A Good Rant About Window Repair
A Good Rant About Window Repair
Blog Article
Why Window Repair Is Necessary
Cracks in window glass could be caused by a pebble thrown from the lawnmower or a large beverage placed on your glass-topped table. A damaged window allows wind, rain insects, and other unwelcome elements to enter your home.
Although it is impossible to make a window that has been damaged completely invisible but there are ways to repair it and stop it from spreading further.
Water Damage
If water is leaking through your windows, a replacement is usually necessary. The moisture can damage the wood of the frame of your window and cause the frame to rot. It could also affect the efficiency of your window's energy consumption. A reputable window replacement service can replace your frames without causing damage to them.
Wood rot can affect both the outside and inside of your windows. If you have windows made of wood with decaying areas, it might be possible to fix them, if they're not terribly damaged. However, if the rot has spread to your muntins or mullions (the parts of the window frame that support the glass panes) they might need to be rebuilt. This may cost more than a new set of windows.
Another issue that is often required for replacement is a damaged seal between the double panes of your windows. It could be a result of condensation or debris between the two panes or it could indicate that the insulation in your window has been damaged. Fortunately, a lot of modern windows have insulation built into them. This means that they won't have the same issues as older, multi-paned windows.
The ugly casings, like those that are cracked, loose, rotten, or missing, could cause various issues. It's not necessary to replace your windows if your casing is damaged. Depending on the condition of your casing as well as the wood around it you may be able to sand and repaint it to enhance its appearance.
If the exterior casing of your home is damaged, you may only need to apply a fresh coat of weather-resistant exterior paint to keep moisture from damaging the window. The installation of new exterior casings can be a beautiful and practical upgrade to your home.
Chipped or Peeling Paint
Window sills and frames are typically close to the elements, which means they take a lot of abuse from sunlight and precipitation. Moisture is the main cause for the peeling of paint around windows, especially if the wood is exposed. Water seeps through the wood and when it evaporates, the pressure below the film of paint causes the paint to peel. Moisture can come from condensation in the interior or from rain and snow on the outside. Regardless of the source, it's important to scrape and sand the surface and then repaint as soon as the paint starts to chip. Some skilled painters apply a water repellent preserver to the bare wood and thinned boiled oil before painting. This will help slow the penetration of moisture into the wood, allowing the new paint to stay better.
If the paint begins to peel off the window, it's time for repairing your window. Before you apply a new coat, lay a drop cloth or tarp over the area you're working to catch any stray drops of paint. Get rid of any paint that has fallen off using a utility blade. Be careful not to slash the wood beneath or cut into the sheathing. Let the area dry completely after cleaning it thoroughly.
When the area is dry then sand it once more using a fine-grit sanding block. This will prepare the surface to receive primer and create a substrate ready for paint. If you're working with lead-based paints make sure you use the proper safety equipment. Clean the surface you sanded and tape off any adjacent surfaces, such as baseboards, to protect them from paint.
Then paint and prime as directed on the specific paint tin you're using. Make sure you follow the temperature and curing guidelines on the paint can, as these will vary depending on the type. Paint the exterior with exterior-grade paint, and the interior surface website with interior-grade paint.
Repairing chipped or peeling painted frames is a more affordable alternative to replacing frames. If your window frames are unable to be repaired, it could be worth upgrading to more energy efficient windows.
Cracked Glass
A broken window can leave your home open to wind and rain, as well as bugs. You may be tempted to replace the glass, but you could repair it yourself if it's not too big of crack or break. It is important to address small cracks immediately prior to them getting worse due to temperature changes or time.
While there are many methods to make cracked glass nearly invisible however, this is not a good task for a DIY. Even a small crack will cause a weakness in the window, which could result in further cracks and a costly replacement. Covering the crack with plastic is a viable solution. This covers the crack from the outside and blocks air or moisture from leaking through, which can harm the frame or seals around windows.
Before putting on the plastic and putting on your gloves and safety eyewear and take the broken piece of glass from its frame. You'll require a utility knife, scraper, or chisel to remove any glazing points that pin the pane into the frame. It is also recommended to use the knife to pry out any wood that's bare and then clean and seal the area with Linseed oil or a clear wood sealer.
The glass can be put back in the position using epoxy. This option is the most time consuming, but will give your glass a more robust appearance. Select the double-cylinder epoxy dispenser that dispensing resin and hardener equally. This allows you to precisely control the amount applied to the glass, which ensures a strong seal.
When you are resetting double or triple pane windows, make sure the gas fills are intact. These gases are essential for insulating and keeping heat inside your home in the winter and outside in summer. If you take the glass off the gases will escape through the crack and cause the window to lose its energy efficiency. You can replace the gas fills using the same method that is used to repair cracks in other kinds of glass.