Now that winter is here, many children love to go outside and have snowball fights. When a snowball hits a window, it can sometimes crack or even completely break. If you have a crack in your window but it is not completely broken, you may be able to repair it on your own using a glass repair kit. You can purchase this kit at home improvement or hardware stores.
Remove the Window
The first thing you need to do is to remove the window from the window frame. If you have newer windows, it will either open inward or lift up and out of the window frame. It is much easier to use a glass repair kit if the window is lying on a flat surface. If you have older windows in your home, you need to contact a contractor to learn how to remove it from the frame.
Clean the Glass
Before you start using the glass repair kit, make sure the glass is completely clean. Because it is cracked there is likely small shards of glass on the window. When cleaning, use glass spray cleaner and very gently wipe over the area.
Wear thick gloves while doing this to prevent yourself from getting cut. When the glass is clean, let it completely dry before you continue repairing it.
Repair the Glass
In the glass repair kit, you will find a round adhesive that has a hole in the middle. Remove the adhesive and place it over the chip making sure the cracked part is in the center of the hole. Gently press use your fingers to wipe over the adhesive make it stick. Run your fingers over the adhesive again to remove any air bubbles. Once the adhesive is securely placed, pull off the backing
Inside the kit, you will find a plastic adapter with a hole in the middle that is shaped like a pedestal. Push this adapter gently, but firmly over the adhesive making sure the hole is over the cracked area.
You will find a tube of resin inside the kit. Squeeze this gently into the pedestal. This pedestal prevents the resin from spreading to other parts of the window. After a few minutes, carefully lift the pedestal off the window.
Swipe a safety razor over the resin to smooth it out then wait for it to completely dry. When it is dry, there may be excess resin around the crack. If so, gently wipe this with a soft cloth and water. The glass repair kit may come with a cleaner that is used for this purpose.
The glass repair kit will come with detailed instructions on how to use it in case you have any questions.
If you are unable to repair the glass using this repair kit, contact a professional to repair it for you.
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