A crack in a double glazed window

[LLL]

I found a crack in a double-glazed window, it is about 75mm long and starting from the top. The crack is in the inner layer and i thought it was caused by a storm but how could it be the inner layer? Can anyone suggest how to fix it to stop it further crack down and final totally? Changing this window might be costly?

thanks  

 

 

[Nickfromwales]

Sorry to say, that crack will only get bigger. The only solution is a replacement unit. 
What size is it, and how long has it been in for? 

[Russell griffiths]

Double glazed units are surprisingly cheap. 
get a price for replacement. 

[Nickfromwales]

9 minutes ago, Russell griffiths said:

Double glazed units are surprisingly cheap. 
get a price for replacement. 

What he said. 

[LLL]

thank you all! it is relatively new less than 10 years.

The window including three parts with one part at each side can open, which are fine. The crack happens in the middle part which is the biggest, dimension could be 1.3m by 1m? do I need to replace all of the three parts or i can reuse the rest even the main frame (shared by all three parts)? maybe only the glass? what will be the cost roughly? thank you! 

[Onoff]

As well as the size. You'll need to know the thickness of the DG unit and glass shade or it'll stick out like a sore thumb against the others. 

[Nickfromwales]

4 minutes ago, LLL said:

thank you all! it is relatively new less than 10 years.

The window including three parts with one part at each side can open, which are fine. The crack happens in the middle part which is the biggest, dimension could be 1.3m by 1m? do I need to replace all of the three parts or i can reuse the rest even the main frame (shared by all three parts)? maybe only the glass? what will be the cost roughly? thank you! 

Each piece of glass (referred to

in the trade as a unit) can be swapped out in an hour. It’s a dead easy job. 

 

Random online grab for a cost calculator. 

https://sealedunitsonline.co.uk/regular/default_mob.aspx?gclid=cjwkcaiakc28bhb0eiwam001tbuisaorwfyxwzcam8f2frf9yhkbhgbvx51ngwlqrmtnuol16et9vbocdwsqavd_bwe

Should be a couple of £hundred supply and fit by a local company. 

 

[Nickfromwales]

2 minutes ago, Onoff said:

As well as the size. You'll need to know the thickness of the DG unit and glass shade or it'll stick out like a sore thumb against the others. 

+ 1

[saveasteading]

I had that size replaced last year. It was around£200.

You don't need to research thicknesses etc, the fitter will visit and assess without commitment

 

You won't want it recurring so the fitter should look for a likely cause...often a protruding screw or an absence of tolerance between glass and frame.

[Onoff]

1 hour ago, saveasteading said:

You don't need to research thicknesses etc, the fitter will visit and assess without commitment

 

You do if you are going to fit it yourself.

[LLL]

Do you guys mean i only need to replace the single layer of glass?? how to open the frame and fit the glass in?  it seems all well sealed and i thought we have to replace the whole frame with the glass

[marshian]

38 minutes ago, LLL said:

Do you guys mean i only need to replace the single layer of glass?? how to open the frame and fit the glass in?  it seems all well sealed and i thought we have to replace the whole frame with the glass

no you need to replace the sealed unit - with same size and thickness sealed unit 

 

The frame is normally unchanged

[saveasteading]

4 hours ago, Onoff said:

if you are going to fit it yourself

I would not recommend this. It is heavy and fiddly, requring an acquired touch.

I think i scratched the snap-in beads the first time. Broke the new glass once, on a screw....and got better  in time.  Only because i ciuldng find s fitter on short notice. I wouldn't do it through choice.

[Nickfromwales]

2 hours ago, LLL said:

Do you guys mean i only need to replace the single layer of glass?? how to open the frame and fit the glass in?  it seems all well sealed and i thought we have to replace the whole frame with the glass

Let this follicley challenged chap explain.... Random grab off the interwebnetiness

 

 

[Onoff]

9 hours ago, saveasteading said:

I would not recommend this. It is heavy and fiddly, requring an acquired touch.

I think i scratched the snap-in beads the first time. Broke the new glass once, on a screw....and got better  in time.  Only because i ciuldng find s fitter on short notice. I wouldn't do it through choice.

 

Each to their own. I've done it successfully several times on different makes of DG unit, old and new.

[saveasteading]

1 hour ago, Onoff said:

Each to their own.

Do tell. How do you unsnap an aluminium  trim without damage? 

 

I forgot to say that these were big panes, and I should have had a hop-up and/ or a helper.

[Onoff]

3 hours ago, saveasteading said:

I forgot to say

 

...that they were aluminium 😂

[Onoff]

A sharp chisel gets the beads out without damage:

 

 

Take the long beads out first, then the short ones. Refitting, short beads in first, long ones last. Ask me how I know! 

 

 

Recently needed a replacement DG unit 849 x 309 x 19.5mm just over a year ago, had a "daisy" pattern. Paid £39.59 supply only.

 

 

[LLL]

thank you all that seems easier than i thought. I will find someone to fix it. 

[marshian]

5 hours ago, Onoff said:

A sharp chisel gets the beads out without damage:

 

 

Take the long beads out first, then the short ones. Refitting, short beads in first, long ones last. Ask me how I know! 

 

 

Recently needed a replacement DG unit 849 x 309 x 19.5mm just over a year ago, had a "daisy" pattern. Paid £39.59 supply only.

 

 

I agree longest length of beading first then shortest - reverse for assembly but I’ve always put a wallpaper scrapper blade in the middle of the longest length - never tried one side as your picture shows??

[saveasteading]

4 hours ago, LLL said:

I will find someone to fix it. 

wise. We haven't even mentioned what size it should be relative to the frame.....leave that to the fitter too.

[LLL]

Hi All, thank you all very much for the suggestions and information. though i am happy to DIY but I may find someone to replace for me since it is the first time, 

The concern is what is the reason, I say there is a tight crack on the wall above the window, is it possible that the wall sink and press the window frame, to make the glass crack? this can happen again even i changed one if it keep pressing the glass 

[saveasteading]

1 hour ago, LLL said:

this can happen again

Watch the guy doing it and ask what the cause is. I predict you will see a screw at that point. Tt may have ben protruding ever since built but some slight movement has touched it to the glass or vice versa,

 

If so, screw it in tighter or change it.

Or the glass is slightly too big and touching the frame there, again through some movement.

[LLL]

29 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

观察做这件事的人，并询问原因是什么。我预测你会看到一个螺丝。它可能自建造以来就一直突出，但一些轻微的运动使它接触到玻璃，反之亦然，

 

如果有，请将其拧紧或者更换。

或者玻璃稍微太大并且接触到框架，再次通过一些移动。

thank you!

[Nickfromwales]

3 hours ago, LLL said:

Hi All, thank you all very much for the suggestions and information. though i am happy to DIY but I may find someone to replace for me since it is the first time, 

The concern is what is the reason, I say there is a tight crack on the wall above the window, is it possible that the wall sink and press the window frame, to make the glass crack? this can happen again even i changed one if it keep pressing the glass 

Yes.

 

Can you get a spirit level or other straight edge and see if the top of the window frame is deflecting downwards (bends down near the crack)?

 

Best to ask a fitter to find out why the window cracked when they call out to remove the glass to survey it for size and type (they'll have to do this to order the replacement anyways).