How do I glaze oak framed buildings correctly?

Glazing Oak Framed Buildings Correctly

To glaze oak frame buildings correctly, direct glazing is a modern and proven method.

It is used on our seasoned oak buildings to eliminate any problems due to leaking.

The system is made up of layers of seasoned oak, softwood packers and kiln dried oak covers.

The image shows how the direct glazing works.

The dimensions of the glazed unit are bigger than the aperture of the oak frame it is intended to cover. It therefore sits on the outside of the oak frame and sits within a softwood frame. To stop the glazing from falling forward, an additional oak cover is used to encapsulate the unit in place with stainless steel screws and oak pellets.

To glaze oak frame buildings, there are three components.

The air-dried oak frame

A softwood outer packer (pre-attached)

An oak cover

Think of it as a sandwich.

Glazed Oak Framed Buildings

All your double glazed units are made to measure. They are larger than the aperture you wish to glaze on purpose.

To glaze oak framed buildings, as you can see below, the main oak frame is assembled and installed on either a dwarf wall or a smaller course of brick or stone to lift it off the ground.

We will have already pre-attached a softwood packer to the OUTSIDE of the oak frame. This was used to create a housing for the double glazed unit to sit within. The softwood is held in place with stainless steel screws to increase the longevity and integrity of the structure. You can glaze oak framed buildings easily by following the below instructions.

Step By Step Guidance To Glazing Oak Framed Buildings

Before installing the glass, ensure the rebate is clean from dust and debris.

Apply one side of the provided double sided tape to the 18mm of exposed oak frame inside the aperture.

Remove the backing tape from the outside, revealing the sticky adhesive.

Use the 2mm packers at the base of the opening.

Carefully rest the glazed unit on the packers and press firmly into the aperture, ensuring it is positioned centrally.

Using the supplied U9 silicon, fill the 2-3mm gap around the perimeter of the glazed unit.

Now attach another piece of glazing tape to both edges on the BACK side of the correctly labelled 30mm oak cover.

Carefully peel back a small amount of the backing tape before applying it to the glazing.

Using the supplied screws, align the oak cover and temporarily partially install the screws.

When you are happy with the location, remove the rest of the backing tape and finish installing the screws.

To glaze oak framed buildings correctly, it takes some patience and a little skill.

It’s not overly complicated, but if you need help, please get in touch by calling us on 01423 593794.

Other Methods (Not Recommended)

Most oak windows and glazed doors are manufactured with a rebate, an L shaped cutout running along the edge of the timber to hold the glazing unit.

This means a channel (L-shaped) is grooved into the oak section to accommodate the thickness of the glass.

With all oak items made from kiln dried oak, this is fine, as the stability of the oak means the glazing will be held within a fixed frame.

Using this method with seasoned (air-dried) oak can and will be problematic.

The issue occurs when you have a fixed piece of rigid glass that is fixed tight against a natural piece of timber. This timber will need to ‘dry’ further in the coming months and years and will inevitably shrink. This shrinkage means the oak can pull away from the glazing unit, leaving gaps for water ingress.

This issue is more noticeable with ‘green’ oak as the moisture content is higher, meaning there is a greater chance of shrinkage. So, to glaze oak frame buildings, you need to use the direct method and NOT the old traditional way, especially when using air dried oak.