Replacing Glass vs Replacing an Entire Window (2024)

A stray ball tossed by your kids straight into your window. Windows that are cracked and fogging up, or a noticeable draft blowing through your downstairs with the windows to blame. Should you save money by replacing just the glass or is it better to go ahead an replace the entire window?

Temporary Solutions Versus Long-Term Solutions

A glass replacement versus an entire window replacement feels like you’re choosing between a short-term, temporary fix to a long-term, more permanent solution for your home. Your decision should be based on the problem at hand because sometimes, you won’t need to replace the entire window and that glass replacement will do the job just fine.

There are benefits to replacing just the glass versus replacing the entire window depending on the dilemma at hand. If you can get away with just replacing the glass, you’ll obviously be saving more money on the project. If you’re using IGU, you’ll notice a dramatic reduction in heat loss, regulation in your home’s internal temperatures, and subsequently, significant monthly energy savings. With an IGU replacement, you’ll also see a faster installation time when done by a professional. Typically these projects can be completed in less than a day.

When replacing the entire window, yes, it will be more expensive since you’re paying for more than just the glass, but you’ll also be seeing twice the benefits that come with them.

Energy savings are even more noticeable, resale value increases with new replacement windows, outside noise is dramatically lessened, and there’s even more of a difference during the hotter and colder months in your home’s internal temperatures. This is a step to consider if your windows are old and have broken glass, notably suffering from more than one issue at a time.

The Pane is Broken

If you’re looking at just a broken windowpane, then you probably don’t need to replace the window in its entirety. A cheaper, quicker option is to replace the glass with clear, heat retaining, insulated glass units called IGU. With an IGU replacement, the broken pane is removed, the frame, if needed, is cleaned up, and the IGU is inserted and sealed into place.

Caulking and weather stripping is done to ensure that there will be no drafts thanks to a trusty seal. Replacing just the glass pane is much cheaper than replacing the entire window, and you can even hire a professional to do the job without breaking the budget.

The Window Glass is Foggy

Streaking, fogginess, and condensation between double or triple pane windows is also known as “blown” windows, It’s a common dilemma for older windows that means something is amiss. That something is caused by a broken seal, inciting condensation between the panes, or exposing the low-emissivity coatings and injected insulating gasses to oxidize.

The solution for this problem is to opt for a repair with a new insert or sash, which is cheaper than replacing the entire window, and you may be able to do it yourself.

The Window Glass is Drafty

Should you replace the entire window or repair the glass on your windows that are clearly letting in a noticeable draft? While you can replace the glass, sometimes it’s a better plan to upgrade your windows instead.

Window companies will often have ongoing deals, allowing for homeowners to replace drafty windows in their home without breaking the bank. Energy efficient windows will save you on your monthly energy bills, which in turn, will not only help you regulate the temperatures inside your home, but increase the resale value of your house.

Glass Replacement or Entire Window Replacement? A Recap

The answer to this tricky question is that it really depends. If the pane is broken, then opt for glass replacement, if the windows are old and drafty, then consider replacing them in their entirety. Otherwise, if you notice that the window glass is starting to fog up and produce condensation, then you can probably fix that issue with a glass replacement instead of a window replacement.

There’s also the big factor of the cost to consider. Replacing the glass is more cost effective than replacing the whole window. With replacing the glass, you still get the benefits like energy savings, better heat gain, and less heat loss, but at a fraction of the price of a window replacement.

If your windows are old and are suffering from broken glass, hitting more than one problem on the list of common window issues, then do consider replacing the window, but if you can get away with a glass repair, then opt for this route instead.

Replacing an Entire Window is Easy With Feldco

If you fall into the category of someone who needs replacement windows, look no further. Get beautifully updated windows in the exact style and color you desire with professional installation. Start with a free quote today.