If My Picture Window Has Slipped How Do I Get It Back Up?

Carefully scrape away old putty from the edges of the windowpane and frame, where they meet by using a putty knife. A heat gun may be necessary to soften the putty.

Inspect the window frame and remove the glazier's points. Glazier's points are small metal prongs that protrude from the window sill and help hold the pane in place. They may have fallen when the window slipped. Remove any remaining points by pulling them out with a pair of pliers.

Roll beads of glazier’s putty by hand and stuff them into the grooves where the pane sits.

Gather a few helpers. Get a couple of people on one side of the pane and a couple more on the other side. Together, lift the windowpane back into place.

Install new glazier’s points between the edges of the pane and the frame while the pane is being held. Start with a point at the center of each edge. Place the point against the glass then drive it into the wood, pushing it in with the putty knife. Place additional points every four inches around the frame.

Scrape away any excess putty that has squeezed out around the edges of the front side of the window.

Roll out additional 3/4-inch thick beads of putty. Push them into the seams around the edge of the windowpane. Smooth down and scrape away excess putty, using the putty knife. If you see the putty bead from the front side of the window, scrape away a bit more.