Double Pane Window Crack Repair

Replacement with Caulk Seal

• The insulating glass found in double-pane windows is held in place with one of three methods. The first is with caulk. To remove the damaged window, first pry the stops -- the strip of wood holding the glass pane in place -- away from the frame with a metal putty knife. Slip on a pair of sturdy work gloves and safety goggles before slicing through the caulk around the pane with a utility knife. If the broken pane won’t budge, you have to break the glass. Set the window on a plastic tarp and break the glass with a rubber mallet or hammer and carefully pull the broken shards from the old caulk with a pry bar. Clean out the remaining caulk from the window with the utility knife before running a fresh caulk bead and centering the new pane of glass inside the window. Allow the bead to cure for at least 24 hours before scraping away the excess caulk with a razor blade.

Replacement with Adhesive Tape Seal

• Remove the stops surrounding the broken pane with a metal putty knife. Slip on a pair of sturdy work gloves and safety goggles before setting the window on a piece of plastic tarp. Cover the window with a piece of cardboard to prevent shards from flying everywhere, and break the window with a rubber mallet or hammer. Pull away the existing adhesive tape seal. Remove any remaining adhesive with a razor blade before installing an alternate piece of tape seal. Set the window onto a flat surface and carefully center the new piece of glass on the frame before slipping it into place. Use caution when installing the new glass pane because once it contacts the adhesive tape seal the glass cannot be repositioned.

Replacement with Gasket Seal

• Loosen the screws found on the bottom of the window frame with a Phillips screwdriver. Carefully remove the frame from the glass and gasket by tapping it with a rubber mallet or hammer. Set a piece of scrap wood against the frame to prevent causing any damage. Once the frame is removed, pull the existing gasket away from the glass. Set the gasket aside and reuse it, if possible. Wrap a new pane of glass with the existing, or replacement, gasket before reassembling the window frame around it. Once the window is completely reassembled, run a bead of caulk around the glass pane to prevent potential water damage or fogging.

Hiring a Professional

• Hiring a professional to replace the double-pane window glass is an alternate option. But weigh the amount of money required to replace the window yourself and your ability to perform this task against the estimate offered by the professional. Get several estimates and inquire if the repair is performed on-site or at the professional’s establishment. There is generally a larger fee involved in the repair occurs on-site.