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I am about to embark on a project to replace the single pane glass sections on a aluminum framed picture window with double pane argon filled low e glass.
The three vertical section picture window consists of three solid aluminum frame rectangular sections (each) with enough frame depth to accomodate the thickness of the double pane blanks.
My question is when ordering these blanks from the glass shop is there anything I should be aware of in advance when specifying the size ?
The old glass in held in place with some sort of window putty – I’m hoping to secure the new glass by experiementing with cladding the frame with wood.
Other options are also being considered.
The experiement with begin by replacing one section that has a cracked pane.
One more detail to work out is the top row of window has sliders that open and I’m not sure what the new arrangement will be.
The slider unit frame was simply mounted into the rectangular section, so if it was removed it would be the same size and shape as the other fixed pane sections. Not sure how difficult it would be to change this to an awning type, but that will be later….
I know there will be heat loss through the aluminum frame but we really like the clean look of the unfinished metal. And yes, it will cost far less then the quote we got to replace the entire thing with a new modern unit – around $5,000 !!. (For three awning units across the top and bottom and three fixed panels along the center.)
If anyone out there has tinkered with such a project I would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks !
Alan
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alan...any good glass shop wil do the whole job...
they will measure, order, remove the old glazing and install the new glazing...
so if you can't afford to replace the entire unit ....contract the work...
your contemplated approach doesn't sound very promising...
b but hey, whadda i no ?
*Hi, Mike - I didn't think of letting the glass shop do the work.I will have to look into that.One good thing is the measurement responsibility falls onto them if they do the work from start to finish.All I have to do is specify what it is I'm trying to accomplish.Thanks for the suggestion.Alan
*Alan,Depending on the site exposure, and your locale, you should also consider specifying Low E glass.Just my two cents! Good Luck!!!
*Alan,I have no experience with this. But I do know that a lot of people have posted that the argon gas is a waste of money.Rich Beckman
*Yes, I am somewhat skeptical about claims on Argon.The local shop did mention different ways to sandwich the glass, with better sealing methods that come with longer warranties (but still only 5 years).I will ask about skipping both low-e and argon since the window will get direct sunlight only at an extreme side angle early in the evening when the sun is setting.Not sure how this would affect winter heat loss, though.