The CLEAR GUIDE To Replacing Your Glass In Double Glazing Quickly & Easily

By Steven Sanderson www.replacedoubleglazing.com

Copyright Steven Sanderson. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior permission of the author.

Note This report is intended as a guide and information source only. While the advice and information contained within this book is believed to be true and accurate at the time of production, the author can accept no legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Also, they accept no responsibility for any action taken by the reader whilst following the guidance and advice within. We also advise that the reader makes themselves aware of the following report: The Building Regulations 2000 - Glazing - safety in relation to impact, opening and cleaning Approved Document N. The author, Steven Sanderson, does stipulate that the replacement procedure of Double Glazed units is straightforward, but he always recommends that a fully qualified window fitter should be employed to replace any Double Glazed units and accepts no responsibility for an undesirable consequences if someone attempts the installation themselves.

www.replacedoubleglazing.com

Preface
In addition to this free report, we have produced a series of 8 Step by Step Videos called the Step by Step Guide Replacing the Glass in Your Double Glazing. I, Steven Sanderson from S.K. Sanderson (a qualified Window fitter) teach you how to replace the glass in your Double Glazed pane quickly and efficiently and cheaply. You watch over my shoulder as I take you through the 4 different systems there are out there, how to identify them & how to replace them. NB. It is important to identify which system you have before you start any work.

What is a Broken Down or Misted Up Double Glazed Unit?

We all know that a Double Glazed Unit consists of two panes of glass with a void in the middle, all packaged as one single unit. Misting up of a unit is essentially where condensation creeps into the void in the middle causing an unsightly appearance. This worsens over time until you can no longer see through it clearly (see photo). It becomes extremely apparent when the sun shines on it, just as it is painfully obvious that your windows are dirty when the sun shines directly on them. www.replacedoubleglazing.com

Why Do Double Glazed Units Mist Up?

The main reason why a double-glazed sealed unit can mist up (or break down as it is referred to in the trade) is due to premature failure of the perimeter seal, which is obviously dependent on how the sealed unit was originally made. Also, another reason for a double glazed unit misting up is dependant on how the framework it is fitted into was made or how the double-glazed sealed unit was fitted into the framework. Additionally, severe weather conditions such as wind and rain as well as some cleaning chemicals can have an effect on the Double Glazed unit over time. What actually happens is the perimeter edge of the unit loses its integrity and lets in moisture somewhere. Initially it may only be visible when the sun shines directly on it and heats the moisture within drawing it upwards and thus appearing as condensation. It will however, worsen over time until the unit is described as being totally broken down.

The only simple and cost effective answer is to replace the double-glazed sealed units with new ones. We are not talking about replacing the window frames themselves, just the glass (the Double Glazing). There will be no alteration to the existing framework. It is useless trying to separate the 2 glass panes to then remove the condensation, as the sealed unit is factory made with the panes bonded together to last a lifetime. Window Manufacturers however do offer

guarantees for windows and glazing but the reality is that manufacturing companies come and go throughout therefore be sometimes hard to trace. www.replacedoubleglazing.com their guarantee period and can

It is however, always recommended that you use a qualified Window fitter to replace your Double Glazed (DG) panes. Even though a straightforward task, if you do your own, you undertake the task at your own risk.

Measuring The Double Glazed Unit

This section deals with measuring the double glazed replacement pane and you need to imagine you are facing the window from the outside. You also need to refer to the photos in this section to get a full understanding of what exactly is being measured.

Look at the bead (B) - the angled section that meets the windowpane.

You need to measure from A to B in millimetres across the width and measure from C to D in millimetres across the height. Then from both measurements deduct 10mm. WHEN ORDERING, qualified window fitters ALWAYS GIVE THE WIDTH FIRST. This is the size of Double Glazing pane. It is that simple and it does not get a lot harder.

Example : Measurement A to B is 855mm Measurement C to D is 875 mm The window size that would be ordered is 845mm (width) and 865mm (height)

www.replacedoubleglazing.com

Thickness of Double Glazed Unit

The supplier of the Double Glazing panes also need to know the overall thickness of the Double Glazed unit (please see Diagram 1). There are two ways of establishing the thickness of the overall pane (No 1 is very expensive and can be only justified if you are going to replace a substantial number of them).

1) There is a kit that you can use that has several instruments in; two of them can indicate what type of glass you are looking at and the third one measures the thickness of the glass pane. One such supplier is Merlin Lazer and is called the Merlin Lazer Glass Analysis kit (approx 300 plus VAT). Measurements can be taken simply by placing the instruments up to the glass pane and taking the measurements. Merlin Lazer contact details are as follows: tel: (01892) 654141 or website is www.merlinlazer.com. 2) The installer can take the unit into a glass supplier (these can be found in Yellow Pages or Thomson Directory in the UK or under glass suppliers on Google. They could then measure it for you.

