How to Re-Glaze Windows With Raw or Boiled Linseed Oil

Inspect your windows at least once yearly for signs of wear-and-tear. An application of glaze on a window should last for 10 to 20 years, but environmental damage might cause the glaze to crack and break away from the window sooner. When it's time to re-glaze your windows, first remove the old material and then apply raw or boiled linseed oil to the sash. The linseed oil helps the glazing compound last longer by keeping the wood from drawing away oil from the compound.

Putty knife
Cloths
Linseed oil
Glazing/caulking compound
Caulking gun
Paintbrush
Primer
Paint

Instructions

- 1
  Scrape the old putty off gently with a putty knife. Scrape it along the bottom sash and up several inches along both sides of the window.
- 2
  Dip a cloth in the raw or boiled linseed oil and coat the sash with it. Use a dry cloth to wipe off any excess oil.
- 3
  Allow boiled linseed oil to dry overnight. Allow raw linseed oil to dry and cure for several weeks. The exact length of time it takes to dry depends on how thickly you applied the oil. When fully dry, it should not feel sticky to the touch.
- 4
  Apply a glazing compound to the space. Use a caulking gun to apply a line of caulking compound designed specifically for glazing windows. Allow the compound to get on the window up to 1/16 of an inch up the pane for waterproofing.
- 5
  Allow the glazing compound to dry for two to three days.
- 6
  Dip a clean paintbrush into a can of exterior primer and apply it to the sash. Allow it to dry completely before painting the sash with an exterior house paint.

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