Where to by "sealed glass units"

[Tim Fischer]

I have a cracked double-pane window. It's on the ground level, so I don't want it to be removed for longer than a few hours at a time.

In our old house, I had to get one fixed on a quick schedule while we were preparing to sell. The company came out and did measurements and did the install. By far most of the $$$'s was labor and trip charges. I also had a lot of trouble with the company (broken promises which ultimately cost me 2x what I was supposed to pay) and I will never use them again.

So, I'm wondering, is there a place I can run the window in, have them measure it, then run it home, reinstall it (still cracked) while they whip me up a unit, then return it again while they install it while-I wait? If so, I could save a lot of money presumabiily, and my wife can watch the house while I'm gone for each of the two short times.

Is this something standard/feasible? I'm in the Minneapolis area (western suburbs) if someone here has a specific recommendation (NOT Minneapolis Glass, which was the above-mentioned company).

-Tim

[Oren]

Find a local company, call and talk to them. After all the crews are loaded and gone for the day you may be able to walk in and wait outside (yellow line) while they make the glass.

You can even take it home and put it back in - one trip.

-- Oren

"Well, it doesn't happen all the time, but when it happens, it happens constantly."

[Joseph Meehan]

Check the yellow pages under glass. You should have a local supplier or two. Generally you can bring in the one you have and they can make up one while you wait. I was able to measure mine and have them make it up from that. Note: they may be hesitant to make up one from your measurements as there can be hard feelings is you did not measure the exact same way they would. I suggest bringing in the old one.

[dss]

Tim,

I just replaced seven thermopane windows down in Eagan. They were all

16" by 50" by 1" and cost about $75 each delivered (double pane, residential glass, no special gas or coatings) . I measured the windows while they were still installed and called in the order. It generally takes about a week for you to get them.

You can get someone to do all the work for you for about $220 each. But if you can figure out how to take them out, putting them in is easy. The hardest part is replacing the window stops you break when you take them out.

I used a small company called Lamont Glass in South St. Paul and they were very good. Give Noah Lamont a call at 651.755.3000. or email at [e-mail] for a quote. There are other glass companies in the metro area that will do this. I also contacted Robert Tarango at [e-mail]. They might be more in your neighborhood.

Good luck.

dss

Tim Fischer wrote:

[Tim Fischer]

Thanks much for the references.

When you say "take them out" I'm assuming you mean the sealed glass units from the frame, not the sliding frame from the window unit itself? I'm not sure how the glass comes out but I"ve never studied them (unfortunately the previous owner painted them a hideous color, and we repainted them a more normal color, so they'e covered with at least two coats of paint so it might be hard to see how they come apart...

-Tim

[dss]

Tim,

Yes, I'm talking about the sealed glass units.

Here's a good reference on figuring out thermopane windows:

My windows have vinyl stops on the outside that hold the sealed units in place. Once removed, the window glass literally falls out. It is easier and safer to do this with the entire window frame removed and laid horizontally. The only thing covering the window at that point were the screens. Three of the units were in fixed windows so I had to do them in place.

The problem with the vinyl stops is that they are easy to break and replacements were hard to get. I ended up making my own stops out of wood for some of them. If your window is a slider it may not use stops. I have one slider that didn't need replacement and it looked like I would have had to disassemble the frame to get the glass out.

The place I dealt with didn't really have a store to take the whole window to and have them take it a part. They primarily do this work onsite, but were willing to get me the glass units from their supplier. Brin Glass seems to be a supplier and they might be able to do what you describe at their factory.

You could measure the visible portion of the glass and they might be able to extrapolate the glass units actual size. Give them a call, they seemed willing to work with home owners. I did contact a dealer for the window manufacturer (Weathershield) and they had no interest in helping me do-it-myself. They told me to call a glass company. I was pleased and surprised by the results.

dss

Tim Fischer wrote:

[Percival P. Cassidy]

We have an old (out-of-warranty) Andersen casement with fogged double glass. Would you suggest getting a local glass co. to fix it rather than getting a whole new unit from Andersen?

Perce

[Malcolm Hoar]

I wouldn't hesitate to use a *good* local glass co. One that is recommended by neighbors/customers and has served your local community for quite a few years.

But if you can't find one with those credentials go to the original manufacturer.

Sticking pins in the Yellow Pages is almost never a good idea and generally ends in tears.

[Joseph Meehan]

..

Sure, unless you like paying a lot more than needed.

[EXT]

I doubt that you can get a unit made up "while you wait" as the manufacturer will have to fit it into his production line and at minimum wait for the silicone sealer to set up which normally takes 24 hours.

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