Replacing French Door Glass
It is fairly simple to replace a damaged glass pane on a French door. Cleaning the glass, removing trim and molding and then putting in the new pane is all that's needed.
French doors are made of multiple glass panes, which are separated by muntin bars. They are also referred to as mullions. They come in a broad variety of designs, and can be triple-paned to reduce noise and control the glare.
How to replace a damaged Pane of Glass
Wear rubber gloves and safety glasses prior to replacing the glass. This will shield you from any broken glass shards that might fall during the process. Work in an open space, such as a garage, and keep kids away. For easier access, it's best to remove your window frame from its sill. However, you can still replace the pane, but without removing the entire frame.
Start by scraping off any old glazing compound or caulking around the edge of the sash using a putty knife. You don't want damage to the wood molding holding the window in place. It will be needed to hold the new window.
If you are working with a casement window made of steel it could be held in position by metal glazing points. These points, as well as the old putty will require removal before you can remove the window from the frame. A paint scraper or a tool like a chisel will work however if you discover that the putty's too hard to get out, slowly soften it with a heating gun. Place the heat gun one inch away from the glass and move it forward and backwards to spread the warmth. Put doubled sheets of aluminum foil on the other panes to prevent them from cracking because of the heat.
After you've removed the old glass, take a damp cloth and wipe the inside of the window sash to remove any dirt or dust. Now you can install a new piece glass.
To cut a piece of glass to size, first measure the width and height of the opening. Record these measurements and subtract 1/8 inch from all sides to get a new glass that is able to fit into the door frame. Many hardware stores will cut a piece glass for you if you provide the measurement.
Warm a small amount of putty in your hands before rolling it into a length of 3/4 inch thick. Position the putty on the edge of the exposed rabbet. Place the blade of your putty knife at a 45 degree angle against the frame rabbet. To cut a piece of the pane, move the knife in a smooth and straight line along the edge of glass. Repeat the process with the remaining edges of the glass and then scrape away the excess putty.
Take the broken Pane
A broken pane in a French-styled door is not just an eye sore but can also pose a risk to safety. It's simple to replace a glass pane on a French-style door, and it's generally less expensive than replacing the entire door panel. The majority of homeowners can perform this task on their own, but professional assistance is available for those who require specific tools or know-how.
Begin by getting rid of any cracked or broken pieces of the frame. It is essential to wear gloves and safety goggles to avoid getting shards of glass in your face or eyes. Then, clean the glass pane's openings to remove any residual putty or caulking that was used to hold the old pane in place.
Next, you need to take off any molding or trim that was holding the glass in place. It could be difficult to pull the molding off. This is why it's important to wear a protective suit, and to have someone assist you with the prying, if needed. Label the items are being removed so that you can put them back in their original positions.
The installation of the new glass is simple after the molding has been removed. Visit a glass store and measure the glass's opening. You should purchase safety glass for your French door, because it will not shatter easily in the event of a break.
When you are ready to install the glass into the opening, be sure it is aligned correctly. Then, apply a fine bead of clear silicone caulk around the glass's edge.
After the caulk has dried it is possible to replace the molding. If the nails that were originally used didn't penetrate the molding, you can hammer new wire nails into the holes created by the old nails. Pre-drilling the holes will prevent the nails from splitting through the molding. You can make holes using very thin bits from hardware stores that are well stocked.
How to Cut a New Pane Of Glass
Before you purchase a new pane of glass, make sure the spacing around the frame and the edges of the window are even. You may have to adjust spring clips or triangulars to hold it in place if you find gaps. It is also important to ensure that your new pane is the correct size for the opening. If it's too large, you may experience leakage and other problems.
The first step is to prepare a work surface. Utilizing a putty blade, scrape away the old compound on both sides of the frame. This will expose the wood. If the rabbets on the frame are too rough to smooth out using a knife and you want to smooth them out, lightly sand them and apply an exterior primer. This will prevent the new glazing from absorbing moisture from the wood and reduce its lifespan.
After the frame has been cleaned and prepared, you can knead some putty until it is soft and malleable. Apply a thin layer of it using the putty blade on the inside corner rabbets to create a narrow bed on which the glass can rest. Repeat the process on the other edges of the rabbets.
Once the putty has dried, remove any remaining metal glazing points that are stuck in the grooves of the sash. Before attempting to remove them, wear goggles with safety features to protect yourself from glass shards. Heat guns on low settings can be used to gently heat the metal and loosen it up so that you can remove it using pliers.
After the glass and frame are in place, test it by sliding it into its place. Make any adjustments needed before securing it in place with the spring clips or metal triangles. Make sure that the gap between the glass and frame is even and uniform on all sides, and examine the sash's movement to make sure that the new pane will not hinder opening or closing the window. Speak with a restoration specialist if you encounter any problems during the installation. They can help you repair and maintain your home's historic features.
Install the Pane of Glass
Before you install the new glass You should fit it by testing to ensure that it is snugly fitted. Measure the height and width of the window opening by measuring it to the outside edge of the L channels. Subtract 1/8 of an inch from each measurement in order to determine the glass size you need. A little undersizing of the pane will make it easier to install and provide room for seasonal expansion and contraction of the frame. Take your measurements to a hardware store or home center and have them cut a piece of glass for you. Alternately, you can cut the glass yourself if happen to have a large sheet of stock glass.
After the old pane glass has been removed, you should clean the window sash grooves and take off any glazing points made of metal which held the previous pane in place. A paint scraper that is a pull type or a chisel is ideal for this task. If the grooves have an abundance of putty that is hardened you can soften it by using a heating gun. Be sure to cover windows and molding with aluminum foil to shield them from the heat.
You can also apply an exterior primer to stop the putty from absorbing its natural oils. You should also wipe down the sash to get rid of dust and dirt from the grooves.
Knead a tiny amount of putty until it is warm and flexible and then press it into the rabbets where the glass will go. At this point, cleanliness is not a factor. Place the new pane in the rabbets. Then, move it around and apply even pressure with your fingers to make sure it's seated properly.
Fill any holes in the frame with silicone caulk. Then, you can install the new glass. If the frame has other fixing mechanisms, such as L channels, use an hammer and pull them out of the sash grooves. Examine french doors glass replacement repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk for shards of glass that may have shattered during removal, and take them out of them before continuing. To keep pests and water from entering your home put a clear silicone caulk on the frame's bottom edge where it meets floor.