The glass itself is nearly always 4mm thick hence the two panes are 8mm. The space in between can be 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 16mm, 18mm or 20mm. Hence if you are looking at a Double Glazed unit that has a spacer of 12 mm, the overall thickness is 12mm (space) plus 8mm (glass) totalling 20mm thickness and this is expressed as 4 12 4. If you are looking at a Double Glazed unit that has a spacer of 16 mm, the overall thickness is 16mm (space) plus 8mm (glass) totalling 24mm thickness and this is expressed as 4 16 4.

www.replacedoubleglazing.com

Diagram 2 - An Example of A Window System

Type of Glass Out There

There are lots of different types of glass available and below is a brief description of the common ones.

Standard clear glass This glass was the first and only type to be installed in millions of houses throughout the years and is fast being replaced with more thermally efficient versions. Low E/K glass This improved glass (in comparison to Standard glass) has an increased environmental performance with less CO2 emissions and better thermal efficiency and nowadays it is compulsory (to comply with Building Regulations) to put Low E/K Glass into NEW houses. It is also good practice to try and replace windows in existing houses with Low E / K glass but this is not always practical. The reasons being that K glass has a slight tint to it and it will not match the rest of the property if the remaining windows has standard glass. But, if you upgrade all your windows to the more efficient K glass, you will benefit from reduced energy bills. You will www.replacedoubleglazing.com

obviously only replace them all for K glass if quite a few of your existing windows have already broken down. Both of the above types of glass, including patterned glass can come as Toughened Glass. Toughened glass is exactly what it is described as toughened or tempered. It has been manufactured by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength compared with normal glass. It will usually shatter into small fragments instead of sharp shards when broken, making it less likely to cause any injury if smashed.

From The Building Regulations 2000 Safety In Relation To Impact, Opening & Cleaning Approved Document N

Critical locations In some areas and at certain heights, toughened glass will be required to be used and the best place to check all this information is in the above Building Regulations and this can be downloaded Free Of Charge at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/buildingapproveddocu mentn. This website address was correct at the time of this report being published. For information only, these critical areas are generally between finished floor level and 800mm above that level in internal and external walls and partitions AND between finished floor level and 1500mm above that level in a door or in a side panel, close to either edge of the door. Please refer to the Approved Document N (as mentioned above) and you will see clear diagrams in the Building Regs detailing this.

It would be true to say that qualified Window fitters replace like for like i.e. whatever glass is taken out is replaced new with the same. Most of the time this will result in the correct type of glass being installed but they are relying on the person who installed before them getting it right.

www.replacedoubleglazing.com

It is strongly advisable to get a copy of The Building Regulations 2000 - Glazing - safety in relation to impact, opening and cleaning Approved Document N. This can be bought online at www.tso.co.uk for 7.50 or you can download for free on: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/buildingapproveddocu mentn It can be hard to assess what type of glass it is currently in the frame at a glance. If it does have a kite mark on it, it is more likely to be toughened glass but this should not be left to chance.

Pattern or Plain Glass Glass suppliers will have a brochure of all the different patterned glass they supply and you will come across lots of various patterns out there.

Type of Spacers
The two panes of glass in a Double Glazed unit are separated by an air gap and you will see all around the perimeter of the sealed unit there is a spacer bar. These come in silver, bronze or gold and the idea is to just replace like for like.

What Windows Will You Find Out There?

The majority of windows in the UK are either uPVC or timber, with uPVC far outweighing the timber. These two cover the vast majority of the domestic window industry. You will find that a Double Glazed Unit for a uPVC is just the same as it is for a timber window, although the units installed in timber windows are generally thinner in overall thickness than those installed in uPVC. It is a well known fact within the window industry that Double Glazed units fail more within a timber window than a uPVC one. However, most replacements come from the uPVC market in the UK; the simple reason being the majority of houses have uPVC windows installed and this is ever increasing. uPVC windows have been fitted in properties for years now and over recent years, the Double www.replacedoubleglazing.com

Glazing units have improved somewhat. The old style of glazing is simply known as EXTERIOR glazed and the more modern glazing is referred to as INTERIOR glazed. The latter are far better for security and far easier to install as it can all be done from the inside hence requiring no ladders. 80% of the market at this moment in time in the UK however is connected to the EXTERIOR glazed system as this is the older type and we see more units requiring upgrading due to their age. Over time, we will find that the INTERNAL glazed system will generate more replacement enquiries as these units also age, hence the replacement of the Double Glazed units is only set to become easier in the future.

