Broken Window in Trailer

I have some broken windows panes in a bay window in a trailer. They are metal framed and I don't have a clue how to get them out. I've studied the window and can't find a way to remove the pane. From the outside it looks like 9 seperate panes but from the inside you can tell it is 1 big pane. Literally. lol Someone said I have to replace the whole window. Do I?
Thanks for any help.

 

It is one piece of glass. The grid that gives it the 9 pane look is glued to the glass. There must be some type of removable moldings all around the glass. Most moldings today are "snap in type".

 

You may have to take it to one of those auto glass shops for removal and replacement. I am sure you will want shatterproof glass.

 

This is a mobile home type trailer not a travel trailer. Someone told me I would probably have to take the seals off the outside of each of the panes on the frame on the outside, take off the strips that makes it look like panes and take the glass out from the outside. There is no seal on the inside, just a metal one. Thanks for the responses I've gotten so far, I appreciate it!

 

This thread has been moved to the Windows Forum for further discussion.

 

All the mobile-home/portable office/temporary classroom trailer windows I have seen here in the NYC area (lots of temp classrooms and construction project shanties) ... and those types of windows that have passed though my ornamental and architectural salvage yards ... were sealed one piece aluminum or vinyl frame units such as the ones shown in this link:

http://www.pocahontasaluminum.com/windows.html

I suggest that you call the manufacturer of your trailer ... it has to have a name plate and manufacturers name somewhere ... and probably has a plate riveted somewhere on it with a make, model number and probably an individual identification unit number that they can use to tell and sell you what you need ... I know people that replaced trailer doors damaged by break-ins with this method.

Good luck...
Czar

 

Thanks Czar, I never even thought of calling the company. The mobile home is about 20 years old so I hope I can still contact someone. I appreciate the info and the website too.

 

20 yrs old? more than likely, it is a frame inside a frame ( least most are at that age ) Look in the inside, see if you see any screws in the window framing, remove them, with 2 thin bent prybars Red devil type ( put back to back so hook parts are away from each other ) place 1 on the frame and 1 on the window insert at corners, pull them together and it should lift the window frame up, then pry the bottom out.


I can't think of any glass shop that can't fix this for you and order the right size glass, grids and all, ( if you still want grids )

You should not have to replace the whole window, just the glass.

 

Glasman,
So you are saying the easiest thing to do is take the windows off the trailer (unrivet from the outside) and bring the whole frame in? These are 3 windows that make up a bay window on the front of the mobile home. They are seperate windows but there are 3. I looked in the inside of the window and I don't see any screws or anything that could be holding the window in from the inside. Could the screws be on the outside? I can't check it all out again until this weekend. The trailer is 2 1/2 hrs. away at our camp. And by the way I'm a logical but not not a handyman type woman. It just can't be that hard to do but it does have me baffled. Thanks for the info, I appreciate it.

 

RR: Some of my summers have nearly been ruined by vandalism to the trailer I own and I have had to repair several windows on it. If your trailer is anything like mine your bay window might be fastened to the trailer with rivets. Mine is riveted on the outside, to the exterior wall. I can remove my glass pieces from the inside. There are no screws anywhere on mine. Inside, there is a one piece rubber gasket, preformed with corners, that fits tightly around the glass and into detachable glazing beads. When I gently wiggle one corner out I can gently remove the whole rubber gasket. I mark which side was which so I can put it back the same way. After that the four detachable glazing beads can be removed. They fit, almost snap, into the frame and come out with a wiggle. I mark them left, right, top, bottom. The glass is next. It's sitting on two rubber cushions and there's a sealant called PTI smeared on the corners. A razor cleans the sealant and then the glass is free. A couple of times I found PTI sealant on the outside of the glass sticking to the outside rubber gasket and that gasket came off when I pulled on the glass. Don't worry if that happens to you. That outer gasket fits right back in the frame. There's a track all around the frame and the outer rubber gasket is made to fit right in. After you replace the glass you reassemble everything in reverse. Make sure those two little cushions are on the base of the frame and that you put the glazing beads back in their proper locations and that they snapped and fitted in just right. The last thing is that inner rubber gasket. It's stubborn, but a little soapy water will help it slip back in in between the glass and glazing beads. I agree that a glass shop can make replacement windows, but I order from the trailer company and have it there and ready to go when I switch. They overnight express it. The trailer company should have a make and model tag somewhere and a unit number. Find it and call them. They can offer a how-to and provide the glass and any other part such as handles, knobs, and other do-hickies unique to trailers. If you do not see that ID tag try looking for the paperwork title or deed that you got when you bought it - it should be on that. FYI: Due to this insipid vandalism one of my neighbors replaced all his glass with LEXAN. I may do the same. I hope yours is like mine - if it is it's not a hard job. I hope this helps. Good luck! OVD

 

"Glasman, So you are saying the easiest thing to do is take the windows off the trailer (unrivet from the outside) and bring the whole frame in?"

