Broken glass not only spoils the appearance of the window, it can create a lot of problems - increased noise from the street, fogging of windows, penetration of dust and water after rain, if the glass is broken in winter - then a decrease in the temperature in the room. It becomes important to replace cracked or broken glass in a plastic door.
It is possible to do this yourself, although it is quite labor-intensive and requires skills in working with glass, silicone sealants and measuring instruments. There are two options: replacing the glass unit assembly manufactured by the manufacturer and replacing broken glass in the glass unit. Let's consider both of these options.
Replacing glass elements in a balcony door: preparatory stage
Very often there is information circulating on the Internet that it is impossible or too difficult to replace double-glazed windows in a plastic or metal-plastic block. Therefore, people who are faced with the problem of damage to the glass part of the door begin to intensively call various organizations involved in the professional repair of such structures, and they charge quite large sums for their services.
But, in fact, you can replace the glass in the balcony doors yourself, since such repairs will save money from the family budget. To carry out the replacement yourself, you will need the following materials and tools:
- rubber hammer;
- dull knife or spatula;
- new double glazed window.
Those who are going to independently replace the glass in a metal-plastic balcony door must be careful and careful during this work.
Replacing double-glazed windows is carried out not in one, but in several stages, and this process should begin with taking measurements of the mounting socket for double-glazed windows. The landing socket is the distance between the glazing bead and the balcony frame.
All these measurements should be taken very carefully, and when replacing a double-glazed window you will need to focus on exactly this distance. All necessary measurements come down to accurately determining the width and height of the new double-glazed window that is planned to be inserted. But on each side, experts recommend additionally subtracting about half a centimeter.
Thus, a deformation margin is provided, which will avoid a loose fit of the glass. Experts recommend dismantling old glass very carefully; it is not recommended to remove them by breaking them, since the fragments will not only lead to deformation of the balcony frame, but can also injure the person who breaks them. Old and damaged double-glazed windows must be removed sequentially.
This means that you first need to remove the glazing beads, which are found on all plastic and metal-plastic balcony structures. Work should begin with the side beads, and they can be removed using a spatula with a rounded end or a blunt knife. One of the above tools needs to be driven between the spatula and the balcony frame, then the structure should be loosened and the side bead should be pulled out.
The same must be done for the same elements located below and above. After removing the last bead, you must carefully remove the damaged or old glass unit.
Installing a new double-glazed window on a balcony door
The work of installing new glass in a balcony block is practically the same process as dismantling it, only it is done in the reverse order. In an old double-glazed window, first remember the location of the plastic spacers, which help to evenly distribute the gap.
After adjusting the plastic spacers, you can begin to reinstall the beads, and for this work you will have to use a rubber hammer, since it is extremely difficult to perform such installation manually. Use a rubber hammer to strike with medium force, so as to ensure easy sliding across the glass unit.
Strong impacts are not recommended, as they can damage or loosen the glass unit. As can be seen from all of the above, such work can be done quickly and very simply, on your own and at minimal cost. Next, all that remains is to check how tightly the glass is located in the balcony block and, if possible, install any limiters that will prevent further damage to the double-glazed windows from drafts.
Required Tools
To repair a plastic balcony door yourself, you will need:
- set of screwdrivers and hexagons;
- any suitable device for withdrawing cash;
- pliers and pliers;
- building level and plumb line;
- suitable sealant and adhesive for plastic and rubber;
- necessary fittings (handles, gaskets, seals).
To avoid problems with installing new parts, you need to know exactly the door manufacturer and purchase only similar products.
Additional recommendations
You can choose double-glazed windows from the same company where the balcony structures themselves were once purchased. If quite a lot of time has passed after this moment, and the company no longer operates in the same location, you can purchase glass for the balcony door in large hardware stores. You just need to know the exact dimensions of the double-glazed windows, the manufacturer and model of the balcony structures. All these parameters will need to be provided to a consultant in the store, who will select the best glass option for the balcony door.
If desired, you can insert opaque or tinted glass into the balcony block, especially if the balcony faces the sunny side. And after the relevant experience has been acquired in the process of work, you can independently install tinted double-glazed windows on ordinary window structures.
If we are talking about installing glass closer to winter, then you can ask consultants for reliable double-glazed windows that can be switched at will from summer to winter mode and vice versa. This is very convenient, since there is no need to additionally insulate the glass.
