Broken Glass in a European Window? We Replace Just the Glass, Usually in About an Hour (Seattle)

Glass replacement on Capitol Hill, Seattle

A homeowner on Capitol Hill had a broken pane in an older European tilt-and-turn window. A lot of people would assume the whole window has to go. It didn't. We kept the frame, hardware and seals and replaced only the glass, and we didn't wait on a shipment from Europe. We sourced a matching glass unit from a local supplier.

How it works

We measure. We measure the thickness of the original glass unit, then measure the opening at the edge of the glazing bead and take off 5 mm (about 3/16") on each side. That small gap lets the new glass sit right in the frame.
We order the glass locally. A Seattle-area supplier makes a matching glass unit.
We swap it in. Glazing beads out, old glass out with a suction cup. The new glass unit goes in on flat plastic shims (glazing blocks) so it sits square and is held firmly in the frame. Then the beads and gasket go back. This part usually takes about an hour.

Removing the glazing beads from a European tilt-and-turn window to take out broken glass

New glass unit set in the sash of a white uPVC tilt-and-turn window in Seattle

Tilt-and-turn window with new glass, seen from inside a Capitol Hill condo

Glass replacement on a European window with plastic glazing shims and a level on the sill

Why European windows are easy to fix

Tilt-and-turn windows are built to be serviced:

The glass comes out. Glazing beads clip in from the inside, so the glass can be swapped without cutting or rebuilding the frame.
Parts are standard. Hinges, multipoint locks and gaskets can be adjusted or replaced one by one.
The frames are worth keeping. Multi-chamber, steel-reinforced profiles stay strong, so a broken pane doesn't mean a new window.

How that compares with many US-style windows

On a lot of common American vinyl windows, the glass is sealed into the sash at the factory. When a pane breaks or fogs, the fix is often a new sash or a whole new window, which costs more and takes longer. And fogging isn't a vinyl problem. It means the glass seal failed, which is a sign of a cheaply built window.

What it costs

Glass replacement starts around $350 per window, plus the cost of the glass. The final price depends on the size and type of glass (double or triple pane, laminated, tempered).

We repair European windows and doors in Seattle

Broken or fogged glass
Tilt-and-turn hardware that sticks or won't lock
Multipoint locks on balcony and patio doors
Hinge and sash adjustments, and worn gaskets
Screens for tilt-and-turn windows

See all window and door repairs.

Need new windows instead?

We bring European-made windows and doors to Seattle-area homeowners: uPVC, aluminum and wood, made to your sizes. Every new window comes with warm-edge spacers as standard. See our windows and doors.

Can you replace just the glass in a tilt-and-turn window?

Yes, in most cases. The glass is held in by removable glazing beads.

How long does it take?

About an hour on site once the new glass is ready. First we measure, then we order the glass.

Do I have to wait for glass from Europe?

No. We can source a matching glass unit locally, like we did on this Capitol Hill job.

Is it cheaper to replace the glass or the whole window?

Replacing the glass usually costs much less than a new window, because the frame, hardware and seals stay.

Do you repair European windows you didn't install?

Yes. We work on European windows and doors from any maker.