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Worry-Free Windows

Keep your home's heat locked in with sound double-glazing for your windows.

Learn more about good glazing with the following advice - keeping your home well insulated will help you save on your energy bills. Also see our Making your Home Green section for further Home Insulation help as well as other tips on How to Save Energy in your Home.

For fast, fuss free repairs by the professionals, see Glaziers.

Choose from the following list to find the advice your looking for:

Re-glazing

Aluminium windows and most UPVC styles

UPVC and aluminium windows can generally be reglazed without the removal of the complete window or sash. Undertaking this job yourself is not recommended though as this material is best handled by a professional glazier.

Timber window frames

Reglazing timber window frames is something you can tackle with relative ease. You'll need to buy the same kind of glass as your other windows so that it matches. Take the following steps:

  1. If the window is broken, remove the remaining glass pieces from the window frame. Do this by chiselling out the old putty that holds the glass in the window frame and wear protective gloves for safety.
  2. Roll the new putty into a sausage and press firmly around the frame. Insert the glass and press in some more putty to hold it firmly. Use a wet knife to smooth the putty into place.
  3. Leave to dry for at least a week before doing any painting over it.
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Scratches

There are a number of ways to fix scratches on your double glazed sealed units:

  1. Fill in the scratch with a resin that you can buy at most motor accessory shops or good DIY store. They may also sell special kits for dealing with window/ windscreen scratches.
  2. Polish the scratch out using a clean, lint-free cloth dampened with a very fine abrasive such as Ceria (cerium oxide) or Jeweller's Rouge (iron oxide). Don't use household abrasive cream cleaners - they will scratch the surrounding glass.
  3. If the above options don't work, replace the entire sealed unit. This might seem drastic, but might be your only solution for more serious scratches.
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Putty

Old putty around timber frames can become dry and brittle, causing draughts, leaks, or even the window to fall out. Replacing the putty is a simple process:

  1. Soften the old putty with bleach in advance.
  2. Carefully chisel out the old putty.
  3. Apply the new putty by rolling it into a sausage and pressing it around the edges.
  4. Once it is applied you can smooth and shape it with a damp putty knife.
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Channels

The constant opening and shutting of windows can cause the channels to become bent and distorted. You might be able to fix it by measuring the channel against a straight metal rule and tapping any dents out with a hammer up and down the length of a wood block.

If this doesn't work and the channel is badly bent, it will need to be replaced by a professional.

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Condensation

Condensation is a problem if it occurs within the double-glazing panes as this indicates that the window seals are broken. There is nothing you can do to fix this problem unfortunately; your glazing will need to be completely replaced.

If condensation occurs on the inside pane of the window, it can cause mould and mildew, eventually leading to rot. To minimise, install a fan (in a bathroom or kitchen) or dehumidifier to increase ventilation. See Double Glazing & Draught Proofing for further actions you can take.

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Sills

Window sills are especially vulnerable to condensation and the elements - this can cause the appearance of rot in the wood. Wood can be difficult to restore, so protecting the sill by using an aluminium sheet is a wise approach:

  1. Cut out a piece of aluminium (using scissors designed for metal cutting) that matches the measurements of your window sill.
  2. Position this aluminium piece on top of your window sill and fix into place using 1 inch roofing nails.
  3. Tap the aluminium into the shape of the sill using a hammer behind a wood block.
  4. Secure the aluminium piece by nailing it underneath the sill and seal the edges with putty.
  5. Use a metal primer (bought at most DIY stores), and then paint the sill to match the rest of the window.

For professional help with tackling problems like wood rot, see Damp Proofers.

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