broken glass?

MELOC · #1 01/17/09, 11:53 AM

ok, this is new to me. i had a double pane window break, apparently from the sun heating it after a -4 F night. i can think of no other explanation. the inside pane is cracked in many places. we went from -4 F at around 6am to around 21 F now and i guess the air space inside the two panes of glass heated too quickly.

just what i need...

MELOC · #2 01/17/09, 12:10 PM

here is a pic...

broken glass? - Homesteading Questions

Watcher48 · #3 01/17/09, 12:16 PM

Im gonna say something that everybody can rail on. Modern thermo pane windows for the most part are a joke. An old double hung window with a storm is as good as any thermo pane. Trouble is they last for 100-200 years with care. but there lies the problem. Nobody wants to do maintenance every ten years or so depending on what side of the house. SO they buy thermo panes every 7-10 years.

Old fashion windows can be restored rebuilt ad infinitum. And if they are taken care of last forever. I rebuild old windows weather strip them and make them good as new.

MELOC · #4 01/17/09, 12:22 PM

i kind of agree with you (heaven help me). this was the easy solution to replacing very old windows with rotting sills. i have one window left from that project that needs replaced and had planned to build a new one based on the old ones. i also need to raise it up to match the windows as the one remaining window is in an addition and is several inches lower than the windows in the main section of house due to the original framework of the addition.

but anyhow...this really stinks in the middle of winter. there is still a pane on the outside, but to fix the whole deal, i need to pull the entire thing out and that is not in the cards in the middle of winter.

Beeman · #5 01/17/09, 12:52 PM

Is there a warranty? The windows we got have a warranty and so far the company is still in business so I guess the warranty is still good.

Double pane windows are many times glued or plastic welded together. I don't know if the glass is replaceable. Might have to replace the whole sash.

Watcher48 · #6 01/17/09, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MELOC

i kind of agree with you (heaven help me). this was the easy solution to replacing very old windows with rotting sills. i have one window left from that project that needs replaced and had planned to build a new one based on the old ones. i also need to raise it up to match the windows as the one remaining window is in an addition and is several inches lower than the windows in the main section of house due to the original framework of the addition.

but anyhow...this really stinks in the middle of winter. there is still a pane on the outside, but to fix the whole deal, i need to pull the entire thing out and that is not in the cards in the middle of winter.

Not being smart here but I would really like to know how your finding and replacing goes. Windows nowdays last about as long as the latest fashions in style and are changing like all the time.

MELOC · #7 01/17/09, 01:29 PM

i'm not really sure what you are asking.

Watcher48 · #8 01/17/09, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MELOC

i'm not really sure what you are asking.

Window companies are notorious for having "that style" of sash not available. And like beeman said sometimes you have to replace the whole window. Learned that by personal experience. If they are Anderson.Pella or similar you may have better luck.
You may have better luck than me but you just don't take a sealed unit to your friendly glass dealer and get it redone.

Paquebot · #9 01/17/09, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MELOC

but anyhow...this really stinks in the middle of winter. there is still a pane on the outside, but to fix the whole deal, i need to pull the entire thing out and that is not in the cards in the middle of winter.

Leave it until this spring or summer to fix it. As long as everything is intact, don't worry about it. If the cracks leaking air bother you, get some transparent packaging tape and put over them. Then you'll again have a sealed window.

Martin

MELOC · #10 01/17/09, 02:21 PM

yeah, it's a sealed unit and i don't foresee replacing any glass...a new sash or window will be needed. it is a fairly generic, off-brand unit from lowe's. it's only about 4 years old...if that.

MELOC · #11 01/17/09, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paquebot

Leave it until this spring or summer to fix it. As long as everything is intact, don't worry about it. If the cracks leaking air bother you, get some transparent packaging tape and put over them. Then you'll again have a sealed window.

Martin

i will need to get some clear tape. it does have sharp edges inside and i can see a gap here and there. luckily the outer pane is not broken.

the clear tape is a must. it would look aweful silly with the brown package tape or the priority mail tape i have.

seedspreader · #12 01/17/09, 02:49 PM

To me it looks like the plastic muttons were the culprit.

MELOC · #13 01/17/09, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seedspreader

To me it looks like the plastic muttons were the culprit.

they look to be the source of some heat transfer that was a problem. whether they were too cold or too hot, i have no clue. the pane is a large single pane and the muttons are a decorative grill.

seedspreader · #14 01/17/09, 03:18 PM

Are they between the two layers of glass?

Paquebot · #15 01/17/09, 03:21 PM

Window may also have been installed "too tight". When I was helping build houses, the opening was always at least ½" larger than the frame. Then shimmed to level it and insulation to fill the void. No corners would ever be touching anything sold. If they were, the slightest shift in the surrounding jamb will crack a pane.

Martin

Watcher48 · #16 01/17/09, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paquebot

Window may also have been installed "too tight". When I was helping build houses, the opening was always at least ½" larger than the frame. Then shimmed to level it and insulation to fill the void. No corners would ever be touching anything sold. If they were, the slightest shift in the surrounding jamb will crack a pane.

Martin

Probably the biggest problem with modern windows. They won't take any stress. They get put in tight or the wall is in a twist of whatever is the fastest and over time they just pop. Or if the wall moves a little in the wind it will stress them.
Of it were me I would get a thin peice of plexiglass and put it over the broken glass. not to expensive.

MELOC · #17 01/17/09, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seedspreader

Are they between the two layers of glass?

yes. i imagine they could have bowed inward somehow.

as far as stress goes...maybe, but i doubt it. it is still possible i guess. there is only a 1/4 inch gap in the opening. the sash doesn't feel any tighter than normal when it moves. there is some resistance when it moves, but all of the replacements are about the same. it's not like they have any tight spots, but you just cannot toss them upwards...you have to push them.

i did notice some settling in the house 2 days ago at the start of the cold spell. it is possible the house could have twisted, but it looks more like the "muttons" seedspreader mentioned pushed inward.