glazing question

[stevebowtie]

I haven't single glazed into a wooden frame for years. Should I use putty as I did in days of yore, or is silicon de rigeur nowadays? All advice will be gratefully received.

Thanks

Steve

[Dave Plowman (News)]

I'd say you'd have trouble getting that perfect fillet with silicon that is so easy with putty.

[Space_Cowby]

if you use silicone to bed the glass you will then need a wood bead / quadrant to finish it off externally. This can also be bedded in the silicone.

I think the big downside is if you have to reglaze again, getting silicone out is a real pain in the ass.

[stevebowtie]

Thanks for the advice. Looks like it's putty, then. I'm glad to see that in some things the old ways are still the best.

Steve

[chris French]

In message , [e-mail] writes

Actually I prefer to use what is called 'Longlife glaziers putty' (Unibond I think).

It comes in sealant gun type tube, and is not of the same formulation As standard putty, being softer. I found it easier to use on the whole than normal putty , and it can be over-painted after 24 hours - the reason why I used it as I was in the middle of a decorating job.

[stuart noble]

Probably acrylic if it came out of a cartridge, and these are a great improvement over linseed oil putty. The traditional stuff is fine if it never dries, but it usually does, and then it goes rock hard and falls out. Acrylic dries quickly but stays flexible.

[jacob]

I wonder how long it lasts as ordinary putty is OK for hundred years or more (if it's painted).

cheers

Jacob

[stuart noble]

In theory. In practice it dries out on the lower part of the window. In the case of sliding sashes, where the rebate is shallow, it's very short lived.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

In article , stuart noble lived.

Dunno what you mean by short lived. It usually outlasts a couple of house paintings. Replacing it with silicone and wood beading will be far more work in the end - wood beading is a constant source of trouble, paint wise.

[stuart noble]

Question is not how long it stays in the window but whether it's doing anything. Once hard it allows water behind it, which is why the bottoms of sash windows are usually shot to pieces and the upper parts are sound

[Dave Plowman (News)]

In article , stuart noble anything. Once hard it allows water behind it, which is why the bottoms

Down to maintenance then. All of mine have survived over 100 years.

FWIW, 'hard' putty can still be well and truly stuck to glass.