The replacement of ordinary wooden windows with plastic ones was carried out almost everywhere. Indeed, new window units do an excellent job of retaining heat inside the apartment and protecting from street noise, but, as in the case of the “previous generation,” problems occur with double-glazed windows, the solution of which sometimes requires partial or complete replacement of this element.
Thus, there is often a need to replace broken glass in a double-glazed window. To solve the problem, it is not necessary to completely change the glass unit in a plastic window - just remove the damaged element and install new glass. You can do this yourself or hire specialists from a company that installs window systems.
If the owners decide to hire a company, it should be borne in mind that in most cases replacing glass alone will cost approximately the same price as installing a new double-glazed window , and therefore glass should be replaced with the help of professional installers only in the following cases:
- if stained glass is to be replaced;
- if you need to change the glass in a multi-chamber (triple or more) package;
- when the inner glass is damaged, and the outer glass is a particularly durable and expensive triplex.
When is window system repair necessary?
The work can be carried out by specialized companies or in-house - all you need to do is follow the technological process so that the block in the frame lasts a long time.
Repair of the package without replacing the window structure is necessary in the following cases:
- Mechanical damage - despite the fact that a reliable sheet is inserted during the manufacture of the modular system, cracks may appear from a strong impact.
- Insulation of the apartment - single glass is being replaced with a double-glazed unit.
- Improving sound insulation will protect the room from extraneous sounds; install double or triple windows or change the size of the chambers.
Regardless of the reason why you need to change the glass unit in a plastic window, the services of engineers are cheaper than purchasing and ordering a different design. You can do the work yourself; detailed video instructions will help you with this.
About the important thing: don’t miss out
In general, replacing a double-glazed window is not as scary as you initially think. The procedure will take a couple of hours (excluding drying of the sealant). The main thing is to wait for the glass unit to be manufactured. Here are some useful tips that will definitely come in handy when replacing:
- make replacements during daylight hours - if the panel breaks, the fragments will be in your field of vision;
It is better to replace glass in a plastic window during the day, then all inaccuracies will be visible immediately
- when replacing at the breaking stage, be sure to lay something under the structure, preferably fabric. Let it be an old sheet that you don’t mind throwing away later. Further use of the product for its intended purpose is undesirable.
- It is better to break glass when replacing it with a rubber hammer - it produces much less fragments. It is also convenient and quick for them to put glazing bead parts in place.
- Call an assistant to replace it if the glass itself is very large and it is extremely difficult to hold it alone.
- Try to touch the glass as little as possible with your bare hands - only touch the edge protected with tape and use special suction cups to hold the system.
- Before replacing, carefully inspect the “fresh” glass to see if it has any cracks, bulges, or holes. If there is even the slightest suspicion of imperfection, refuse the installation so as not to have to redo it again in a month.
- Your own safety should come first - do not work with the frame suspended, be sure to protect your face and body from small fragments.
- If one of the cameras on a two-chamber or three-chamber glass breaks, you will have to replace the entire glass, otherwise the structure will quickly break again.
Dismantling the structure or local replacement
The service life of Euro windows is 20-25 years. The owners are interested in whether it is possible to replace the glass unit in the structure without purchasing another “stained glass window”. If the profiles are washed and remain clean, the frames close and open, there is no need to install the window unit. You can simply install modern Euro windows.
Advantages of local replacement of glass in plastic windows:
- low price – 50% of the cost of a new design;
- no need to dismantle the old window system;
- no construction waste;
- there is no need to finish the slopes after work.
Disadvantages - whether it is possible to replace the double-glazed window with an updated filling depends on the condition of the frame and fittings; it is permissible to carry out local work if the euro-window is installed efficiently and there are no drafts.
How much does a double-glazed window replacement service cost on average in the market?
The cost of services for replacing or repairing double-glazed windows is quite high, but we must take into account the fact that it is not profitable for craftsmen to go out for “penny” repairs. On average, companies that install PVC windows charge from 2,500 to 4,500 rubles per sq.m.
This cost most often includes delivery. If you need to replace glass in a double-glazed unit, you need to be prepared for an amount of 1,500 to 2,500 rubles per sq.m. excluding the cost of material and delivery of glass to the customer.
How to restore a module
To install glass on a plastic window, it is not necessary to contact a specialized company. You can install double-glazed windows yourself.
To do this, you just need to follow a number of rules:
- select a tool;
- take product dimensions;
- order another stained glass window;
- dismantle the damaged product;
- install double glazed windows;
- make adjustments.
