Broken Window Pane
by Chuck Lunsford

You will need to wear gloves and safety goggles from the beginning of this project to the end. First, remove any loose broken pieces of glass before moving on to those pieces that are still firmly attached to the window. To do this, gently grasp the broken glass (don't forget the gloves) and use a putty knife with your other hand to remove old putty and scrape away any old caulk our glazing. Work your way around the window frame. As you remove the caulk, try to move the broken glass slightly.

Once you know it is free enough to come out, remove and dispose of it. Repeat this procedure with each piece of glass. Once all of the glass has been removed, use a putty knife to scrape along the inside to make sure all the bits of caulk are gone. A utility knife is often helpful for the inside corners.

After all the excess putty has been removed and the old glazer tacks pulled with out pliers, measure the window for size. Measure both the height and the width of the window. Once you have your new piece of glass, administer a fine line of caulk around the inside of the window frame. Allow this to set a few moments and then place your new pane of glass into its slot. Replace glazer tacks, if any, on old wooden windows. Set two on each side of the window being very careful not to tap the glass as you are tapping the tacks into place. Then apply the outside bead of caulk. Try to make a single pass from one corner to the next. Consult the instructions on the tube of caulk before applying paint.