How To Replace a Double Glazed Unit

To replace a Double Glazed unit, it is a simple procedure of removing the glazing beads & gaskets of which there are various different systems (this is all in our Step By Step Video Guide: The Step by Step Guide For Replacing the Glass in Double Glazing where I take you through real examples of how I take out and replace Double Glazing panes simply and efficiently). This Step by Step video series explains every detail on what to measure, how to easily identify YOUR systems quickly and easily, what tools you need (simple ones), how to remove the glass pane quickly & safely, how & where to position the packers and how to reinstall. They also cover where to source your glass cheaply. You watch over my shoulder as I take you by the hand every step of the way no matter what system you have it almost feels like 1 to 1 guidance. Check it out here: : The Step by Step Guide For Replacing the Glass in Double Glazing OK so we have mentioned that there are 4 different systems so I am now going to take you through these 4 different systems and briefly explain what to do to replace your glass panes but www.replacedoubleglazing.com

remember that Step by Step video training can be obtained by clicking on the link above. SYSTEM NUMBER ONE The External Shuffle Bead System This system is where the glazing beads are on the outside of the window and the internal wedge gasket is on the inside of the window. PROCEDURE: First go to the inside of the window and remove the wedge gasket from between the window frame and the glass; on this system the gasket should come out easily as shown in our video set: Step by Step Guide Replacing the Glass in Double Glazing. After removing the gasket, you now need to go to the outside of the window where you will see the external glazing beads. These beads should now be loose as the internal gasket acts as a wedge which pushes the glass forwards to tighten up the beads into a groove. So, as the gasket has been removed, the beads should now be loose. Remove all the beads leaving the top bead until last as this will help to prevent the glass from falling forwards. Make sure you note where any glazing packs are around the glass at this point. Remove the double glazed unit and place to one side. Now ensure there are glazing packs in the bottom of the window. Pick up the new double glazed unit and place it into the window frame ensuring it is sat on the bottom glazing packs and any other glazing packs noted earlier are put back into place around the double glazed unit. Ensure you keep a secure hand on the double glazed unit to prevent it from falling forwards. Now replace the glazing beads in reverse order of how they were removed ensuring the bead is clipped into place securely. Now go back to the inside of the window and put the wedge gasket back into place between the window frame and the glass in reverse order of how it was removed, this will slowly push the glass forwards locking the outside beads into place.

This is the most common system out there today but is being replaced by the Internal Clip In System this internal system is now being installed in all new houses (see below) For a full video Step by Step guide (watch over my shoulder guide please check out our Step by Step Guide Replacing the Glass in Double Glazing CLICK HERE FOR ACCESS

www.replacedoubleglazing.com

SYSTEM NUMBER TWO The External Knock In Bead System This system is where you remove the bead from the outside first. You then cut the internal glazing tape from the inside and then remove the glass. You then replace the glass and put the beads back in reverse order. It is explained in more detail below. (Please note this is a rare system, and a specialised deglazing tool is required) PROCEDURE: First go to the outside of the window, using the deglazing tool as shown in our video set: Step by Step Guide Replacing the Glass in Double Glazing. Place the tool in between the glass and the window frame, gently prize the tool away from the glass until you feel the bead start to release itself (starting in the middle of the bead along the length). Now work your way towards the ends of the bead using the glazing tool until the bead is fully removed and remove all beads in this way leaving the top bead until last as this will help to prevent the glass from falling forwards. (NB. at this point the glass may come out, if there is no double sided glazing tape holding the glass in, which is highly unlikely). Now you need to go to the inside of the window and as you stand and look at the glass you will see around the edge of the glass (between the glass and the window frame), a foam tape, this is double sided tape. You need to cut around the aperture with a flat scraper or knife cutting the tape, as shown in our video set: Step by Step Guide Replacing the Glass in Double Glazing. Please ensure at this point you have someone holding the glass on the outside for safety as the glass may become free and fall out. Now go to the outside of the window frame and remove the double glazed unit, taking note at this point where any glazing packs are positioned around the double glazed unit. Now you need to clean away any old double sided glazing tape from around the window frame using a flat scraper. After doing this you now need to replace the glazing tape; this can be bought from your local glass supplier. After sticking the fresh glazing tape around the window frame you now need to remove the second backing tape from the glazing tape. Now place into position the new double glazed unit, ensuring it is sat on the bottom glazing packs. Position any more glazing packs noted earlier around the side of the double glazed unit, ensuring you keep a secure hand on the double glazed unit to prevent it from falling forwards. www.replacedoubleglazing.com

Now you need to replace the glazing beads in reverse order of which they where removed. You do this by taking a glazing mallet, gently tap the bead into position until you feel it locate into position as it clips into the internal grooves, starting at the ends of the bead (over the length of the bead) and working your way to the middle of the bead until all beads are securely back into position.

