Today it is rare to find old wooden structures. There is probably almost no person left among us whose apartment does not have plastic windows, unless we are talking about a historical building. Most people try to replace conventional glazing with double-glazed windows, and wooden frames with plastic. This issue has its pros and cons, but the pros outweigh: there are no drafts, the plastic does not dry out or creak, it always closes tightly and opens easily, it does not need to be painted once a season. But what to do if the structure is damaged? We tell you when you need to replace a plastic double-glazed window and how to do it yourself.
What is double glazing
A double-glazed window consists of two glasses hermetically connected by a contour frame.
We replace double-glazed windows in plastic, wooden and aluminum windows. In “Oknoved” you can order the production of a new double-glazed window of any shape, be it rectangular, oval or trapezoidal. You can choose a double-glazed window with both regular glass and special properties:
- Triplex glass. It is a multilayer laminated glass.
- Energy-saving double-glazed window. Special design that will not release heat from your home.
- Reinforced glass. The glass is reinforced with a special thin steel mesh.
- With film coating. Protect from sunlight and ultraviolet radiation.
All production work is carried out in accordance with GOST 24866-2014.
Kinds
Glass packages for windows can be of many different types and types. In residential premises, two-chamber options are mainly used.
But other types can also be used.
- Packages containing the most common glass. Such structures are installed quite often, especially in industrial buildings. Moreover, its popularity is explained by its low cost.
- Low emission. They let in a lot of light, but at the same time effectively retain heat inside the room. Constructions of this type are popular if the windows face the shady side of the building.
- Highly durable. In this case we are talking about triplex glass. They are manufactured using special technologies. For example, with a strong impact, glass will not shatter into small fragments, but will retain its shape, but in the form of a web.
- Soundproofing. Such glass is also of the triplex type and does not allow extraneous noise to enter the room.
- Self-cleaning. Under the influence of ultraviolet rays and rain, all organic compounds that appear on the surface of the window as a result of operation are simply eliminated. For production, a special technology is used that allows the introduction of this property.
- Sun protection. In some cases, on one side, the glass does not allow the sun to pass through and hides everything that happens inside from prying eyes, while the room can be viewed outside.
Also, window packages may differ in the number of air chambers between the glass surfaces.
Cost of seals for metal-plastic structures
Manufacturers offer different options to add functionality to Euro-windows.
The most common methods:
- Replacing a single triplex with glass with two chambers will improve the thermal insulation characteristics.
- Anti-resonance glazing improves noise insulation in the room.
- Energy-saving “stained glass” windows allow you to retain heat.
- Triplex – reliably protects against noise and cold.
This material is used for glazing private households, apartments, country cottages, gazebos and open verandas.
Reasons for replacing double glazed windows
Most often, a double-glazed window is forced to be replaced when the old one breaks. However, some of our customers request replacement for other reasons.
Common reasons for contacting:
- A broken glass unit is the most common reason for calls.
- Violation of tightness, appearance of condensation inside.
- It was decided to replace the double-glazed window with a more functional one: however, double-glazed with two-chamber, noise-proof or tinted.
- Improve the aesthetic appearance of double-glazed windows (spars, false linings, filter glass).
Replacing a double-glazed window with a double-chamber one
Natural desire in the Russian climate. When you want to insulate a window without completely replacing it, you can use the service of replacing the double-glazed window with a double-glazed one. From 4000 rubles per m2.
Only an inspection by a master can give an accurate answer as to whether it is possible to replace the double-glazed window in your profile with a double-chamber one.
Replacing glass in a double glazing unit
The most cost-effective option for repairing damage if the window is broken. As you know, a double-glazed window consists of 2 or even 3 glasses, hermetically connected to each other. Sometimes replacing one of the glasses is sufficient.
The disadvantage of this method is the need to pay for delivery to the repair shop.
How much does a service cost in organizations?
