Seal broken in octagonal window

The seal has been broken in an octagonal window. Is it worth replacing the glass or taking out old and putting in new window (about $120)? If replacing glass do I start removing frame from outside or from inside? Same for installing new window.

 

What material is the window made of...wood, vinyl, aluminum ? And what type siding ?

I would think the glass would be the route to go.....should be far less than half the cost of a whole window.

 

Andy,

The window frame is wood and the siding is of a composition material, not wood or vinyl. Unsure of how to proceed if replacing glass (it would be cheaper) ...take off outside trim pieces or start from inside?

Winky52

 

Pretty sure that if you look at the frame of the window very closely, you will find that one side (inside or outside) is solid and the other side has wood stops that are removable. You have to go in from the side that is wood stopped in. No choice there. Assuming that the frame has been painted, it WILL be hard to tell, because all of the nail or staple holes were probably filled before the frame was painted. Look at where the corners come together. You may be able to find a small gap there in the side that is wood stopped in.

 

Lefty,

There are nails on the outside of the window frame. From what you said, I would then start from the outside. thanks for your advice.

 

Whoa up here a minute.......the nails Lefty was talking about ARE NOT the ones out near the edge of the frame......there is probably a "brick moulding" around the window that the siding butts too.....Those nails hold the whole window unit in place.

The nails Lefty was refering too will be real small ones on a small pc of moulding right near the glass.....that is the "stop" that holds the glass in, IF they used that method....

Another way it's done is a vinyl strip set in slot ( you can't see until you pull the vinyl strip out....it's "T" shaped vinyl ).....you carefully pry the strip out to remove the glass....

Another way, the old fashioned way, that you hardly ever see with insulated glass units, is glazing putty.

One of these 3 methods will hold the glass in the sash.

 

Sorry I didn't make myself as clear as I should have. Like Andy said, the nails (if there are any) you are looking for will be very close to the glass. IF they used a woodstop method to retain the IG unit, it will probably be something like a piece of 1/4" to 1/2" or so quarter round stock, or possibly a 1/4" to 1/2" cove moulding, ... It will be pretty small! Or, like Andy also said, they may have used a vinyl strip to retain the IG unit. That too will be very small. You might try doing a little gentle probing with a screw driver very close to the IG unit. IF they used a vinyl strip, you will feel the difference between that and wood. The vinyl strip would have about 3/8" of an exposed surface.

 

You may find that replacing the window ($120.00) may be the best way to go. Get a price on the octagon shaped insulating glass unit first and if you decide to go this route you will have to bring the old unit to the glass shop for accurate measurements.

 

Lefty/Andy,

Thanks for the guidance on the octagonal window. I will look tomorrow for the nails holding the stop in. Glad I contacted you guys before I proceeded on my own!