How To Tell If You're Ready To Go After Replacing French Door Glass
Replacing French Door Glass
Replacing a broken piece of glass in a French door is a relatively simple DIY project. It involves cleaning the glass pane, removing trim or molding and installing a new window pane.
French doors feature multiple glass panes that are separated by muntin bars that are functional, also known as mullions. They come in a wide variety of styles and are able to be triple-paned in order to reduce the sound and control glare.
How to replace a broken Pane of Glass
Wear rubber gloves and safety glasses before beginning to replace the glass. This will shield you from any broken glass fragments that could fall during the process. Work in an open area like a garage and keep your children out. It is recommended to remove the window frame from the sill for better access and maneuverability, but you can also replace a pane, without taking the entire window out of the frame.
With a putty-blade use a putty blade to scrape off any caulking or glazing compound that is around the edge of the window sash. You don't want to harm the wood molding holding the window in place. You'll need it to hold the new window.
If you're working with a steel casement window it might be secured by the metal glazing points. These points, along with the old putty, require removal before you can remove the pane from the frame. Paint scraper or chisel can work. If the putty is too hard to get rid of, you can use a heat gun to soften it. Keep the heat gun about an inch away from the glass, and move it backwards and forwards to spread the warmth. Double the aluminum foil on the other panes to prevent them from cracking because of the heat.
Once the old glass has been removed, wipe down the inside of the window sash using a damp cloth to clean off any dust or dirt. Now you can install the new glass.
Take measurements of the width and height to determine the dimensions of the glass. Take these measurements and subtract 1/8 inch from each side to get a new glass that fits easily into the door frame. Many hardware stores will cut a piece of glass for you, if you give them the measurement.
Warm up a small amount of putty and then roll it into a 3/4-inch thick rope. Place the putty along the edge of the rabbet. Place the blade of your knife at a 45-degree angle against the frame rabbet. Move the knife along the glass's edge in a straight, smooth line to cut a portion of the pane. Repeat with the remaining edges of the glass, and then scrape away the excess putty.
Take the broken Pane
A broken glass pane in the French door isn't just an eye sore, it's a safety hazard. Replacing a glass pane in a French door is done in a few simple steps, and is generally less costly than replacing the entire door panel. The majority of homeowners are able to do this on their own, however professional assistance is available for those who require special tools or expertise.
Begin by getting rid of any cracked or broken pieces of the frame. Wear safety glasses and gloves to keep glass shards from entering your eyes or onto your face. Then, clean the glass opening to eliminate any caulking or putty used to hold the previous pane in place.
The next step is to take off any molding or trim that holds the glass in place. This can be tricky, as it will likely require some effort to pry the molding loose. Wearing protective equipment and having a person help you with the prying is a good idea. It's also an excellent idea to mark the pieces you're taking off, so that you can put them back at the appropriate time.
Installing the glass is easy after the molding is removed. Measure the dimensions of the glass pane opening, and then go to an online glass shop to purchase a piece new glass for your French door. It is recommended to purchase safety glass for your French door, since it will not shatter easily if they break again.
When you are ready to place the glass in the opening, make sure that it is placed correctly. Then, apply a thin bead of clear silicone caulk around the edge of the glass.
You can replace the molding after the caulk is dry. If the nails that were used originally did not pull through the molding, you can put in new wire nails to fill in the holes left behind by the old nails. By drilling the holes prior to drilling, you can prevent the nails from splitting through the molding. A well-stocked hardware store stocks tiny bits that can be used to drill holes.
How to Cut a New Pane Of Glass
Make sure you check the spacing between the frame of the window and around the edges before ordering a replacement pane. If you find any gaps, you might require adjusting the spring clips or metal triangles that secure it to the frame. Also, you must make sure that the new pane is a appropriate size for the opening. If it's not large, you may experience leakage or other issues when it's installed.
The first step is to prepare a work surface. Scrape the old compound off the frame's sides with a putty blade to expose the wood. If the rabbets are too rough for you to smooth using the putty knife gently sand them and apply an exterior primer. This will stop the new glazing from drawing moisture from the wood, which will reduce its life span.
Once the frame is clean and ready to be used then warm a small amount of putty by kneading it until it's soft and malleable. Apply a thin layer using the putty blade on the inside corner rabbets to create a bed against which the glass can rest. Repeat the process on the other exposed edges of the rabbets.
After the putty is dry, remove any remaining metal glazing points that are stuck in the grooves of the sash. Before attempting to remove them, wear a pair of safety goggles to protect yourself from glass fragments. A heat gun on an low setting can help you to warm up and loosen the steel so that you can stretch it out of the frame with pliers.
When the frame and glass are ready, test-fit it by sliding it into place. Make any adjustments needed before securing it in place with the spring clips or metal triangles. Check that replacement french door between the glass and frame is even and uniform across all sides. Also, test the movement of the sash to make sure that the new pane will not hinder closing or opening the window. If you find any problems with the installation, consult an expert in restoration, who can help you repair and preserve your historic home.
Install the Pane of Glass
Before you install the new pane of glass It is important to test the fit to ensure that it fits snugly. Find 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 allow it to be installed more easily and allow for seasonal expansion and contraction of the frame. Bring your measurements to an hardware store or home center, and let them cut a piece glass for you. Alternately, you can cut the glass yourself if happen to have a huge sheet of stock glass handy.
After the old pane of glass is removed, you should remove the window sash grooves, and take off any glazing points made of metal that held the old pane in place. A paint scraper that is a pull type or a chisel will work to accomplish this job. If the grooves are stuffed full of putty that has hardened, slowly soften it with a heat gun. Cover the moldings and windows with aluminum foil in order to keep them safe from heat.
Scrape and sand the rabbets in which the glass is, and then brush an exterior primer over them to prevent the putty from absorbing its natural oils and reducing its lifespan. Also, clean the grooves of the sash.
Press a small amount into the rabbets, where the glass will be placed. It's not important to be neat at this stage. Put the new pane into the rabbets, then wiggle it around and apply a consistent pressure using your fingers to make sure that it's placed in the right place.
If there are holes in the wood frame around the glass, you can fill them with silicone caulk before installing the new glass. If the frame has other mechanisms for fastening, such as L-channels, employ a hammer for prying them out of the sash grooves. Get rid of any shards that might have come loose in the removal of the frame. To keep water and pests from entering the house, apply a clear silicone caulk over the frame's bottom edge where it meets the floor.