9 Dos and Don’ts of Glass Pane Replacement

If your windows get cracked, chipped, or otherwise damaged, you’ll need to replace them to ensure their continued performance. If you don’t, it can reduce your property’s energy efficiency and raise your utility bills.

However, if done incorrectly, glass pane replacement can actually hurt the performance of your windows more. Make sure you know all the dos and don’ts of window replacement before you install new glazing.

Dos and Don’ts of Glass Pane Replacement

1. Do replace windows whenever there is visible damage

Even if your windows have tiny chips or cracks, these can worsen over time and eventually cause the window to shatter. So, you should replace windows as soon as you notice any visible damage to avoid bigger problems down the road.

If you have insulated windows, such as double-pane windows, a small crack or chip can hurt their performance by allowing cold/hot air through and letting any special gas infill leak out. 

Replacing a single damaged window might not seem like an urgent matter, but your property’s energy efficiency is only as good as its weakest link. One poor-performing window can noticeably increase your utility costs.

2. Don’t try to replace a single pane of glass

This applies to double- and triple-pane windows. If you only see damage on one side, you may be tempted to try and replace only the damaged glass in an effort to save money. However, this would be a mistake.

Replacing one pane of glass in a sealed insulated glass unit can result in more damage, ultimately hurting the performance of the window and your property’s overall energy efficiency.

3. Do replace the entire insulated glass unit

Although it’s more expensive up front to replace a whole insulated glass window, the investment will pay off in the long run because the unit will function as it’s designed to.

Insulated glass units consist of many different components that must be tightly sealed together in order to provide the high performance of these types of multi-pane windows. So, it’s always best to install a completely new unit when an old one needs replacing.

4. Don’t try to replace glass panes yourself

If one of your residential windows is damaged, you might think you could do the job yourself. However, window replacement requires a lot of specialized knowledge and skill to do right, and doing it wrong can result in more problems and poor window performance.

5. Do hire a professional for window installation

Window replacement is always a job best left to professionals. Getting window installation done right the first time ensures that your replacement windows will perform as intended and avoids the need for expensive reworking because of bad installation.

6. Don’t choose the same window for glass pane replacement

When your windows need replacing, it’s a perfect time to upgrade them to more modern models. Window and glazing technology is constantly evolving and being improved, and it’s likely that your windows haven’t been replaced in many years.

You might even consider replacing all your old windows at once, to improve your whole property’s window performance. Although it may seem expensive now, it’s an investment that tends to pay for itself in the long run. 

7. Do consider making energy efficiency upgrades

When you’re choosing new replacement windows for your property, one of the first things you should look at is the energy performance of the windows.

This is especially important for commercial properties, where the right energy-efficient windows can save you thousands of dollars a year in utility costs.

If your building is older and still has single-pane windows, you should definitely upgrade them to double-pane models. If your property has older double-pane windows, you can still improve its energy efficiency by upgrading to the latest insulated window models.

8. Don’t forget about your property’s design

Glass pane replacement also presents an opportunity to improve your property’s aesthetics and curb appeal. 

For instance, if you have an older commercial building, you could choose new commercial windows with a more contemporary finish, such as a reflective or color-shifting tint. Making this small change to your windows’ aesthetics can bring an old building into the modern era.

Such facelifts add curb appeal that can help attract clients and building tenants, let you raise lease rates, and increase your property value.

9. Do consider impact-resistant windows

If you live in an area prone to strong storms or you want to protect your property against threats like forced entry, burglary, smash-and-grab theft, vandalism, rioting, and looting, consider choosing impact-resistant glazing for your new windows.

Adding one or more panes of impact-resistant security glazing, such as virtually unbreakable polycarbonate, fortifies your property without making it look fortified. In other words, you’re adding an invisible barrier that resists all types of impacts, manmade and natural.

You can still achieve all the energy efficiency and aesthetic benefits with security glazing, but you’ll also get the added peace of mind from knowing that your property is protected 24/7 against a full range of security threats.

Polycarbonate security glazing acts as an alternative to board ups. So, if you live in a hurricane zone and a storm is coming, or you have a business in an urban core and there is an unexpected moment of civil unrest, you don’t have to scramble to try and secure your property.

Wrap Up

Glass pane replacement is something that every business owner will have to do at some point, so make sure you know what to do and what not to do when you inevitably have to replace windows.

As long as it’s done professionally, replacing your windows is a great opportunity to improve your property’s overall performance in different areas, including energy efficiency, aesthetics, safety, and security.

Riot Glass are specialists in luxury residential and commercial window replacement. We offer a full range of security glazing and other high-performance glazing products. Contact us today for more information or to schedule a consultation.