Glazing Old Windows

Glazing Windows - It really doesn't matter if the window is cracked, broken, or just losing the old glazing, the process doesn't change much. If the glass is broken you will have to be extra careful in order to avoid getting cut.

The first thing is to take out the old glazing using a chisel. You have to be real careful as any sections that are not falling out on their own, will try to take the wood too. You need to use your chisel like a knife for these sections. If you do take out some wood you will have to replace it with wood putty, in order to get the uniform finish look when you are done. Be sure to be gentle doing this as if your not you can easily break the glass.

Make sure to go back and take out all the old glazing points. Take the glass out and lightly sand the wood making sure to clean up the wood with the sandpaper to where it looks like new. Put the new glass in or the old if it is still good. Push one glazier point into the wood up against the glass. Use one point for every 3 to 4 linear inches. Bury them into the wood up to their shoulders.

Prime the wood with an oil based primer. Let cure until the next day. Take a chunk of the glazing putty in you hands. Mash it and roll it and work it in your hands like you are trying to mix something into it. After a few minutes of working it around it will loosen up and become more moldable. At this point roll it into a rope and lay it in the window edge. Take a putty knife making sure it is clean as anything on it will hinder producing a nice finish look.

It is better to have too much putty in the edge than too little. Take your putty knife and press down on the putty until the side is against the window just above the top of the glazier points. Lay the knife down until it rests on the outside wood edge. Draw it across the full length allowing the excess to be pushed out the sides. If it doesn't drag smoothly across then lift the knife and wash it in paint thinner to make it extra slick.

If you have to lift your knife in the middle of a draw. Do so lightly and lay it back down lightly or it will leave a mark. Then you will have to start at the beginning again to get one constant draw of the knife from end to end. Upon reaching the end curve the knife gently off the edge of the window. Then go back and carefully remove the excess from the edges without touching the finished product. If you do accidentally mess up the finished surface. Then rewet your knife with mineral spirits and draw it from end to end again smoothing it out as you go. Do this all around then let it sit a few days to a week or two. It will require at least a few days to develop a dry film over the top, to where it is safe to prime it with an oil based primer. Be careful while priming it as it will still be soft enough to put a fingerprint in it.

Then let it sit a few more days as it needs to have a thick skin developed before going on and glazing putty takes a few months to totally cure out. When it has a thick enough skin you can lightly sand it, so that you can apply a latex primer which must be applied before painting with a latex paint. The only exception is if you are painting with an oil based paint. Oil based paint is not recommended as it doesn't withstand climate changes as well as latex. Then you can forget sanding and re-priming before you paint.

Do not rush this project as it will just mess it up if you do, and once the putty is in place it will be weather proof.