How to Repair a Double Pane Window | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva helps a homeowner replace a cracked piece of glass, restoring her window’s looks and energy efficiency.
SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse.
Tom Silva works with a glass specialist to repair a cracked double pane window. Tom travels to the glass manufacturer to see how the replacement glass is produced.
Difficulty: ⅖
Cost: Around $75 (excluding the cost of the replacement pane)
Time: 4 hours
Where to find it?
Tom works with a glass specialist to repair a cracked double pane window. Tom travels to
the glass manufacturer to see how the replacement glass is produced.
To get started the specialist measures the width and length of the glass with a tape measure [homedepot.sjv.io/rQEBXy].
An insulating glass caliper [homedepot.sjv.io/QyWneo] is used to measure the thickness of the glass. Measurements are sent to a glass manufacturer.
To replace the broken glass, start by removing the sash and lay it out on a flat surface. To
loosen up the trim use a sharp scraper blade [homedepot.sjv.io/g1LKRr] and remove with a pry bar [homedepot.sjv.io/oqGvRg] and rubber mallet [homedepot.sjv.io/y2E3Oy].
To remove the glass from the frame, use a sharp blade [homedepot.sjv.io/g1LKRr] to cut the silicone seal.
Once the glass is removed, apply a new layer of silicone [homedepot.sjv.io/jrByan] to set in the new glass pane. Use a small rubber mallet to tap the trim back in place, sealing in the glass.
Wear safety glasses [homedepot.sjv.io/EKWeAX] and work gloves [homedepot.sjv.io/Y90nKO] whenever working with glass.
Assistance and materials provided by Banner Glass Shellmar [www.bannerglassshelmar.com/], and Thermal Seal Insulating Glass Inc., Uxbridge, MA.
Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: bit.ly/2GPiYbH
Materials:
Silicone caulk [homedepot.sjv.io/jrByan]
Tools:
Cut resistant gloves [homedepot.sjv.io/Y90nKO]
Tape measure [homedepot.sjv.io/rQEBXy]
Digital calipers [homedepot.sjv.io/QyWneo]
Safety glasses [homedepot.sjv.io/EKWeAX]
Utility knife [homedepot.sjv.io/g1LKRr]
Caulking gun [homedepot.sjv.io/GmqMd9]
Small pry bar [homedepot.sjv.io/oqGvRg]
Rubber mallet [homedepot.sjv.io/y2E3Oy]
Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/st...
About Ask This Old House TV:
From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment-your home.
Follow This Old House:
Facebook: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter
Pinterest: bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG
How to Repair a Double Pane Window | Ask This Old House
/ thisoldhouse

[@johnsmith-js9nv]

I want to say how nice it is to see Tommy in good health and still teaching us all. We have watched and grown with so many people on TOH. The new ones are continuing the excellence of the old guard.

[@Reefdevil]

This is the way to go. Fixed 3 windows in my house just like this. Cost should be around $400 a pane… installed

[@teezellous9593]

Thanks for sharing the cost! I was wondering

[@scaramouche8244]

what if the window does not come out?

[@BertPle]

Here in the Netherlands it is very usual to replace only the glass. In almost every city there is a glass company you can call (24/7 in case of emergency) and they replace the glass for you. You can even order it yourself online when you know what to buy. Production takes +/- 20 days. There is no one here who want to replace the whole window only because the glass is cracked. Every kind of window (wood / plastic (vinyl)) has replaceable glass. Also we place thin plastic shims between the glass and the window to clamp the glass tight, so the window stays square.

[@herculesrockefeller8969]

They replaced only the glass. What are you talking about?

[@scotttovey]

@@herculesrockefeller8969 Watch the video and pay attention to the expert talking about the different types of windows. He is talking about the fact that some people decide to defraud their customers with products that force you to replace the sash rather than just the window.

[@dave.23.]

​@@herculesrockefeller8969Did you watch the video? Because that is exactly what they did... just replaced the glass.

[@BertPle]

@@herculesrockefeller8969 They talk about it like it is an exception that only the glass will be replaced. Like in the introduction of the video when Tommie is in the car. He said “often the replace the whole sash”.

[@MoeBabaloosh]

I have cheap double-hung vinyl windows throughout the house, and there's no option to replace only the glass. I'd jump at the opportunity to have a window with serviceable components! Next set of windows we buy will definitely have this feature now that I know it exists 👍

[@JG-mp5nb]

Another excellent example of manufacturing, removing, and installing a product!

[@SteveBennet500]

7:10 comes with a free fingerprint? 😂

[@ohthatsclever]

That glass sheet falling at 5:25 freaked me out. I guess that surface is designed to absorb the force, but I thought that sheet would shatter.

