How to Replace a Garage Door Window

You need to replace a garage door window immediately if you have one that is broken. Unlike normal house windows, your garage door windows can drop broken glass when the door is open. The most time-consuming part of replacing the window is removing the inner frame retainers from the window frame.

Things You'll Need

• Leather work gloves
• Step ladder
• Helper
• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Small flathead screwdriver
• Tape measure
• Replacement glass
• Rubber mallet

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Instructions

1. Put on a pair of leather work gloves. If you have a garage door opener, disconnect the opener power supply. Place a step ladder under the opener power head and pull the power cord out of the ceiling electrical outlet.

2. Remove any loose glass from the window. Start removing loose pieces from the top of the window first.

3. Inspect the inside window trim for screws that may secure the frame to the door. Insulated doors will have screws securing the trim to the window frame. Uninsulated steel doors use retainers that snap over ridges on the window frame.

4. Ask a friend to hold the window frame to the door from the outside. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to remove the frame retaining screws if your door uses retaining screws. Insert a small flathead screwdriver under the top corner of the upper retainer if your window has no screws. Carefully pry the retainer up until you can grab the retainer with your fingers. Pull the top retainer off and repeat for the two side retainers and the bottom retainer.

5. Clear any glass out of the window frame. You can pull the frame out of the door from the outside to clean the frame if necessary. Measure the inside width and height of the window frame with a tape measure. Subtract 1/16-inch from each measurement and purchase replacement single strength glass from a glass supplier.

6. Insert the frame into the garage door from the outside. Ask your helper to hold the frame flush against the door. Place the glass into the window frame and secure the inner retainers with the retaining screws if your window frame uses screws.

7. Install the snap in retainers using a rubber mallet if your window frame uses the snap retainers. Press the glass flush against the window frame and have your helper hold the frame at the sides from outside. Place a side retainer on each side and snap the retainer in by hand as far as you can. Gently tap the top of the retainer with a rubber mallet to seal the retainer completely against the glass. Repeat for the top and bottom of the frame.

8. Plug the garage door power cord back into the ceiling outlet.

References

• Columbus Garage Door: Replacing Garage Window Glass