For a full video Step by Step guide (watch over my shoulder guide please check out our Step by Step Guide Replacing the Glass in Double Glazing CLICK HERE FOR ACCESS

SYSTEM NUMBER THREE The Internal Clip In Bead System This is the simplest system of all and there is no need to work from the outside whatsoever. You simply remove the internal glazing bead from the inside and these clips out really easily. The glass is then lifted out & replaced for new. The glazing beads are then clipped back into place. PROCEDURE: First you need to go to the inside of the window; you will see the glazing beads on this system are ALL on the inside of the window frame. Take a flat scraper and position it between the bead and the window frame and now gently prize out the bead starting in the middle (over the length of the bead) and working your way towards the ends of the bead. Remove all the beads leaving the top bead until last as this will help to prevent the glass from falling forwards. When all beads are removed take note of the position of any glazing packs around the glass and remove the double glazed unit from the window frame. Now take the new double glazed unit and position it into the window frame ensuring it is stood on the bottom glazing packs. Position any earlier noted packs around the glass ensuring you keep a secure hand on the double glazed unit to prevent it from falling forwards. Now you need to replace the beads in reverse order of which they were removed by clipping the bead into the groove in the window (as shown in our video set: Step by Step Guide Replacing the Glass in Double Glazing), starting at the ends of the bead (over the length of the bead) and working your way towards the middle of the bead until all beads are securely back into position.

www.replacedoubleglazing.com

For a full video Step by Step guide (watch over my shoulder guide please check out our Step by Step Guide Replacing the Glass in Double Glazing CLICK HERE FOR ACCESS

SYSTEM NUMBER FOUR The Exterior Clip In Bead System This system is very similar to system 2 above the only difference being the tools that are used to take out the glazing bead from the outside. The glazing beads are also different in the fact that a gasket is attached to the inner side of the glazing bead, touching the glass. PROCEDURE: First go to the outside of the window, using a flat scraper, position it between the glazing bead and the window frame and gently prize out the bead starting in the middle (along the length of the bead), and working your way towards the ends. Remove all beads leaving the top bead until last to help to prevent the glass from falling forwards. (note: at this point the glass may come out, only if there is no double sided glazing tape holding the glass in, which is highly unlikely). Now you need to go to the inside of the window; as you stand and look at the glass you will see around the edge of the glass between the glass and the window frame, a foam tape and this is double sided tape. You need to cut around the aperture with a flat scraper or knife cutting the tape, as shown in our video set: Step by Step Guide Replacing the Glass in Double Glazing. Please ensure at this point you have someone holding the glass on the outside to ensure as the glass becomes free it doesnt fall out. Now go to the outside of the window frame and remove the double glazed unit, taking note at this point where any glazing packs are positioned around the unit. Now you need to clean away any old double sided glazing tape from around the window frame using a flat scraper. After doing this you now need to replace the glazing tape and this can be bought from your local glass supplier. After sticking the glazing tape around the window frame you now need to remove the second backing tape from the glazing tape. Now place into position the new double glazed unit ensuring it is sat on the bottom glazing packs. Position any more glazing packs noted earlier around the side of the double glazed unit, ensuring you keep a secure hand on the double glazed unit to prevent it from falling forwards. www.replacedoubleglazing.com

Now you need to replace the glazing beads in reverse order of which they were removed, ensuring the beads are clipped into place properly, until all beads are back securely into position. Start at the ends (over the length of the bead) and work your way to the middle of the bead, until all beads are securely back into position.

For a full video Step by Step guide (watch over my shoulder guide please check out our Step by Step Guide Replacing the Glass in Double Glazing CLICK HERE FOR ACCESS

In all cases above, the packers need to be carefully re-used that have been packed to the sides of the old unit.

These plastic packers come in various sizes ranging from 1 mm to 5 mm. PLEASE NOTE. TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO YOUR WINDOW IT IS VERY IMPORTANT YOU IDENTIFY WHICH BEAD SYSTEM YOUR WINDOW FRAME HAS, THIS CAN BE IDENTIFIED AS SHOWN IN OUR VIDEOS Step by Step Guide Replacing the Glass in Double Glazing CLICK HERE FOR ACCESS

www.replacedoubleglazing.com

There are 3 reasons why we need to pack a Double Glazed unit.

