Yes — in most cases, you can. If the aluminium frame is structurally sound, the glass can be cut to the same rebate size and re-glazed without replacing the whole window. Whether this is the right approach, though, depends on the condition of the frame itself, not just the glass.
When You Can Re-Glaze Instead of Replace
Re-glazing is the common path for two situations: replacing cracked or damaged glass, and upgrading from single glazing to double glazing in a frame that's otherwise in good condition. If the aluminium profile isn't corroded or warped, there's usually no need to remove and replace the whole frame just to change the glass.
The frame still needs to be re-measured on site rather than assumed. Even a sound frame has to be checked against the new glass build before work starts, since not every rebate accepts every glass thickness without modification.
Upgrading to Double Glazing in an Existing Frame
Double-glazed units are thicker than single glazing, and the rebate — the recess in the frame that holds the glass — is often not deep enough for a straight swap. Diamond Step measures the existing rebate on site to confirm whether the frame can accept a double-glazed unit as-is or needs adjustment first.
When a Full Frame Replacement Makes More Sense
Full frame replacement becomes the more practical option when the aluminium profile itself is corroded or warped, since re-glazing a compromised frame doesn't fix the underlying problem. It's also the better route when the specific profile is old enough that matching hardware or beading is no longer available, making a like-for-like re-glaze impractical.