The final price of the work is determined by many factors. Therefore, we present the average lower and upper limits of the price lists of several companies in St. Petersburg and Moscow as of December 15, 2022:
- Replacement of a two-chamber double-glazed window - 2,000-4,200 rubles/m2 (delivery included);
- Repair of double-glazed windows - from 1,000 rub./m2 to 2,300 rub./m2 - work only. This does not include transport costs and the cost of glass.
For reference: the cost of a new double-glazed window starts from 1,300 rubles/m2 from little-known companies. For recognizable brands it starts from RUB 2,050/m2.
A glass unit is broken - what to do?
Possible damage to glass in a plastic window:
- Crack,
- Skol,
- Through hole.
First aid
Crack or chip in glass unit
If the glass unit has received minor damage and the integrity of the structure is not compromised, try not to use the window sash with damaged filling. This will avoid further destruction of the glass unit. However, in order to use the window properly, broken glass must be replaced.
Through hole - a hole in a double-glazed window
In some cases, double-glazed windows may be damaged through and through. In this case, the first thing you need to do is attach to the window, for example, with tape, a piece of cardboard or other material that prevents the penetration of air from the street - which is especially important in the cold season, and begin the process of replacing the broken glass unit as quickly as possible.
Should I insert glass or replace the entire window?
Plastic windows are a combination of reliability, long service life, and excellent performance properties. However, despite their strength, such products sometimes require repair. Even a new double-glazed window can easily fail.
First of all, in a PVC window you can only change the entire glass unit. The same applies to metal-plastic windows or aluminum windows. This service is in demand if the structure has become cloudy, cracks or scratches have appeared.
Temporary conservation
If one glass is damaged and there is no through hole in the block, then the crack must be preserved while a new element is being manufactured. This will help temporarily reduce heat loss in the room, prevent drafts and reduce noise levels.
Even a small crack leads to depressurization of the window system
To do this, use a transparent sealant specially designed for use with glass. With its help, the crack will not grow further. Apply the composition twice, maintaining a technological break of 2-4 hours. Detailed information on working with the material is indicated on the packaging.
Silicone sealant for glass
Prices for silicone sealant for windows
Silicone sealant
You can also use optical glass glue, which will strengthen the crack and prevent it from spreading further.
Optical glue
What tools will be useful
In order to replace a double-glazed window in a plastic window, great attention must be paid not only to the choice of the device itself.
It is worth preparing the necessary tools. No complex or expensive equipment is required for this work. Must have:.
- A shoe knife or an ordinary chisel. The tool must be sharp without creases.
- A hammer that is made of rubber. Such hammers can be used in construction, for example, to lay laminate or other materials.
- If possible, it is necessary to use special suction cup handles. Without them, replacing a broken double-glazed window is sometimes completely impossible due to the impressive size of the panel. If it is not possible to find such pens, you can invite friends or a neighbor to help, or you can use the services of specialists.
How to take measurements
Initially, before replacing, you need to take measurements. To do this, follow an algorithm.
- The easiest way is to use the dimensions of the old double-glazed windows, and send these dimensions to the manufacturer to order a new glass structure.
- If it is not possible to use old glass for measurement, for example, it is completely broken, then in this case it is necessary to take into account three main indicators: the required width, thickness and length. Measuring them will not be difficult.
Removing the glass unit
The technologies for removing a bag of glass from a plastic window and a wooden window are different.
How to remove double glazing from a plastic window
The double-glazed window in PVC windows is supported by plastic beads, which are fixed to the frame by snapping a tongue-and-groove locking connection. To pry up the bead and disconnect the joint, you need a knife with a hard blade or a narrow spatula. Some people prefer a small ax or a regular chisel.
In any case, the blade should look like this:
- thin enough to fit into a very thin gap;
- rigid so that it does not bend too much when used as a lever;
- not very sharp so as not to damage the plastic.
Start from any long side - more leverage when pulling the bead out of the groove of the window frame:
- The knife blade is inserted into the gap between the bead and the frame approximately in the middle.
- Using the knife as a lever in the plane of the window, slightly move the gap apart.
- A thin plate is inserted into the slot to fix its condition.
- Moving the knife up and then down, push the glazing bead and pull it out of the frame.
