glassshedwindows
I’m replacing a shattered pane of glass in my shed. When removing the pane I noticed it was held in with some adhesive, in addition to the plastic that was pushing the pane up against an aluminum frame.
I’m just wondering what kind of tape or sealant I’m supposed to use when putting the new pane in.
Here’s a picture of what was on the original glass.
You'll want to use glazing compound, which comes in both oil-based, and latex, and can be found in both cans or tubes.
Once you have the glass removed, and the frame cleaned up.
Install the interior trim, and wait for the glazing compound to cure.
Once the compound has cured enough (24-72 hours), using a utility knife carefully trim off any compound that has oozed out.
If you are not using interior trim, you will want to apply a bead of glazing compound to the interior side of the frame, and use a putty knife to smooth it to a nice finish.
Is it DIYable? Yes. No. Maybe?
You may find that you start the job, everything works out just right, and you complete the work in record time and under budget. More likely, you'll run into a bunch of unforeseen problems, take 5 times as long as you'd expect, and end up way over budget.
The best way to tackle DIY work that you are not sure about, is to have the resources available to quickly fix mistakes. In your situation, it might be a good idea to purchase a replacement window before you begin. If you damage the old window beyond repair, you'll simply have to install the new one. On the other hand, if the repair works out, you can return the new window you purchased.
It also never hurts to have somebody with knowledge in the type of work you're doing, so if you run into trouble they can offer guidance.
If you come across something you are really not comfortable with, there are always professionals available to do the work for you. You might also be surprised that they charge less than you might think (not always the case, but does happen).
Best Answer
In the olden days (read: until a few decades ago), most windows were built and repaired with glazing putty. It's basically rolled in the palms until warm and in a rope, then pressed against the glass-frame joint with a putty knife or other flat tool. You'd use a smaller bead between the back of the glass and the frame, too, as a seal.
The outcome is ideally something like this, which seals against airflow and sheds water:
More on that
Nowadays (inasmuch as we re-glaze anything in the first place), you can use glazing tape. It's quicker, less messy, and maybe more suitable for beginners. If you use glazing tape you may still want to run a bead of silicone around the outside to lock things together more robustly.