Repairing a broken window is a somewhat messy job, but it’s not difficult. As you’re dealing with broken glass, it’s important to do this project with safety in mind. Keep any kids and pets out of the area where you’re doing this work, and wear thick, protective gloves. Also, keep all the broken glass in a single receptacle such as a wastebasket, and be sure to thoroughly sweep and vacuum when you’re done. If you’re ready to start fixing that window, here’s what to do.


Step 1: You can cut the replacement glass yourself, but it’s easier to have a hardware store do it for you. Measure the dimensions of your window and get a sheet of glass that is between 1/16th and 1/8th of an inch smaller than the opening. In addition, you will need a heat gun, paint, a caulking gun, and some glazing compound.

Step 2: It’s possible to replace the pane without removing the window from the frame, but it’s easier to take the window out and lay it flat on a workbench, as gravity becomes less of a factor. Wearing you’re heavy work gloves, remove all shards of glass from the old window frame. Use your heat gun to soften the putty holding the glass in place, and this will allow you to remove all those old pieces. Once you have all the old glass out, use a wire brush to get rid of all the old putty, and then sand inside the grooves to make them smooth and clean.

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