If there is a small defect associated with the lack of tightness of the module, there is no need to refuse repairs, otherwise you will have to replace the double-glazed window with a new design along with a metal-plastic profile, and this will cost more.
Basic insertion rules
To install the product without errors, you must follow the established rules :
- Select installation time. The warm season is the optimal time for this process. It is best to plan it in the summer - from May to September.
If a move or an unexpected breakdown still forces you to postpone the work to another time, then it is allowed to install double-glazed windows at an ambient temperature of no lower than -5°C and no more than 28°C.- Take measurements carefully. The tightness and efficiency of the new package depends on the quality of measurements.
- Attach the glazing beads strictly to the place from which they were removed.
If the size of the product is large, then it is necessary to work only with a partner to avoid possible damage. For those who are dealing with product installation for the first time, working together will be much more useful.
Devices for restoring a modular system
To replace a double-glazed window in a plastic window, you will need tools yourself. With their help, the frame with the canvas is removed and another one is installed.
You can repair a plastic window with your own hands if you have:
- knife;
- roulette;
- pin screwdriver;
- caliper;
- glass suction cups;
- rubber hammer;
- tape;
- material, wider in size than the product;
- cotton gloves.
Some devices can be replaced with others that perform similar functions. Depends on skill and availability of tools.
When measuring, one bead should remain in place and hold the module. An exception is determining the thickness of the metal profile.
Preparatory work
Do-it-yourself installation of plastic windows can be done with or without preliminary unpacking. Before the procedure, it is necessary to dismantle the previous structure and prepare the opening.
Tools and materials
Before work, you need to check that the windows come with all the necessary components - seals, water drainage, window sill, slopes. You should also purchase the following tools and fasteners:
- screwdriver;
- anchors or metal plates with self-tapping screws;
- plastic or wooden wedges;
- metal scissors;
- spray;
- mount;
- putty knife;
- hacksaw;
- hammer.
You will also need polyurethane foam. It simultaneously acts as insulation and helps seal gaps. It is also necessary to purchase waterproofing tape.
Removing the old window
Step-by-step instructions:
- Dismantle each sash, releasing it from the lower hinge, and then from the upper one.
- Remove the packages from the blind side of the structure (if there is one). To do this, the beads are pryed off with a spatula and removed from the groove.
- A cut is made on the window frame with a hacksaw in the side.
- One of the resulting parts is pulled back and pulled out of the wall by hand (at the same time as the fasteners).
- The remaining parts of the frame are dismantled in the same way.
Insulation (if any) and fragments that may collapse (for example, separated pieces of cement mortar) are removed from the opening.
Preparing the opening and double-glazed windows
After dismantling the previous structure, smooth wall ends should remain. If they have cracks or other irregularities with differences of more than 1 cm, they are covered with concrete mixture.
Surfaces must be cleaned of dust and dirt with a damp cloth and allowed to dry completely. If there are grease stains, you need to remove them too.
When carrying out work in the cold season, snow and ice accumulations are removed , and after that the ends are dried with a construction hairdryer.
Taking measurements, purchasing a new product
On the spacer frame there is a marking with the thickness, width, height of the metal profile, and information about the component parts. If there is no information, you will have to take measurements yourself by measuring the removed module.
To take measurements without dismantling the frame, you need to take measurements between the metal profile of the sashes: from one outer edge of the bead to the other on both sides. Subtract 2 cm from the received data for adjustment.
Important parameters during repairs are the ratio of the gap and glass thickness between adjacent frames. If there is no information on the product, you will have to measure it yourself. To do this you need:
- use a tape measure to measure the thickness of the metal profile;
- measure the thickness of the external and internal fastening;
- Subtract the dimensions of the glazing bead from the thickness of the metal profile to obtain the thickness of the package.
Taking into account the number of chambers, calculate the distance between the glasses (in Euro-windows, the canvas is usually installed - 4 mm).
Checking the sash geometry
The easiest way to check the geometry of the sash is to measure its diagonals and compare them with each other, since the diagonals of a regular rectangle are always equal.
At the same time, for sashes it is allowed to increase the diagonal from the bottom hinge to 2 mm in relation to the other diagonal. If it is smaller, then the sash is probably not wedged, and there is a risk of its further sagging. It is wrong to measure the geometry of the sash relative to the frame, because the frame itself can also be skewed.
4-02-2021
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Removing a damaged product
Removing broken glass is quite simple if you have the tools. To remove a plastic window with your own hands, you will need:
- Spread a clean cloth on the floor surface.