To position the Double Glazed unit properly into the window frame - when we lift the new Double Glazed unit into position, there will be a small gap all around the unit and to enable it to sit properly in the window frame, you need to pack inbetween the new Double Glazed unit and the window frame. Importantly, the packers raise the unit up so that it will never be sitting in water.

The frame is designed such that the water can ingress into the window frame and there are seep holes in the frame where this water is allowed to escape.

For security reasons Plastic is flexible and if someone tries to break into a property via the window, there are certain precautionary measures that can be taken to ensure the windows are as secure as possible.

The secret lies in the way the hidden packers are positioned within the window frame. The diagrams below (4 & 5) illustrate how the packers should be aligned in two different scenarios. To toe and heel the side opening windows or doors for strength and stability (explained later).

Diagram 3 (above) illustrates a top opening window. Look at where the packers are situated. The two at the bottom of the windows (on both the top and bottom windows) sit the units up off www.replacedoubleglazing.com

the frame to prevent it sitting in any water that may have seeped in. The ones at the top are positioned so that it strengthens the unit in the vertical plane if anyone for instance used a crow bar to prise open the window via the handle.

Diagram 4 illustrates a side opening window. Look at where the packers are situated. The two at the bottom of the windows (on both the left and right windows) sit the units up off the frame to prevent it sitting in water that may have seeped in. The ones at the side are positioned so that it strengthens the unit in the horizontal plane if anyone for instance used a crow bar to prise open the window via the handle. Diagram 4 also illustrates toeing and heeling a side hanging window. The dead weight is supported on the hinge side when it is opened and there is nothing on the lock side to support the weight. Sooner or later the window will drop on the handle side hence the need to brace the unit using the same principles which joiners use to brace gates - where a length of timber is fixed to the gate in a diagonal slope from the top outside edge down to the bottom hinge (inside edge) thus forming a triangular shape and throwing the weight down to the bottom hinge side.

Diagram 5 illustrates a uPVC hanging door. These doors are heavy, and although the dead www.replacedoubleglazing.com

weight is supported on the hinge side when it is opened, there is nothing on the lock side to support the weight. Sooner or later the door will drop on the handle side, making it difficult to open or close and making the locks difficult to use. We need to position the packers in a toe and heeling fashion. To stop a door dropping the glass itself has to be braced diagonally corner to corner by the insertion of plastic packers slipped in the gap between the glass and frame, under the beading. On the hinge side the packers go at the bottom corner, whilst on the lock side, the packers go at the top (opposite) corner. It is also good practice to pack on both sides as well. If this seems hard to understand, imagine a timber ledged and braced door it has three horizontal planks running along the top, middle and bottom of the door. Inbetween these ledges, there are diagonal planks of wood to brace across hence take the weight of the door and therefore to stop the gate dropping on the lock/handle side.

Conclusion
I hope this has given you a really good insight into why Double Glazed units break down and mist up, how to measure the units properly, the more common type of glass out there today as well as the components of Double Glazed units. And importantly download the The Building Regulations 2000 - Glazing - safety in relation to impact, opening and cleaning Approved Document N.

For more indepth knowledge on how Window Installers replace the Double Glazed units and how simple a task it is, we have constructed a series of 8 videos which shows you step by step, exactly how the various panes are replaced out there today. The easiest way to illustrate this is by video and because of the time and effort gone into constructing these information videos, we are charging just a small fee for them. ACCESS HERE

Thankyou for reading.

www.replacedoubleglazing.com

Steven Sanderson

DISCLAIMER
Please note that the information on this page is intended only for adults aged 18 and over. There maybe links to some other web pages we have not compiled or written. We are not responsible for their content. We have not checked the accuracy of the pages linked here and do not warrant that they are lawful, accurate, complete, safe, or up-to-date. The links on this page are provided for general guidance only and may not be suitable for your individual requirements. In some countries, states, or regions, certain aspects of DIY work may be prohibited by law. It is your responsibility to check that what you want to do is lawful in your area. We strongly advise you to seek professional advice before tackling any of the projects. Some DIY tools and processes can be very hazardous or dangerous. Please be sure to read all instructions, warnings, and disclaimers. If no safety information is given, it is your responsibility to confirm that whatever you are trying to do is safe before you begin. We can accept no responsibility for any accidents, injuries, or DIY disasters that result from your using any of the information linked here.

You use the information on the pages linked here entirely at your own risk.

www.replacedoubleglazing.com