[@drsoils]

i was thinking they have some air blowers to smooth the fall? idk

[@dorothysmith7289]

Thanks for another great video. I worked in the glass industry (Low-E was our product) so when I replaced 100 yr old French windows, I sourced the 2 pane windows. Now the rooms are quiet and my energy bills went way down. 😊

[@gmurray3616]

Thanks for another informative video. Some of my work I hire out and your videos help me to at least understand how the repair person will do the work and helps me to know what questions to ask. Again, thank you.

[@Zero11_ss]

Her house is massive wow.

[@buzzlightyear8507]

Wow, what a great solution.

[@oldskoolwayy]

This old house making warehouse visits wow...this is new

[@--JohnDoe]

Very professional. I enjoyed that.

[@nDkHDf]

Procedure is very easy. I've done it by my self without any manuals.

[@walter.bellini]

Great video guys thank you for sharing this out!

[@stretchhurion6702]

as a glazer I would never have told the people that they had to replace the whole window they are just never made that way but thanks for a tour of where they are made all of the ones I made were all made by hand no machines involved

[@asegarra5279]

Great work! 👍🏼👍🏼

[@jacoblacey1811]

Great video 📹 and Work project

[@cowcabobizle]

Tommy! Thanks y'all at TOH. I needed this video for my house.

[@vickishort5148]

Desiccant is not for insulation but to remove moisture from between the glass at time of manufacture

[@richardbrobeck2384]

nice repair !

[@UnbeatableRep]

Nowadays getting the double pane glass is pretty easy. Some window companies only focus on new installations and some companies do repairs and replacement/ new installs. Also most manufacturers give you a lifetime warranty with glass breakage warranty as well. Just a matter of getting in touch with the manufacturer and giving them the serial number associated with the window (included on your window order or stickers on the window sashes/ frame.

[@terry2346]

Wonder iuf you could replace the glass on a single pane window with a double pane glass only replacement? I love our wooden windows and the frames are beautiful and in good condition and almost 2 inches thick. Would be cool to replace the glass only. May have to look into that!

[@mooseproservices7032]

Can I remove just one side to replace with tempered glass. If so how do I get the black silicone or sika flex soft to remove the one side?

[@brandonmohammed5715]

Good content

[@gregorymosher5008]

Glaziers: oooooh he didn't use setting blocks!!

[@rosewd2]

I'd like to see how you get the double pane glass out of of a double hung vinyl window. I have a few windows where one of the halves have gotten cloudy inside.

[@Fluffypotato1990]

Typically it follows the same method as in the video. I worked in the window industry for awhile and the method was the same for the double hung windows as well as slider windows or even picture windows. You remove the beading which was the vinyl trim you see in the video and get yourself a deglazing tool. To reinstall the new glass, You then apply a silicon caulk on the inside edge of the sash and drop in the new glass pane, and reapply the vinyl trim and you should be good to go. As the video also did mention, Its wise to let the silicon caulk cure for 24 to 48hrs so avoid any pushing on the newly installed glass.

[@cup_and_cone]

​​@@Fluffypotato1990Not on my vinyl windows. In Florida ours are hurricane rated vinyl and all the vinyl miter joints are plastic welded together (I'm assume they use ultrasonic welding). Whole window replacement is pretty much the only option.

[@LuisSanchez-wf9zw]

@@Fluffypotato1990and where can we get the sash glass?

[@Scubamike4499]

Just be aware, the stops on the casement sash are the luxury type. Cheaper brands have a super thin plastic stop that usually breaks, especially when it's cold. Tons of brands out there, so you can win or lose

[@rosewd2]

@@Scubamike4499 I got the sash out, they tilt in to clean and are easy to get out of the frame. Now how do you get the insulated glass pane out of the sash? The glass shop wants over $100 to replace the glass. Im sure the glass isn't that much, its the labor to get it out.

[@ShadowzGSD]

they could have spent a few minutes to change clothes so it looked like they waited a few weeks for the glass instead of having everything ready to be done in 1 day. 🤣

[@derewreck]

They probably sent Kevin or Ross there ahead of time to get the measurements.

[@TJsVette]

I was thinking the same thing haha

[@TannerSwizel]

I just wish they scripted it less awkwardly, but the message is still there at least

[@c0mputer]

What probably happened was each person was at the end of their clothing cycle so the 2 weeks went by but they all happen to wear the same clothes again. It’s rare but it happens.

[@derewreck]

@@c0mputer most likely scenario. It was their only clean clothes available.

[@johnroberts2444]

Did this woman have to pay for just the glass & the labor , nice job Tom & Rich ! 👍😊

[@flaviuskern225]

Diggin the 90’s carpenter jeans on Rich…

[@kevinmolick]

I would like to know how to replace old insulated glass that does NOT have a removable stop moulding. I have 60 year old doors that are in good condition exept for the old glass. I'd like to reuse the doors and install low E glass.