- Cover the damaged filling with tape to prevent splinters from scattering.
- Remove the glazing beads. You will need a knife, spatula, rubber hammer. It's better to start with the side fastenings.
All instructions on how to change a double-glazed window in a plastic metal profile say that it is better to first dismantle the outer beads. But in the transom it will not be possible to remove them without damage. First, the longer ones are removed - from below and from above.
Whether it's easy to change packages depends on skill. To dismantle the fasteners, you must:
- insert a screwdriver or chisel between the bead and the metal profile;
- holding the spatula horizontally, hit 2-3 times with a rubber hammer (a gap of 1-2 mm should appear);
- pull the nail to the side and towards you.
When removing the fasteners with a marker or pencil, apply grooves to the fold in order to correctly install the bag, especially if there is a different thickness. In this case, the components are changed and cut off.
Next, to remove a double-glazed window in a plastic window with your own hands, you need to:
- The latch on top should be removed last - it protects against falling. An assistant will be needed for insurance.
- The package is removed from the sash. If the sealant has stuck to the metal-plastic, use a spatula to press the canvas away from the block.
- Place the removed window panel on a cloth, carefully break it (or glue it with tape, take it outside).
- Throw away the broken triplex.
Some modular systems have nuances that should be taken into account before you change the glass unit in a plastic window yourself.
Instructions for replacing glass at home
To replace broken glass in a PVC or aluminum window frame package yourself, you will need to follow these steps:
- Remove the defective glass unit from the window frame. To do this, you must first remove the glazing beads by prying them up with a sharp and durable tool: a knife, a chisel, a screwdriver. Dismantling begins from the side surfaces, then the lower and upper beads are removed. At this moment, it is advisable to involve another person who can insure the technician against an accidental fall of a double-glazed window.
- Lay the material out on a flat surface and place the glass unit on it with the damaged glass facing up.
- Cut the sealant around the perimeter of the broken glass and detach it from the overall package. For a double glass, a cut is made in the middle; for bags with a large number of chambers, one glass is carefully separated without affecting the lower layers.
- Clean off any remaining sealant and wipe the surface of the entire glass using a special product.
- Cut the new material exactly to size - it is advisable to entrust this process to professionals.
- Apply a thin layer of sealant around the perimeter of the base and install the glass on it.
- The joint should also be filled with sealant to completely eliminate the occurrence of voids.
- Insert the finished double-glazed window into the base, performing fastening in the reverse order.
Installation of a new modular system
Whether it is possible to replace only part of the structure depends on its performance. If the fittings and components are in good condition, partial repairs are possible.
How to correctly insert a double-glazed window into a plastic window:
- Check the fastening of the sealing material from the outside.
- Install gaskets for the blind bag 2 from below into the fold (along the perimeter) of the sash, 4 pieces for the movable sash. Diagonally, one on each side, 10 cm from the corner.
The number of strips from manufacturers may vary. When removing the window package, you need to remember where the gaskets were.
Then, independent replacement of a double-glazed window in a plastic window is performed in the following order:
- The module is installed on gaskets. First check its position, otherwise the geometry will be broken and it will be impossible to correct it.
- The seal is installed from the inside.
- The beads are installed back: first from above, from below, then from the side. They are mounted into the grooves using a rubber hammer from the edge to the middle (until clicks are heard).
After replacing a damaged double-glazed window with a new product, you need to adjust the sashes. Use a furniture wrench to tighten the screws on the hinges.
Slope design
Slopes serve as a decorative element, improve heat and sound insulation and prevent windows from fogging.
They protect the polyurethane foam from destruction under the influence of environmental factors. If these details are neglected, the foam will absorb water and deteriorate, resulting in worse insulation quality every year. Most often, plastic slopes . They match the windows themselves (you can choose panels to match the color of the frame), are easy to clean, and do not fade in the sun. They can serve for 20 years or more. You can cut the panels with a jigsaw or a special knife. Another option is finishing with plasterboard : under it you can arrange insulation with mineral wool or polystyrene foam. However, only certain types of such sheets can be installed in damp rooms. with tiles, metal profiles, and siding is also practiced . Wood can also be used indoors .
Sometimes the slopes are plastered . This is a cheap and simple procedure that is compatible with painting the opening. However, in this case it will not be possible to insulate the windows, which will cause condensation to settle on them. If paint is used, it must withstand moisture and direct sunlight well.
