Very old uPVC windows and removing the glass units
Discussion
Hello
On a bay window I have some uPVC double glazing which is probably from the 80s. Some of the glass is misted and I want to replace the failed units. I will eventually replace the whole bay window but that isn't on the cards for a few years.
I wanted to measure the glass as I suspected they are 20mm units but wanted to be absolutely certain but it seems impossible to remove the beading/trim to take a look. I have tried to prize them off inside using a wallpaper stripper thing but they simply do not budge.
What am I missing with these? Is the internal beading keeping the units in or is the external beading (picture attached of what it looks like inside).
Cheers
On a bay window I have some uPVC double glazing which is probably from the 80s. Some of the glass is misted and I want to replace the failed units. I will eventually replace the whole bay window but that isn't on the cards for a few years.
I wanted to measure the glass as I suspected they are 20mm units but wanted to be absolutely certain but it seems impossible to remove the beading/trim to take a look. I have tried to prize them off inside using a wallpaper stripper thing but they simply do not budge.
What am I missing with these? Is the internal beading keeping the units in or is the external beading (picture attached of what it looks like inside).
Cheers
Slightly on topic, but coincidently I had windows fitted in the flat this morning.
Decent, non-pushy bloke turned up for a quote the other week (after Everest failed to show or let me know) and it was all done prefessionally and quickly at a price far lower than I was expecting.
I'll let you know their details for the time you need a quote.
Decent, non-pushy bloke turned up for a quote the other week (after Everest failed to show or let me know) and it was all done prefessionally and quickly at a price far lower than I was expecting.
I'll let you know their details for the time you need a quote.
Some of these use the rubber seal as a wedge, you pull out the rubber and that lets the bead move inwards and release.
But there are lots of ways it was done.
Also check if internally or externally installed, you might be looking at something that won't come off.
Last old ones I looked out the wedge was inside, but the removable bead was outside - pull the inner rubber, unit moves, external bead then unclipped.
But there are lots of ways it was done.
Also check if internally or externally installed, you might be looking at something that won't come off.
Last old ones I looked out the wedge was inside, but the removable bead was outside - pull the inner rubber, unit moves, external bead then unclipped.
Edited by JoshSm on Thursday 4th December 15:29
They look like you have to pull the outside gasket out before you can pop the beads. You will be lucky if you are able to reglaze them neatly since the gaskets shrink and crack, if they are as old as you say then you would be better offf leaving them until you can afford to replace the whole lot
We had some old ones where the bead was on the outside. To get the bead off you had to remove the inner seal to allow the sealed unit to push inwards away from the bead and that would allow the bead to be released. Without doing this there's no way the bead could be removed, short of breaking it.
I will say that due to the barbed profile of the seals sometimes they would tear as they were being removed.
I will say that due to the barbed profile of the seals sometimes they would tear as they were being removed.
Kwackersaki said:
I ve had these type before. They can be a sod to remove when they are old and cold. Try warming them with a hairdryer first.
Indeed they will be a sod to remove. It's worth buying the proper tools especially if you have a few to do. Once you've sussed getting the first one off the rest will require less swearing.You can measure the thickness of the panel without removing it first though.
Youtube vid selected at random but from about 1m20 it explains how.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9CgJhPSvkc
They look like the type of beads that pull out from the side that touches the glass. You need to hook the bead between the glass and rubber and pull it towards yourself one bead will be stuck behind the other as they are not normally mitred so you need to find the right one to pull out first.. good luck there a pain in the butt
I'll give it a try in due course, thanks for the thoughts.
In terms of costings, I'm doing this because most of the units have blown and I can get relatively cheap double glazing units online for about £650 delivered in total for both bay windows.
I will have to bite the bullet and spend the cost of a fairly decent used car at some point in the future and get the front of the house replaced in wood sash windows as it's a conservation area, but I'd rather not have to do that for at least 5 years or so.
I have a quote from a uPVC window guy to replace all the glass for £1k supply and fit.
My builder said as a favour to me he would help me replace the units at no cost but I only want to take him up on that offer if 1) we can actually get the sodding things out and 2) we can reglaze them from the inside.
18m ago i fell off a ladder and broke my knee and an arm so i am now a little wary of going up ladders.
Here is what they look like from the outside btw
In terms of costings, I'm doing this because most of the units have blown and I can get relatively cheap double glazing units online for about £650 delivered in total for both bay windows.
I will have to bite the bullet and spend the cost of a fairly decent used car at some point in the future and get the front of the house replaced in wood sash windows as it's a conservation area, but I'd rather not have to do that for at least 5 years or so.
I have a quote from a uPVC window guy to replace all the glass for £1k supply and fit.
My builder said as a favour to me he would help me replace the units at no cost but I only want to take him up on that offer if 1) we can actually get the sodding things out and 2) we can reglaze them from the inside.
18m ago i fell off a ladder and broke my knee and an arm so i am now a little wary of going up ladders.
Here is what they look like from the outside btw
Hard to tell exactly from the pic and it was donkey’s years since I fitted any of that type but I think you have internal beads coupled with a loose external wedge gasket. Go outside and see if the rubber twixt glass and frame pulls out easy, it should if my calculations are correct
This should ease the pressure on the internal beads. If it has, remove the vertical beads first, the bottom and top ones are probably cut square with the side ones mitred to fit on them. If the external gaskets are perished at all you can get replacements, there are only about a million different types
This should ease the pressure on the internal beads. If it has, remove the vertical beads first, the bottom and top ones are probably cut square with the side ones mitred to fit on them. If the external gaskets are perished at all you can get replacements, there are only about a million different types
For anyone that cares (possibly few do), my builder and I looked at this today.
He had an absolute devil of a job getting the units out so we can measure them. He got 3 of the trims off using a tool he fashioned out of an Allen key and a spanner, which worked well until we got to the very last one at the top. That wouldn't budge for love nor money. It eventually came out with a significant amount of persuasion.
He now knows how they come out and said he'll buy the right tool for the job when we are replacing the units in early January
On that point I am renouned for being a massive tight arse but I was pleasantly surprised to be able to buy 12 panels of glass for two large bay windows and only pay £565 quid including delivery.
Ok it's only c rated billy basic double glazing but given all the units are blown and it should make a massive improvement to the warmth of those rooms I was very surprised at how cheap it was! Coming all the way from the north of England too.
I toyed with the idea of saving 90 quid and getting unrated energy double glazing units but even I thought that was a bridge too far !
He had an absolute devil of a job getting the units out so we can measure them. He got 3 of the trims off using a tool he fashioned out of an Allen key and a spanner, which worked well until we got to the very last one at the top. That wouldn't budge for love nor money. It eventually came out with a significant amount of persuasion.
He now knows how they come out and said he'll buy the right tool for the job when we are replacing the units in early January
On that point I am renouned for being a massive tight arse but I was pleasantly surprised to be able to buy 12 panels of glass for two large bay windows and only pay £565 quid including delivery.
Ok it's only c rated billy basic double glazing but given all the units are blown and it should make a massive improvement to the warmth of those rooms I was very surprised at how cheap it was! Coming all the way from the north of England too.
I toyed with the idea of saving 90 quid and getting unrated energy double glazing units but even I thought that was a bridge too far !
https://glass2go.co.uk/product/c-rated-clear-doubl...
Together with discount code NEW10.
I'm glad I measured it because it was 18mm and I initially thought it was 20!
Together with discount code NEW10.
I'm glad I measured it because it was 18mm and I initially thought it was 20!
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