In addition, it is advisable to check the quality of the fittings, since the heat-saving properties of the balcony door or windows also depend on this. The better the fittings and the better the double-glazed windows, the better the room is protected from frost and cold wind in cold weather.
Source: pobalkonu.ru/remontiruem/osteklenie/steklo-v-dver-balkona.html
Replacement of double-glazed windows in balcony doors and windows
Today, metal-plastic windows and doors are considered the most popular. They can be found everywhere. Despite their many positive properties, designs are still not eternal. One of the main reasons can be called damage to the glass unit.
Despite the numerous films that cover it, in essence, it still remains ordinary glass. That is why damage can occur, for example, due to mechanical shock. So how, if necessary, do you insert glass into a balcony door or a plastic window?
Often, to replace double-glazed windows, people turn to specialized services or hire professionals. In fact, you can do this yourself. This will save your own money. The process itself is accessible, so it can be carried out by anyone.
In order to carry out the replacement yourself, you need some materials and tools: New double-glazed windows; Spatula or dull knife; Rubber hammer. In addition, it is important to acquire desire and accuracy. Replacement is carried out in several stages. We will talk about them below.
It is important to know that the double-glazed window is inserted into the balcony door and window in the same way, and there are no fundamental differences in installation. In some cases, there is a need to increase the tightness of the chambers and the thermal insulation and sound insulation properties of the structure. In this case, you should also replace the glass, following all instructions.
Replacing glass in a balcony door involves taking measurements at the first preparatory stage of work. Accuracy and attentiveness are important in this process. The size of the landing socket is determined extremely simply. It represents the distance between the window frame and the glazing bead. We will focus on this size when replacing glass, but there will be no specific use for it.
In general, measurements come down to measuring the height and width of the glass unit. Experts advise subtracting half a centimeter on each side. This is necessary to ensure deformation margin. This will mean that the new double-glazed window will not fit tightly to the window or door frame.
This, in turn, will provide the opportunity to carry out regulation directly in the frame and prevent damage from temperature changes. Dismantling old glass When dismantling, experts advise getting rid of old bags carefully. Breaking them is a bad decision. Splinters can injure people and damage the frame. Initially, the glazing beads that are equipped with any plastic windows and doors are dismantled.
Start with the side bead. Get rid of it using a dull knife or spatula with rounded ends. It is not recommended to use a sharp knife as a tool. It may damage or scratch the window frame. It is also possible to cause damage to the glazing bead.
Dismantling is carried out in the following way:
- The spatula is driven between the frame and the bead;
- Loosening occurs;
- The glazing bead itself is pulled out.
The technique is the same for side, bottom and top beads. The only condition is that the order of extraction be observed. After removing the last top bead, carefully support the glass unit so that it does not fall.
Installation is a process similar to dismantling. However, it is done in the reverse order. The location of the plastic spacers should be taken into account. You can see it in an old double-glazed window. The use of spacers is mandatory to evenly distribute the gap for deformation.
At this point, the regulation is considered complete and you can proceed directly to the installation of the glazing beads itself. To do this, use a rubber hammer, since installing them manually is quite a difficult task. The blows should be of medium strength so that sliding on the glass occurs.
In general, strong blows are not needed at all, since the glazing bead is extremely simply and quickly placed in the right place. This completes the replacement of glass in a window or door frame.
Inserting glass into a balcony door or window is quite simple. Of course, having certain skills will not hurt, but you can do without them. To carry out a replacement, you need to have a desire to improve the design and the necessary tools. And in time it will take half a day maximum. As you have seen, replacing double-glazed windows in a balcony door and window is a process that any person can do, and doing it yourself is a reason for a little pride.
Source: balkonhelp.ru/mebel-i-dveri/zamenit-steklo.html
Preparatory work and dismantling
Damaged glass in a balcony frame can be replaced in a relatively short period of time if all the necessary tools and materials are prepared in advance. First of all, you need to buy a new double-glazed window. To do this, you need to measure the glass correctly. Having measured the length and width, you need to subtract half a centimeter from each indicator.
Removing broken glass
Such calculations are necessary to ensure that the glass fits tightly to the door frame. The entire balcony glass unit requires replacement, even if one panel is damaged. The balcony door thus better retains heat, hydro and sound insulation of the room.
