Finding a damaged window is never fun. You don’t know if it’s an easy fix or if you need to get something completely new. And when a new window can cost hundreds of dollars, you want to avoid buying new when possible.
The good news is that there are some things you can do to fix things when you have cracked windows. Keep reading to learn what steps to take if you believe you can avoid buying a window replacement and take care of a window crack yourself.
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Clean the Glass
The first step to repairing broken windows and glass is to make sure you clean everything. You must remove all dust, fingerprints, oil, and other byproducts from the glass. All of those things will impact your ability to repair your cracked glass.
The good news is that cleaning a glass window doesn’t take much. Mix together a batch of water and dish soap into a mixture. You can take this mixture and apply it to your glass to clean everything off.
Don’t continue the repair process once you get everything clean. You need to wait until the glass is completely dry before you proceed to the next step of cracked window repair.
Of course, there are both temporary and permanent fixes to cracked windows. Here is how to handle both of those processes.
Temporary Fixes
In some cases, you don’t need to go through a long process to fix a window crack. You may be OK at looking at a broken window as long as it still works. Use the tips below to put a temporary fix to continue with your life, or wait until you get a permanent fix prepared.
Masking Tape
Masking tape is one of the most common temporary fixes for a window. Just take a small amount of masking tape and put it over your window crack. It won’t look great, but it will apply adhesion that will keep your window together and provide a seal.
Nail Polish
One way to repair a window crack is to apply a hardening material to your window crack. Nail polish is one of those products. Gradually apply nail polish to your window and allow it to harden to create a seal.
Nylon Patch
A nylon patch is a great way to patch part of your window. Cut a small square and glue it to the part of your window with a crack. It will provide enough cover to seal your window and stop drafts from entering the room.
Permanent Fixes
If you want to go further than a temporary fix, the good news is that you have options. Follow the steps below to return your window to working order.
Mix an Epoxy
It doesn’t take much to repair a crack in the glass. Your goal is to seal the crack to prevent it from causing problems inside your home. The longer you leave a crack in your window, the more air can come in and out of your home.
That makes it harder to maintain your home’s temperature.
Your goal is to seal the crack to prevent air from escaping. You can do that with an epoxy mixture.
Mix your epoxy of resin and hardener in a well-ventilated room. Use a small object to mix everything for 20 seconds and apply it immediately to your window. You don’t want to wait too long and end up with everything hardening. You’ll need to mix things again if this happens.
Use a Putty Knife to Apply Epoxy
You’re ready to apply the epoxy once you finish mixing everything. Take a putty knife and coat it with your epoxy mixture. Take the knife and apply your epoxy to the crack and surrounding areas.
Your goal is to get the mixture as deep as possible. When you do this, you seal the crack and stop air from leaking through your glass window. Make sure not to press too hard and let the mixture settle for five minutes before you move on to the next part.
Wipe Away Excess Epoxy
You’ll probably make a mess when you apply the epoxy to your window. You only need the epoxy to get into your cracked window and not stick to the rest of your window. That means you have some cleanup to do.
After letting your epoxy settle for five minutes, take a blade and scrape away the excess epoxy on your window. Try to get as much off as possible. While the extra epoxy won’t hurt your window, you probably don’t want to stare at the extra.
Once you scrape as much excess epoxy as possible, you need to do something extra to get the rest. Wet a rag with acetone and use it to dampen the epoxy that’s above the crack. Doing this will make it easier to remove.
Get Help From a Pro
Unfortunately, not all window cracks are easy to fix. While the above steps are a great way to handle a lot of cracks, some window cracks will take more work to fix. This is especially true if you have a more complicated window setup like a double-paned window.
You can call a handyperson to help in this situation. A pro will have access to more tools to help you do a better job. You’ll also learn if it makes more sense to get a new window instead of wasting time on a crack that isn’t worth fixing. Make sure you listen to your professional’s advice about window replacement because they’re usually on point if they believe it’s worth upgrading your window.
Now You Know How to Handle Cracked Windows
Many home improvement jobs are better left to the pros, but cracked windows aren’t one of those things. You don’t have to spend much money on a repair professional or invest in new windows if you think you can handle the job. Remember the tips above to take care of your old windows and keep them functioning well for a long time.
Are you looking for more advice to help tackle the other issues you face at home? Learn more home improvement tips by checking out more blog posts.
