Large fixed glass
Big fixed glass: replacing picture-window units safely
A picture window doesn't open, so little wears out except the glass: the sealed unit fogs, or a crack runs in from the edge. In the family rooms and foyers of many Markham homes built since the 1980s, that unit is large, and replacing it is careful rather than complicated work. Usually the frame stays. We connect you with an independent local glass professional who handles large units and quotes from your photos first.
- Glass-only, even at large sizes
- Quotes start from a photo
- A straight answer for heritage homes
What goes wrong
Why big fixed glass fogs and cracks
Haze between the panes
A big unit has a long edge seal and a lot of glass moving with the temperature, and humid mornings and a long cold season keep testing it. Once moisture gets in, the haze won't wipe off; our foggy window page explains the difference from condensation.
A crack from the edge
A crack starting at the edge with no impact mark usually comes from stress, such as a heat vent or dark blind warming one area. A star-shaped break came from a hit. Either way, a cracked unit is replaced, not repaired.
Glass-only
Glass-only replacement at large sizes: handling, access and timing
Most picture-window units sit behind removable strips called glazing stops. The pro removes them, lifts the old unit out, sets the new one on blocks and refits the stops. Frame, trim and wall stay as they are.
Size is what makes it careful. A large unit may need extra hands or equipment, especially upstairs or over a staircase, so the pro will ask about the route in.
The unit is made to measure, so expect one visit to measure and another to install.
Combination windows
Combination units with casements or awnings
Many picture windows sit between casements or above a row of awnings, and the fixed centre of a bay window is often one too.
Heritage homes
Heritage homes: picture windows aren't the answer
On an old house in a heritage conservation district, swapping a tired multi-pane window for one big pane works against the rules. Markham Village's design guidelines say picture windows are not desirable for residential buildings, and the district plans ask owners not to enlarge original openings. Exterior changes need a heritage permit.
The route the plans prefer is repair: fix the old sash, keep original glass where possible, and add a storm window outside. See wood window repair and our heritage district guide.
What affects the quote
Why a size alone can't give you a price
Two windows of the same size can be quoted differently. Size is only one factor:
- Glass make-up: double or triple pane, low-E, tint or laminated
- Shape, and any grilles in the unit
- Weight and access, including stairs and extra hands
- Which side the unit comes out from
- Frame condition, especially at the sill
Send the visible glass size with a photo of the whole window and a frame corner.
Glass choices
Options for glass: low-E, tint, laminated
A new unit doesn't have to copy the old one.
Low-E
A thin coating that keeps winter heat in and trims summer sun. Ask how it looks beside units without one.
Tint
Helps a west-facing family room that overheats, at the cost of a slightly coloured view.
Laminated
Holds together if broken and quiets street noise; worth asking about at ground level.
Grilles
Match, drop or change them. Our shaped glass page covers grille matching.
Questions
Picture window questions
Explore your options
Related window work
Local pros replace large fixed glass across Markham, including Angus Glen, Berczy Village, Milliken Mills and Cathedraltown.
Measure the glass and send a photo
Measure the visible glass and photograph the whole window and a frame corner. We pass it to a local glass pro who handles large units and follows up in writing. If new glass alone will do, that's the quote.