After purchasing a new glass sheet, you can dismantle the damaged package. The work is carried out using a medium-width spatula with a rounded end or a knife with a blunt blade. A sharp knife can damage the door frame.
It is a mistake to think that the easiest way to remove a glass bag is to break it
First of all, this is the most traumatic method. And cleaning up the fragments on the balcony space will take much longer than carefully dismantling the canvas. In this case, the impact can deform the door frame.
Glass replacement
Dismantling is carried out by sequentially removing the glazing beads. A knife or spatula is inserted between the bead and the window frame . Gradually moving along, loosen the glazing bead and carefully remove it. It is necessary to strictly adhere to the order of work to avoid the glass block falling out of the opening. First, the side fastenings are removed, then the bottom. The last thing to remove is the top bead. In this case, you need to carefully hold the dismantled glass unit from falling . When the glazing beads around the entire perimeter of the glass are removed, removing the panel from the window opening is not difficult.
Installing a new unit
When replacing an old double-glazed window with a new one, the manipulations are performed in the reverse order. When dismantling, it is important to remember the location of the plastic spacers that create a deformation gap for a tight fit between the glass and the frame.
Having installed and adjusted the gaskets, you can immediately begin installing the glazing beads. The tool that helps the process is a rubber hammer with a rounded head. The rubber glides gently over the glass, maintaining its integrity. Hammer blows should be of medium strength.
Uniform advancement around the perimeter ensures the correct positioning of the glass block in the door frame slot. Having finished installing the double-glazed window into the balcony door, you need to check how well the block “fits” into the seat, ensuring sufficient tightness. The inspection will help prevent moisture penetration and condensation collection.
A few additional tips
It is better to buy a double-glazed window to replace the old one from the same manufacturer. You can purchase a block in construction supermarkets, choosing the best option, knowing the dimensions of the canvas and the brand of the structure. Replacing glass in a balcony door encourages design changes. The glass unit is installed tinted, matte ─ upon request.
The purpose of glass blocks is to keep rooms warm in winter and limit the penetration of street noise. You can install an energy-saving, heat-preserving package. The working method is similar.
By replacing the glass door block, you can install limiters to prevent recurrence of draft damage. At the same time, check the balcony mechanisms. Preventive inspection and lubrication of door hardware will be timely during major repairs.
Source: tvoy-balkon.ru/glazing/zamena-steklopaketa-v-balkonnoj-dveri.html
How to repair PVC doors on the balcony yourself
Plastic doors are used in every home. Regardless of the quality of the product, its size and frequency of use, over time, due to temperature changes, exposure to moisture and mechanical damage, both the entire canvas and its components may fail.
You can replace the entire structure, call a specialist who will restore its functionality, or repair the plastic balcony door yourself, armed with the necessary knowledge.
Replacement of double-glazed windows in a plastic frame
In terms of labor intensity, this is not a complicated operation at all, taking 25-30 minutes even for a person who is not knowledgeable in these matters. The most difficult thing is to remove the correct dimensions of the damaged glass unit.
Typically, manufacturing companies of metal-plastic structures do not take into account measurement data made by the customer independently. Nobody wants to waste material and time to translate, only to hear later: “Oh, I was wrong!” Therefore, if you manage to convince the customer that the dimensions are accurate and there should be no errors, you will still be required to pay in advance. So, it’s better not to complicate your life and call a measurer.
Thus, you will relieve yourself of the burden of responsibility for an incorrectly manufactured double-glazed window, and installing it in a door or window frame with your own hands is not difficult at all.
To begin with, the damaged (broken) glass unit is dismantled. To do this, use a rubber mallet (preferably white) and a plastic spatula to carefully separate the glazing beads, first along the long side of the frame (starting from the center to the edges), and then along the short side, first at the top, then at the bottom. When the glazing beads are separated, mark them with a pencil or water marker so that they are not mixed up during installation. The most crucial moment has come - to remove the broken glass unit from the frame.
It’s ideal if you have an assistant, but if you don’t, then use either rubber suction cups to remove the glass, or if you don’t have them, use newspaper folded in many layers to pick up the edge of the glass unit. A broken glass surface may begin to crumble under its own weight and injure you.
