Window Replacement vs. Glass Replacement: Which Should You Do?

Whack! A baseball crashes through your kitchen window. What now? The glass is totally shattered. Window damage happens to all homeowners at one point or another. Whether it’s broken glass, bad seals, damaged wood framing, or insulation failure, there’s a variety of things that can happen. Is it best to do a glass-only replacement, or should you do a whole window replacement? Depending on your situation, the answer varies.

Before making any final decisions about what to do, learn about all of the options available to you and consider your end goal. Do you want to simply repair a damaged window that’s otherwise in good shape? Are you looking to increase your home’s value, energy efficiency, and curb appeal? Deciding when to replace windows can be tricky. Let’s answer some questions to determine whether you should replace one pane or the whole window.

In short, yes, but there’s more to it than that.

Glass-only replacement is almost always the more affordable option. Take that with a grain of salt, though. If you have newer, double-paned windows, the process of replacing the glass is complex and more expensive than single-paned windows. Since many double-pane pieces of glass have gas and spacers between them, you will have to special order each pane. If your windows are dated, leaky, single-paned, or poorly installed, it’s worth your time to consider whole-window replacement.

Let’s return to the example of the kitchen window shattered by a baseball. In this instance, you should think about the overall health of the window before the glass broke. Did the window show any signs of leaking, deterioration, or poor installation? If not, you can replace the glass on the window. While you could replace the glass yourself or seek out a qualified professional to do so, if it’s a Window World replacement window, our team can easily replace the glass for you! We’ll walk you through the process of replacing the glass yourself below.

The process of repairing broken glass on a window is pretty simple. Depending on what kind of window frame you have, the difficulty varies. Vinyl window frames are much easier to work with than wood ones because of their flexibility.

Remove the window sash, which is the moveable part of the window. To remove the sash, lift and pull from the bottom. Once that’s off, place it down on an even surface.

Before removing the glass from the window, put on eye protection and cut-proof gloves. Using tape, seal the shattered or broken areas of the window. The tape binds all the shards and pieces together to prevent unnecessary injury or cleanup.

If you can, try to remove the whole pane in one piece. If it’s stuck, wiggle it back and forth to free up the pane. You may need to use a knife to break the seal between the glass and glazing medium for older windows.

To get the perfect pane of glass, we suggest having a glass shop or home improvement store cut it for you. Before you do that, measure the height and width of the pane opening. In addition, you need to measure the thickness of the old glass. Once that’s done, you can get your glass cut.

Next, test it in the opening before installing to check the fit. Depending on what kind of window you’re working with, you may need a window glazing compound and metal glass points or double-sided tape. Glazing compound and glass points are for wood windows, while the double-sided tape is for vinyl and aluminum windows. Finally, set the glass in a bed of putty or on double-sided tape and seal with silicone or glazing compound.

Keep in mind, big or small, replacing windows or window glass can be tricky, so it’s best left to the professionals. Luckily, we offer professional installation for windows.

Often, whole-window replacement is the best option. If your window is old, single-paned, or has a damaged frame, you should consider a replacement. Moisture and air leakage inside are two sure signs it’s time to replace your window.

While window replacement has a higher upfront cost than glass replacement, you’ll reap more benefits than if you had simply replaced the glass. Glass replacement is often a quick fix. Window replacement, on the other hand, improves energy efficiency, curb appeal, and durability. You’ll notice a difference in your power bill and increase your home’s value with replacement windows.

Window World windows lower your energy bills by utilizing argon gas insulation between panes and low-E glass to filter out UV rays. Energy-efficient windows utilize features like this to keep the temperature in your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. No more window condensation and leaky windows—just comfortable temperatures all around. On top of that, we have a lifetime warranty on all of our windows. With Window World, you can rest assured that we’ll be there to help if something goes wrong.

At Window World, we’re experts dedicated to providing you with high-quality replacement windows. Every piece of our windows is manufactured to last, but should your glass need replacement, we’re here to help. Give us a call today to set up a free estimate.