[@2aminitials]

Before replacing the broken or fogged up insulated glass contact the window manufacturer to see if the window is under warranty. I did a sash that failed for a friend and the manufacturer sent a new sash to them for the cost of shipping only.

[@Guardducks]

Hey, pops is back. 👏🏽

[@derewreck]

Tommy was having fun calling in the ‘window expert’ and pretending that he didn’t already know all there is to know about windows. He probably had to school the guy up off camera.

[@Brian77766]

After the sealant is manually applied around the outside of the unit, here in the uk we apply a black duct tape around it too, saves sealant drying time which speeds up the production process.

[@InspectorEJ11]

A lot of manufacturers in the US use a double sided foam like tape to secure the glass to the sash. No liquid sealant

[@gingery3k]

y que reparo? hizo una nueva....

[@arth.4196]

Tom, if you retire and you get a tree, I will be a student in your part-time class 2 hours a day 2 days a week. Give me time to schedule a flight. 😊

[@Juan-py4sb]

Im getting charged $385 for a 45" by 22" glass.Just about the same thing.Im in central California. Is it to much?

[@purpleidea]

They either didn't film or add the pinch rings on the window that hold those support arms on.

[@Bremend]

Wouldn't they have already been there?

[@frenchgreguk]

They should have showed the heel and toe process as the glass is so heavy, if the weight is not carried by the hinges, it would be out of sync and would not close / lock. But overall, good video. (Oh and no need to take the sash out)

[@peterjanis2455]

Thats crazy what are the odds they all wear the same outfit two weeks later when the guy came back!

[@jbrukardt]

What's the right search term to find someone who can do this in your area? Everyone here wants to either just replace the whole window.... or all the windows in the home.

[@rayRay-pw6gz]

Search replacement window manufacturers in your area. You may be able to just remove the window and give it to them and pick it up the next day. Depending on the type of window you have. I replaced 29 windows and had three that were not manufactured right. They told me to install them anyway and then a technician showed up several days later and just disassembled them right there and reassembled. All good.

[@InspectorEJ11]

If you have existing windows and search for window companies they will all want to just replace the whole windows. Try and find the manufacturer of the windows you have to get warranty service work done.

[@TheDizzack]

They 100% busted that glass pack trying to get it out.

[@b4lt4z4r85]

how can you even suggest to replace entire set of windows? trim holding glass pops out for a reason some people are plain greedy

[@kimbonice]

Sometimes it's not greed, but incompetence which unfortunately is fairly common amongst contractors

[@tonytango6676]

So exactly what is a sash?

[@InspectorEJ11]

A sash is the ‘unit’ they are working on. The glass sits in the sash, the sash sits in the window. In a lot of cases the sash is the moveable or operable portion of the window. Fixed windows (ones that do not operate) can also have sashes, just depends on manufacturer and style of the window.

[@stich1960]

I want to know how rich measured the glass without popping open the frame. Is he just guessing?

[@Scubamike4499]

Basically experience and knowing the brand helps He measures from the outside to outside of those removable stops, then subtracts for expansion.

[@oldtwinsna8347]

This was a staged filming all on the same day where everything was ready to go. Someone else came out on the initial day to do all the real measuring. Notice how he isn't even writing down anything.

[@LuisSanchez-wf9zw]

Why doesn’t toh ever show the maker or product they are using such as the silicone? All the rest of the makers on KZbin have shown this in their videos which matters and shows what pros use and actually helps viewers.

[@orangethumb6942]

I was wondering do they ever discuss how much they charge and how much it cost to do any of these jobs? I I never really see No Craftsman cost or the material cost. It's probably so expensive they don't wanna talk about it

[@spyda450]

Marcus left a finger smudge on the glass before it went in to be sealed at 7:11. Hope that wasn't inside the window!

[@caketricky5377]

Thats actually the first surface of glass because it doesn’t have the aluminum channel on it. The first piece is inserted into machine and picked up with suction and then pressed into the second piece with the aluminum channel on it. So that finger smudge would be on the outside of the window and cleaned at the end of the process after they show the sealing of the unit.

[@InspectorEJ11]

Having worked for two of the largest window manufacturers in the US that kind of thing happens a lot! Very easy to get a finger print, smudge, or hair on the inside of the two panes of glass.

[@shilra2272]

It takes a couple weeks to make a glass, but why is she wearing the same exact clothes 😂😂

[@adamgain4883]

Same thought 😂😂😂

[@dirkbogarde9868]

Repair?

[@petersack5074]

?....hmm. I got front windows, of mobile home - doing this ...BUT, ? nothing ' cracked ' nor visibly broken. The seal, around both glass pains....er panes....broken, i suppose. No other reasons...