The type of insulation is selected in accordance with the condition of the opening and the area around the junction of the frame and walls, as well as its width. If there are a lot of unevenness and defects in this area, it is good to use mineral wool. If the planes are smooth and the gap is narrow (5 cm or less), isover or polystyrene foam 3 cm thick is suitable.
Plastic slopes are mounted on the frame. Wooden planks are fixed along the perimeter with self-tapping screws. It is important to control the evenness of the level. The starting strips are attached along the edges with medium-sized self-tapping screws. The profile in the shape of the letter F is cut to the height of the slope and fixed to the plank using a stapler. The panels are inserted into the starting parts, and insulation is placed under the plastic. Then the structure is connected to the F-profile. If, after installing the slopes, irregularities are discovered in the joint areas, they are sealed with silicone sealant.
The design is done in the same way using sandwich panels . This is an insulated type of cladding that already has a layer of mineral wool. If after installing the panel in the profile there is free space, it should be sealed with polyurethane foam, not cement.
How to restore stained glass glazing
“Stained glass” has features that do not allow you to change a damaged package yourself. When repairing, you must consider:
- It is cheaper to remove and install a new Euro-window than to purchase another modular system. But engineers must do the work.
- The pieces of glass are placed in “cells” that are taken out not inwards, but outwards; this requires scaffolding and an aerial platform.
It is impossible to make a pattern according to the color scheme. You will need to bring a whole stained glass window to the master, where measurements are taken with special devices, with the help of which the glazing is restored.
Straightening plates
If in a “blind” window the rebated liners are usually placed at the bottom and on the sides, then in the sash they are installed at two corners. In the bottom corner on the hinge side
and in the upper opposite.
The glass unit is leveled using plastic straightening plates
straightening plate
different colors. Moreover, a certain color corresponds to a certain thickness (white - 1mm, blue - 2mm, red - 3mm, and so on). The width of the plates is chosen equal to the thickness of the glass unit (most often 24, 32 or 40 mm).
You can replace a single-chamber unit with a 2- or 3-chamber package
When repairing a damaged Euro-window, you can replace the single-glazed unit with a two-chamber or three-chamber one.
Replacing single glazing with double glazing is possible if:
- The dimensions of the rebate allow installation of 2-chamber glazing. Here are several options:
- package of 3 canvases identical in width;
- the new design is larger, but a narrow bead can be used.
- The fittings and profile will withstand heavier glazing (the weight will increase by 30%). If you need to strengthen the reinforcing plates inside the metal profile, it is easier to change the module completely. The hinges can be replaced individually.
It is not recommended to change single glass in a plastic window without consulting a specialist.
Three-chamber glazing is installed instead of a 2-chamber structure in the same way. One difference is that the modular system with three chambers is 25% heavier than the double block; strengthening the frame is most often not required.
Varieties and labeling
Double-glazed windows are divided into one-, two- and three-chamber.
Single-chamber ones consist of two glass sheets connected by an air chamber.
Double-chamber double- glazed windows are sometimes very difficult to distinguish with the naked eye from single-chamber ones. The fact is that the glass used for the production of double-glazed windows is too transparent and thin. They consist of three glasses, and between them there are already two air layers.
Three-chamber ones differ from the previous two in that they consist of four glasses, and between them there are three layers of air. It would be more appropriate to use them in apartments facing north.
Advice! Many buyers are interested in: how can you check how many glasses are in a double-glazed window? Everything is very easy and simple. To do this, you need to bring a burning match or lighter to the glass unit. If two lights are reflected on the glass, then it is a single-chamber one, but if you see four lights, then it is a three-chamber one.
All sound and heat insulating properties of metal-plastic windows depend on the double-glazed window . Its properties can change not only due to the number of air layers, but also due to the different properties of the glass itself.
Traditional glasses are marked with the symbol “M1”. The symbol “k” indicates glass with a hard heat-reflecting coating, and the marking with the letter “i” represents a low-emission soft, expensive coating, but it is not very durable. Glass marked with the letter “k” is distinguished by its low price and greater strength, in contrast to glass marked with “i”. These glasses, unlike traditional ones, can reduce heat loss by 1.5–2 times.
In the summer, windows with such glass are able to absorb sunlight, making it less bright and muted, thereby reducing the room temperature by several degrees.
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.
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.
Before making a decision, it is advisable to consult with a specialist.
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.
Sources
- https://StroyGuru.com/okna/zamena-steklopaketa-v-plastikovom-okne-svoimi-rukami/
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- https://www.oknamedia.ru/novosti/kak-nedorogo-obnovit-okno-i-podarit-emu-vtoruyu-zhizn-50108
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