How to Repair Glass in a Front Door

Broken glass in the front door is unsightly and dangerous.

A cracked or smashed piece of glass in a front door is dangerous and unsightly. The space must be measured, and the glass must be replaced. With a few simple tools, you can easily find the proper replacement glass for your door and install it yourself. Complete this repair carefully and restore the elegance of your front door.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Putty knife
• Safety gloves
• Window pane
• Caulking gun
• Glazing compound
• Hammer
• Wire brads

Instructions

1. Measure the space. Take a tape measure and measure the length and width of the space where you will replace the glass. Subtract 1/8 inch from each measurement for the proper glass size. This allows room for contraction and expansion when you replace the glass.

2. Pry away the wood stops between the glass. Take a putty knife and slip it under the wood stops. Gently pry them away from the glass.

3. Pull out the broken glass. Wearing safety gloves, pull away the broken glass piece and dispose.

4. Remove the glazing compound from the opening. Take the putty knife and scrape away all of the old compound that held in the window.

5. Apply a bead of glazing compound into the window pane opening. Insert the glazing compound tube into the caulking gun and pull the trigger to apply a bead of the compound all the way around the opening.

6. Push the new glass pane into the opening. Firmly place the glass against the glazing compound.

7. Reattach the wooden stops. Take a hammer and secure the wooden stops into the opening, using wire brads.

8. Scrape away any excess compound that may have been squeezed out, using the putty knife.

References

• This Old House: How To Repair Door Glass