NO, call the glass shop guys out to the home!!! The LAST thing you want to do is remove the frame from the home and break THAT seal!! That will result in leaks that will destroy the wall framing. The guys from ANY glass shop will come out, see what you need, and if they don't have it on the truck or in the shop, they can get it in probably less than a week. And they will know how to remove and replace the broken pane. Be over the $100 of labor they will charge you -- sure beats paying SEVERAL hundred for a new window, or several THOUSAND to rebuild the wall after you create water leaks in it!!

 

LOL No that is not what I said. I thought you knew me better than that Lefty.

Picture your window frame, then picture another small frame installed in that, held in with screws on the inside. When you remove the screws and pry it out like I said, under this frame you just took out, you will see vinyl weatherstripping that seals the 2 frames together.

I never said unrivet and remove the whole frame, both of you did, not I.
since you stated you don't have any screws on the inside, you MUST have a metal or rubber , or plastic stop bead holding your window in somewhere ( inside or out ) Sometimes this metal stop Bede I'm talking about looks like it's not there cause it looks JUST like part of the window.

Your window HAS to be held in with either a sub frame with screws or a stop bead of some type. If you can't find it, I suggest you call a glass shop.

If you want to install it to save money ( which if I didn't know anything about windows I wouldn't ) you could ask them how to do the work. I'm sure any good glass guy could find the stops or screws.

 

RR:

I seriously doubt that your trailer's window has outside screws. It's been my experience (I've owned three trailers; one at the NJ shore, one in a NJ campgraound, and another my current one in Pa.) that *most* all trailer windows and doors are riveted in. Those very few trailers that do have screws on the outside have tamper-proof one-way screws that can not be removed without a time and labor intensive effort. Seeing one-way screws where rivets should be will often indicate a repair was made. Rivets hold true for fixed and operable trailer windows.

You stated that you do not see any screws for the window inside your trailer. I doubt that you will find any. It's my feeling that your glass is typically held in place by a rubber or a rubber-like gasket and, and/or a glazing bead. That's the way *most* trailer windows are done. I described the process for taking it apart and putting it back together above.

Nearly all the modern trailers, and by modern I mean those made since the 70s, came with the best products available in that era; a/c, good heat, superior insulation, fiberglass sinks and showers, energy saving appliances, sufficent electrical panels, and energy saving glass. They're so much better than the earlier models, and naturally those made today are even much much better; but a common practice over all the years for windows is to rivet the units into the exterior walls - which only allows service and repair from the inside. Since you do not see any screws it's very likely held in place as I described in the above post.

Good luck, and please let us know how you make out,
OVD

 

Glasman,

Sorry I wan't clearer with that quote. I KNOW you weren't suggesting that Rookie remove the window -- he was asking if that's what you meant. The answer, from you and I to his question is an 'ABSOLUTELY NOT!!'

Rookie,

The glass can be removed from the frame, somehow. Not being able to SEE the window makes it impossible to tell you exactly HOW to do that. That's why I'm suggesting that you call a glass shop and have them come look at it.

 

Thank you OudeVanDagen, glasman & Lefty for your help. It gives me something to look for this weekend when we go to the property. The problem with getting someone out there and not doing it ourselves isn't the money as much as the property is out in the boon-docks and is hard to get someone out there. I guess that was why when you said the glass shop could fit everything Glasman I automatically thought taking the whole window out. I didn't mean to start an argument over taking the whole window out comment. (lol) I know I must sound really dumb to yall about this and you would be right, I am. My husband is a tech and can do anything technical or electrical but when it comes to fix-it-up, don't put a hammer in his hand. I am the more logical and fix-r-upper type but changing a glass in a metal window isn't something I've ever done. I bet I will be after I find out how to get the glass out the first one. My husband wanted to buy a new mobile home and be done with it so he wouldn't have to fix anything. Someone was getting rid of this trailer for $2000. Couldn't pass it up. And OudeVanDagen, the other info you gave me will help also because there are other things that we need to replace. Thanks again to all of you! It has answered my question, maybe, if I can find what you told me to look for.

 

I think the best information for "RookieRandar" comes from the 2 posts by "OudeVanDagen". He has had experience with this type of window and has given good instructions.