Then the glass unit is released from below. This is easier to do starting from a free corner. Move to the other long side and end at the top, holding the block so it doesn't fall out of the window.
Advice. The beads must be numbered (can be in pairs) in order to be put in their places later.
The nuances of removing double-glazed windows
At the window, the glass package is responsible for the correct geometry of the frame. Unlike a triangular frame, a quadrangular frame is not a rigid figure. And the spacer monolith with glass holds the frame and ensures right angles.
When manufacturing a window at the factory, the glass unit in the frame is wedged with seam inserts and bridges (straightening plates). Together with the package they ensure the correct frame geometry. There can be from four to eight bridges. And when removing double-glazed windows from the movable frame, it is important to remember their position in order to then put them in the right place. Otherwise, the frame may become skewed - the window will begin to close poorly, and cracks will appear from which it will blow.
After the glazing beads have been pulled in, the window must be photographed and the bridges numbered. For reliability, their positions in the factory installation are marked on the frame.
To remove the package from the frame, the bridges are pressed away from the liners and pulled out. The sequence for dismantling bridges is as follows - first the sides, and then the bottom. Do not touch the upper part - the block should come out of the frame easily, with a slight tilt forward.
How to remove a glass unit from a wooden window
A double-glazed window in a wooden window frame is supported by glazing beads, which are nailed down with thin nails. And to ensure the tightness of the connection, the grooves in the frame around the block are filled with sealant. This results in double fixation - with nails and sealant. Therefore, the extraction process itself takes place in two stages.
First, the glazing beads are pulled out.
Note. The order doesn't matter, but you have to finish at the top. Here you can no longer use a tool with a metal blade - you can damage not only the paintwork, but also break off a piece from the frame or wooden bead. For this purpose, special plastic spatulas are used.
Do this one at a time, inserting the spatula blade between the two attachment points and moving from the center to the corner. When the fastener is sufficiently loosened, a wider gap has formed between the bead and the frame, the spatula is inserted closer to the nail, and it is carefully removed from engagement with the frame.
After the glazing beads have been removed, the sealant is cleaned off and the glass unit is pulled out.
Advice! All grooves on the frame must be cleaned of residual sealant and dirt. When installing a repaired unit, the contact surfaces must be clean for normal adhesion to the sealant.
Sash
This is the movable part of your window. It is the sash that is removed first. It is attached using a special rod. On old-style windows it is not closed with a plastic plug, as on new ones. Just pry the plug itself with a knife and remove it, after which you need to pull out the rod.
At this stage it is important to be very careful so that the sash does not fall. To do this, experts recommend performing all work together with a partner.
If you do the work yourself, then pay special attention to the fact that all movable sashes must be dismantled (sometimes there may be 2 or more of them, depending on the type of window you have). Naturally, if there are no movable sashes, then this step must be skipped
Is it possible to change it yourself?
When replacing a double-glazed window yourself, it is necessary to distinguish several stages of work:
Freeze. Before ordering the manufacture of a double-glazed window, it is necessary to carefully measure it. Pay attention to the border between the window frame and the glazing bead. Also, do not forget to allocate 1-1.5 cm for the deformation gap.
Dismantling the old one. To work you will need a knife or chisel. It is necessary to separate the glazing bead from the frame in the following sequence: right, left, top, bottom. After this, you can remove the glass unit. Using special suction cups will simplify the process.
Installing a new one. For level installation, straightening plates must be used. The installed double-glazed window must be secured with sealing rubber and secured on top with a bead.
A double-glazed window is one of the most expensive components of a window system, so we recommend not to take risks and entrust the installation to professionals. After all, an error during measurement may result in re-ordering the double-glazed window, and incorrect dismantling or installation may even damage the frame.
Features of glass measurements and its preparation for installation
The visible dimensions in the window differ from the actual dimensions of the glass - part of the dimensions are covered with glazing beads. But you also cannot measure from the outer edge of one bead to the outer edge of the other - there is still a certain gap between the frame plus the thickness of the sealant around the perimeter of the block with glass.
