase new glazing at a hardware store. Make sure it is at room temperature when you use it so it is pliable enough to form into cylindrical shapes to place along the edges of the glass. Center each piece parallel to the glass edge so half of the width of the cylinder is covering the glass and half is covering the window frame. Push it down with your finger to keep the glass in place, sealing it so elements will not be able to penetrate through the putty when it hardens. 

Finish The Job

After the new glazing hardens, use a razor blade to remove any excess from the glass pane. You will want to add a fresh coating of paint to your frame as the heat gun may have caused areas to melt while you were removing the glazing. Glazing will take about a week to cure, so you will want to put the window back into place while waiting for this process to end. When the glazing is hardened, add the paint to the frame. Overlap the paint about a quarter of an inch over the glass to help seal the glazing material. This helps the glazing from premature deterioration, allowing it to do its job at sealing your home from harsh elements.

To learn more, contact a window company like Ken Caryl Glass, Inc.