Glass Installation & Repair Consumer Tips In Bedford
Glass Installation & Repair in Bedford
The old saying “the eyes are the windows to the soul” can be applied to the image of your home as a reflection of your personality. The windows of your home are the eyes with which you look out into the world. A foggy or broken window will change the way you see the world as well as the way the world sees you.
Reasons to Replace Glass in Bedford
When we think about reasons to replace or repair glass in our homes, we often think of a broken window. Window glass can be broken from the outside or from the inside. Anything from baseballs and golf balls to elbows and foreheads to teenagers and toddlers can chip, crack, or shatter glass windows. In older windows, cracks can develop from the action of opening or closing a window frame.
Broken or cracked glass is unattractive, sure, but more importantly, broken and cracked glass is costly. Energy efficiency is reduced by as much as 25% by cracks in glass windows.
Double paned windows can lose their seal over time, leading to foggy condensation. This condensation, which is trapped moisture, can damage the window frame, and if ignored can even damage the structure of the wall.
Repairing windows is more cost effective if you can replace the glass without replacing the whole window unit.
Types of Glass in Bedford
You might be surprised at the number of types of glass available to you. Here are some of the most popular glass types: basic clear glass, tempered glass, tinted glass, reflective coating glass and obscured glass.
Installing Replacement Glass in Bedford
The type of glass repair installation you need will depend on the type of window frame you have.
Wooden Frames: Replacing glass in a window frame can be difficult and messy. The payoff of replacing
the glass instead of the whole window is that you maintain the look of your home without replacing all the windows. Glass in a wooden frame requires several steps: carefully remove the broken glass; thoroughly clean the window frame and the groove, being sure to remove any slivers of glass and any remaining window caulk or putty, and take care not to damage the wood; and perfectly align and secure the new glass with glazing points and glazing compound.
Vinyl Frames: Vinyl frames are equipped with “stops” to secure the glass into the frame. These stops need to be carefully removed with the broken or cracked glass; the frame needs to be thoroughly cleaned and then the new glass can be set in the frame and secured with the vinyl stops. Once secure, seal the glass with a putty or caulk.
Dual-pane Frames: The glass in dual-pane windows should be replaced by a professional to ensure that the window is sealed. A poor seal will result in foggy windows and condensation.
If you have any doubts about your ability to replace the glass in a window, please call on a professional.