Note. Of course, you can first remove the block for accurate measurements. But then it will have to be inserted into the frame again until the new glass is cut out. Not only is this extra work, there is a chance that the fragments may simply fall out.
Is it possible to take measurements without dismantling? Can. To do this, measure the distances from the outer edge of one bead to the outer edge of the other on each side of the frame, and subtract 10 mm from the obtained values. To check the correctness, they also measure the diagonals, reduce them by 14 mm (10x√2), check them using the Pythagorean formula as the hypotenuse of a right triangle.
The sharp edges of the cut glass must be treated before installation - it is safer to work, there is better adhesion to the sealant, and there is less chance of chipping during installation. Polishing, of course, is unnecessary (not a shelf), but you need to sand it a little. This can be done manually by wrapping a wooden block with sandpaper with a grain of 300-600, or with a drill and an attachment with the same abrasive grain.
It is also important to wash the glass thoroughly before installation, degrease it and dry it with paper towels. Especially the surface that will face the inside of the camera.
Instructions for replacing a broken glass unit yourself
Steps for replacing broken double-glazed windows
- Measure the glass unit
- Make a new double-glazed window to replace the broken one
- Install a new double glazed window
To replace a double-glazed window, perform the following sequential steps:
- Remove the glazing beads holding the broken glass unit. First long, then short. To pry, use a flat, sharp object - a spatula or knife.
- Carefully remove the old glass unit. Make sure that the linings that spread it out and on which it rests are not lost.
- Install a new double glazed window. Spread it open with pads. How to do this correctly - see GOST 30674 Window blocks made of PVC profiles.
- Install the glazing bead in place: first the short ones, then the long ones. Use a hammer with a special “soft” tip to avoid accidentally damaging the glass.
- Dispose of the old glass unit.
How to install the bead back
After the new panel has been installed in the window frame, you can begin fixing it with glazing beads. The first thing you need to do is secure the bag from below, and then from above and on the sides.
It is worth noting that, even without any experience in such a matter as replacing a double-glazed window in a window, all the work is completed in 20-25 minutes.
Dismantling
In order to remove the old double-glazed window, use a sharp knife. Use a sharp edge to pry up the glazing bead where the bag adheres to the plastic structure.
Next, moving along the perimeter, carefully tap the knife with a hammer. Eventually the beads will come away from the frame.
It is too difficult to remove the clamps yourself and at the same time hold it, and to dismantle a heavy glass structure.
Therefore, experts, answering the question of whether it is possible to change the glass in plastic windows on your own, say no. Help is needed.
It is worth noting that specialists use special suction cup handles for their work. But in private use it is expensive to find such devices. Therefore, when replacing, even when a double-glazed window is inserted, two people need to act.
Installation
After the old glass surface is removed, a new one is installed. To ensure that it is installed correctly and without distortions, additional elements are used. These are special gaskets.
People call them bridges. Thanks to such bridges, glass structures are quickly fixed inside the window and, easily installed in them, perform their functions.
Window adjustment
Over time, it happens that the windows are not pressed as tightly against the frame as before. There is no need to even say that this damages the thermal insulation and requires repair. Now we will figure out what to do in such situations.
All plastic windows have a clamping device. It is an elastic band that can fail due to gradual loss of elasticity or shrinkage.
Fortunately, window manufacturers are aware of this problem. In particular, for such cases, the windows are provided with a system for adjusting the clamping tension.
To adjust the mechanism on the windows there are special mechanisms - trunnions. These are the same metal “barrels” that move along the rails when you turn the handle. Usually they are mounted three or four per window. You can turn them using a hexagon or a regular flat-head screwdriver.
Each trunnion has two slots, a long one and a shorter one. It is their position that indicates how to rotate the mechanism. So, in order to increase the tension (this is exactly what is needed in case of problems with the elastic band), you should turn the trunnion so that the long slot looks inside the apartment, and the short one looks out. If it turns out that the window has become difficult to close, it means that the tension should be slightly eased by a slight turn in the other direction. You need to turn all the mechanisms, otherwise you will only get a partial effect.
