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Bob Crager
Bob Crager of Lewis Street Glass is a 26 year veteran in the glass business. Lewis Street Glass is a leading Wichita Glass company, serving the entire Wichita/Sedgwick County area since 1919. They do anything and everything having to do with glass, both residential and commercial. They also do Auto glass. They are located at 743 South Market, facing Kellogg on the South, and you can reach them by phone at (316) 263-8259. You can email Bob Crager at bcrager@lewisstreetglass.com
Glass
2003-12-01 09:52:00
How do I replace a window?
ANSWER:  When replacing a windowpane, try to buy the same glass originally installed in the window so it will match the other panes or windows in the room (this may not always be possible with older homes). Take a shard to your glass dealer to match any coatings or other features.   Be careful when you work with glass.  Wear heavy gloves and safety goggles. Before you remove any broken glass, tape newspaper to the inside of the sash to catch any fragments. Also pad the glass with newspaper when you take it to or from the store. Dispose of fragments in your regular trash; window glass usually can't be recycled.   Windows with metal and vinyl sashes can be re-glazed by simply inserting the correctly sized new piece of glass into the sash, which holds it in place with a metal spring or clip, a rubber seal, or beveled or plastic moldings.   For wood windows, you'll need glazing compound (putty) to hold the glass in place, in addition to glazier's points--small metal clips that you push into the wood every 4 to 6 inches.   You'll also need a putty knife, long-nose pliers, chisel, hammer, safety glasses, newspaper, masking tape, small paint brush, and a glass cutter, if the glass has not already been cut.   After removing the broken glass, chisel out the old putty (hard putty may need to be soaked with linseed oil or softened with a heat gun). Remove the old glazier's points with long-nose pliers. Clean and sand the wood, and coat with sealant. If you are working from outside, you can work from a ladder, but for upper-story windows it's safer to remove the sash.   Press a rope of putty around the opening with your fingers and a putty knife to make a bed for the new pane. Put the pane in place and remove excess putty. Push the glazier's points into the frame with a putty knife. Apply more putty around the pane and use the knife to form a seal. When the putty is dry, paint it to match the sash. If you're not a do-it-yourselfer, your glass dealer will answer questions and have trained employees to handle the job of windowpane replacement.
 
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