After removing the glass unit, thoroughly rinse the frame - it may contain residual sealant, glass fragments, or simply accumulate dirt. Then put in place the plastic spacers (bridges) removed along with the glass unit and install a new glass unit - first place the lower edge, and then support it with one hand so that it does not slip, insert the upper edge of the glass unit.
Before inserting the glass into the door, you will definitely need help, since your hands will be busy holding the glass unit in the frame, and the second pair of hands (an assistant) should be engaged in installing the bead in the sequence: bottom-top-left-right. This completes the work of replacing the glass unit.
Why remove the glass unit if it is not damaged?
There are times when there are no problems with the window, but it is still necessary to remove the glass unit from the frame.
- Installation of an air conditioner on a facade wall. It is often unprofitable to order a crane or the services of high-rise workers, so it is easier to remove the glass unit of a plastic window.
- Washing windows. It is not always possible to reach the outside of the windows to clean them. This is especially true for glazed balconies, especially if the opening parts of the window structure are not provided everywhere.
- Transporting windows to another location. For example, you install new windows in your apartment and take the old ones to the country house. To disassemble the entire window structure, you will first have to remove the double-glazed window from the plastic window: the fastening is located inside.
Replacing glass in a double glazing unit
This is perhaps the most thankless undertaking that can come your way. In general, double-glazed windows cannot be repaired at home. This is due to the technological features of their manufacture.
During the industrial manufacturing process, a special gas environment is created between the layers of glass - argon or krypton gas is pumped in. This helps to reduce thermal conductivity and reduce the coefficient of expansion when heated.
Those craftsmen who are trying to give advice on repairing double-glazed windows and at the same time mention some kind of “vacuum” that exists between the glasses - in principle, they do not understand what they are writing about! Just like the advice to heat sheet glass with a hairdryer can only be given by a person very far from physics, who simply does not understand that it is impossible to evenly heat the glass at home, and if the heating is uneven, the glass surface will simply burst.
The sealants used in the production of double-glazed windows are far from being plumbing silicone. It is unlikely that you will be lucky enough to obtain butyl tape or mastic and manage to apply it absolutely evenly onto the spacer frame with your own hands in a layer of a few tenths of a millimeter.
The same difficulties await you when filling the spacer frame with a moisture-absorbing agent (silica gel). You can buy it in bags weighing 25-30 grams. intended for hanging in wardrobes, kitchens, toilets, bathrooms to combat excess humidity. Granules come in different diameters, and it is very difficult to guess the size suitable for filling the spacer frame.
But, if you are not afraid of these difficulties, and you decide to replace the glass in a double-glazed unit with your own hands, then you need to:
- Cut it yourself or order glass from a workshop with a tolerance of 0.5-1.0 mm to the dimensions of the glass unit.
- Remove the broken glass unit from the plastic frame.
- Place it on a flat surface with the broken glass facing up.
- Using a sharp knife, cut off the broken glass along with the spacer frame.
- Thoroughly clean the remaining glass from any remaining old mastic and sealant. Degrease it by wiping it with Galosh gasoline or acetone. Apply silicone sealant for aquariums to the edge of the glass, as thinly as possible and always in a continuous layer, or, at worst, colorless plumbing sealant.
- Place spacers along the edge of the glass, lightly pressing them against the glass lubricated with sealant.
- Apply a thin layer of sealant (like glass) to the frames.
- Carefully and be sure to use two people to evenly lay a new sheet of glass on top of the frame.
- After the sealant has hardened, use a utility knife to cut off any excess sealant that appears.
- Apply masking tape to the glass, leaving 2-3 mm from the edge.
- Carefully coat the edges of the joint between the spacer frame and the glass (old and new) with the same silicone sealant, using a plastic spatula soaked in a thick soap solution, or with your finger, also thickly lubricated with a soap suspension. If you don’t do this, you will have to wait a long time for the sealant to come off your fingers.
- After complete polymerization of the sealant, install the repaired double-glazed window into the door frame and secure with glazing beads.
There is no guarantee that a double-glazed window repaired by yourself will not fog up, freeze in winter, or provide proper sound insulation.
In this article, we outlined the algorithm of actions associated with repairing window glass with your own hands at home, in particular, double-glazed windows installed in plastic doors.