Different windows may have slightly different mechanisms that are adjusted slightly differently. There are three options:
- the axle is turned using a screwdriver, which is inserted into the groove in the center of the eccentric;
- the trunnion is slightly pulled towards itself with pliers and only then turned;
- the pin is simply turned with pliers, without pulling.
Before you start making adjustments, you should carefully check which method works.
On the windows of some manufacturers, this operation has to be carried out every season. The fact is that due to the characteristics of the material, the elastic band contracts slightly in winter and expands in summer. As a result, the clamping stress changes. This effect is not always noticeable, but if it happens, you will know what to do.
Is it possible to change?
You can increase the number of chambers in a sheet structure if the features of the system allow and the structure can withstand the increase in load.
Single-chamber to double-chamber
This can be done if two conditions are met:
- The width of the rebate is sufficient for a double-glazed window. If a package of several glasses is similar in width to a single-chamber one, then there will be no problems with installation. If it is slightly wider, the glazing beads may need to be replaced.
- The aluminum window structure can withstand the weight of the sash. It is possible to strengthen the plates and hinges.
Double on triple
For the installation of a three-chamber double-glazed window, similar conditions must be met. However, the difference in mass is insignificant, reaching only a quarter of the total weight of the structure. Therefore, reinforcement is not necessary.
Three-chamber package
What to do if the glass structure is damaged during the operation of PVC windows? Restoration will require restoration or replacement. When one sheet is damaged, it is enough to replace only that one. However, if several layers are damaged, you should purchase a new window. You can change the design to a more powerful one if the plastic and hinges can withstand it.
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Disassembling accessories
Before completely disassembling the plastic window, you should also remove the fittings that ensure the integrity of the structure. Some elements are hidden under covers that will have to be lifted to remove the fasteners.
In general, coping with this task is quite simple. A plastic window does not close: such a DIY repair of plastic windows. To do this, you only need a set of screwdrivers of various sizes and textures. The nature of the required tool is determined by the structure of the slot on the head of the hardware element being removed.
During this process, it is extremely important to lay out the dismantled fasteners in a strict order and sort identical hardware elements into plastic bags. It is advisable to record where a particular part was taken from.
Installing plastic windows with your own hands: how to insert a plastic window into a wooden one. How to properly install a plastic window with your own hands? Video instructions for installing PVC windows. This approach to organizing work in the future will help avoid chaos when performing the reassembly of structures.
Peculiarities
Basically, the main reason for replacing double-glazed windows on plastic windows is broken glass. In this case, you can either order a new product or replace the damaged part. It is worth noting that there are still important reasons that require attention in this matter:
- glass fogging;
- frost in the cold season;
- poor protection of the premises from frost;
- strong audibility of street noise.
As you can see, replacing a broken glass unit is far from the only problem. To carry out repair work correctly, it is best to contact workshops that will do all the necessary work using modern equipment. It will be extremely difficult to independently replace a deformed part with a new one, because in the production of metal-plastic windows special technologies are used that seal the space between two or more glasses, which provides heat and noise insulation.
You can only choose the necessary product yourself, which will be installed by professionals
It is important to understand that double-glazed windows contain glass of different thicknesses in order to effectively cope with the task.
A thickness of 4 to 6 mm will be sufficient to neutralize sounds from the street, but if we are talking about insulation, then it is important to pay attention to the number of cameras in the double-glazed window. There must be at least two of them, and some options may also have additional coverage
Most often, in the case of broken glass, manufacturers replace the entire glass unit, but there are cases when this is problematic, and they are associated with the specificity of the product, for example, it may have a stained glass window or other painting. Any repair, even the simplest one, must be carried out in production to avoid scattering of the silica gel, which is located between the glasses inside the bag. If the procedure is performed at home, then this substance will pick up moisture from the air and after installing the new glass, after a while, moisture or yellow streaks of that same silica gel will begin to appear on it.
Any problems related to the problems with the operation of the seklopack should be considered by the organization that installed the windows or by specially called window specialists who can express a professional opinion and coordinate the repair process with the owner of the premises.
