How to Replace broken window panes and sash cords

Replacing a broken window panes or sash cord may be simpler than you think! Here are some instructions on quick repairs that might help resolve your problem.

1. Use duct tape to make a large "X" on the broken pane.
2. Wearing gloves and safety goggles, break the rest of the pane by tapping it with a hammer. Remove glass pieces from the frame with needlenose pliers.
3. Heat the hardened glazing compound with a hair dryer until it is pliable enough to remove from the sash channel with a chisel. Also scrape away loose paint. Sand and prime any raw wood.
4. Take a piece of the broken glass, along with measurements, to the hardware store so that you get the right thickness and size. Have the pane cut 0.25 centimetre (1/8 inch) shorter than the opening in both directions. Buy points with push tabs and glazing compound.
5. Back home, apply a bead of glazing compund in the rabbeted channel where the glass will go. It can be dispeanse from a caulking gun or rolled by hand into a one centimetre (1/2 inch) "rope".
6. With gloves on, set the glass into place, and secure it with glazier's points pushed into the sash.
7. Apply another think bead of compound over the glazier's points. Hold the caulk gun at an angle to achieve a bevel, or roll another rope of compound and apply it to the juncture. Smooth the compound to a 45 degree angle with a putty knife, using long smooth strokes to ensure an even edge.
8. Allow the compound to cure for a few days before painting the sash. Paint over the glazing compound by 1.5 millimetres (1/16 inch) to seal out moisture in the joint.

1. Pry along the length of the inner stops with a putty knife. Remove any nails. Take out the lower sash, removing the cord knots secured to either side. Find and remove the sash weight access pane on either side of the casing.
2. Discard old cords. Find the pulleys at the top of the side jambs for the upper and lower sashes. Thread new cord (measure to match the new one in length) up each sash-weight channel and through the pulley from the lower sash.
3. Tie one end of the new cord to the weight, and tie the other end around a nail until you put a new cord on the other side of the window. When both new cords are ready, place the sash on the window stool while you attach the new cords.
4. Stick each cord through a slot in the sash and knot it. Drive a small nail to secure it. Replace the sash weight access panels. Set the sash back in place. Test it for smooth operation, and reinstall the stops. Repeat the process for the upper sash.

Before calling for costly service or replacements, why not try to repair the damage yourself? Consider these instructions and get started on repairing your window or sash cord today!