[@redneckbryon]

Isn’t this segment supposed to be in next weeks episode of, Ask This Old house??

[@allegory7638]

"The low e would be on the third surface, which would be inside layer..." A VERY significant detail which is never mentioned again in the video. Tommy is great but the producers of ATOH always seem to present on a fifth-grade level.

[@XzTS-Roostro]

Got two windows that has its seal cracked, so all the argon gas has leaked out.

[@oldskoolwayy]

Sad people have these lavished homes and cant afford to fix when something breaks

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

The lesson here is not all dealers/installers are either knowledgeable or honest. the first guy could have done the same thing. at 81 I've seen business's go form honest good service to how can I cheat this customer and make lots of money.( that's the polite way of saying it!.

[@ikust007]

Yup! Issues we don’t have with real old windows . And yes , with a storm window, they are efficient . One must calculate the heat loss/ surface of walls. So much misinformation out there

[@AliAlAhmed4]

I hope the program will stop filming hosts speaking to the camera while they drive. Many lives are lost every year because of such behavior. Safety is important

[@changedahanddlessss]

tommy is popular with the ladies XD

[@oldskoolwayy]

And he is wrong about heat not passing through because of curtains..the heat will flow around the loose ends of window covering or above the open space

[@briancnc]

Unfortunately the way they are made now you're sunk for doing this anymore. Sometimes it's a tradeoff though, as building a product you know doesn't have to come apart can be made much more solid and airtight, but unfortunately everything has followed the iphone manufacturing mentality.

[@jbrukardt]

how can you tell if you can do this with your windows? Mine are from somewhere around 2004 and I have one that I broke the outer pane with a lawnmower

[@carolvanwinkle3524]

​@@jbrukardt😊

[@the_hood_cat_5553]

Well this sounds like a real pain in the glass

[@ringtyler]

Don't you mean pane lol

[@nkwarts7966]

What a strange story. In west EU (the Netherlands and Germany for sure) there is in the aluminum the size stamped. So if it is broken you just order an new dubbel glass and place it

[@rickfromthecape3135]

Next she gets her clothes washer fixed.

[@Cypher791]

🪟😮

[@oldskoolwayy]

Man she could have done that

[@JonWick45]

😂

[@arth.4196]

Not a tree 😮😅

[@arth.4196]

Antzee, sorry

[@Its_crazyadamla]

That will be $300 and 3 months later......

[@Rudy1150]

I live in a 20 year old home with cheap windows and had this exact procedure. done. Several years later the new double panes have no problem. Payback on replacement windows is terrible and much more economical to go with cheaper route.

[@Reefdevil]

@@Rudy1150 100% this. Fix them one at a time as they blow.

[@Scubamike4499]

Im not some safety nazi, but am i the only one wondering why most of the workers at the factory aren't wearing gloves carrying the gas around

[@seetherage]

Did they really have to pretend that they were coming back in a few weeks and take some fake measurements for the camera? Feels dishonest for some reason. Maybe the obvious acting. Just say they came a few weeks ago, took measurements and ordered the replacement pane which you all have now.

[@JimzAuto]

How would you squeeze ‘a few weeks’ into a 12 minute video?

[@seetherage]

@@JimzAuto They already had to do the prep work, so why lie about it? It’s obviously not a big deal, it just bothered me for some reason. Maybe because on their old stuff they would say they did the prep work before instead of walking off camera and back and pretend that a week has gone by.

[@JimzAuto]

@@seetherage no lies detected, they made it clear replacement would take ‘a few weeks’. They even went to a factory and showed the new-window build in detail. I enjoyed the presentation as it was thorough and detailed.

[@seetherage]

What I meant by lie was the mock prep/measurement acting that was done, followed by a more acting to make it seem like they came back a week later. Not sure if you are being disingenuous just for the sake of trolling or just reading too literal into things. Seems like more people took issue with this presentation from the comments, I guess I should have read first before commenting on something that was already said (top comment). Oh well.

[@JimzAuto]

@@seetherage i think ‘mock’ is better than ‘acting’. The presentation seemed genuine and informative to me. Guess I am being ‘too literal’ as I actually watched the video and have a cracked double-pane window.

[@HAMRADIOJOE4178]

3 WEEKS LATER, AND SHES STILL WEARING THE SAME DRESS

[@dwp2659]

weeks later and she is wearing the same clothes

[@Timeisirrelevant]

Of course window manufacturers in the USA are now making windows where you can’t simply replace the glass. Just pure greed.

[@vickishort5148]

Depends on the window manufacture, but in the vinyl window industry everything is pretty much re- glazable😮 It speeds up production time, and in the higher wood industry like Marvin’s windows are re glazable.

[@kennyw7453]

All 3 were wearing the same clothes when they came back.