Window Glass Replacement Costs

Windows of any age or design are at risk for losing their glass due to anything from storm damage to a stray baseball or even a bird strike. The good news is that any window is a viable candidate for window glass replacement. And that’s an excellent option for property owners fearing that the entire window would need to be replaced instead.

While it is possible to do window glass replacement in a window of almost any type, there are a few factors to consider. Most importantly, it may not be the window glass alone that was damaged, and it might mean seeking out replacement parts for the frame.

A skilled and licensed window glazer is often able to get parts and make repairs on windows that are within roughly 40 years of age. Unfortunately, many window manufacturers, in recent years, have changed the kinds of parts and pieces, and that could bump up pricing and the level of difficulty. It may even mean a window replacement rather than glass and part repairs.

Other considerations and costs

• There are several types of window styles, which also affect the final cost of the project, and there will be different costs associated with single, double, bay, bow, jalousie windows, and so on.
• Labor may also bump costs and can include removing and replacing glazing, vinyl stops and measuring and cutting glass.
• In some instances, the trim of the frame may need to be removed
• The type of glass also affects the pricing with options including plate/flat, double glazed, laminated/insulated, thermal and more

DIY considerations

• While it is entirely possible to do a window glass replacement project as a DIY option, it depends on your level of skill and whether you want to invest in the proper tools for the job. It will include the purchase of a unique glazing tool, a glazing removal tool, a tool to insert the glazing points, heat gun, glass or acrylic sheet cutting tools, pliers, and gloves to prevent injury from broken glass. And this can boost the price of a single pane of replacement glass to as much as $200 over necessary materials.
• Additionally, the type of glass and the damages done to the frame may necessitate hiring an expert capable of managing the very specific steps required. If not done correctly, damage to the window is one immediate concern, but there are also risks for gaps, drafts, cracking, and more.

References

• Craftsman Estimator Costbook, complete series year 2019.
• Latest prices found on Home Depot and other vendor Web sites.
• Literature review of DIY Web sites.