French doors are an extremely popular option in homes, offering a stylish, timeless look, incorporating glass pane windows to allow a view and sunlight to filter through. There’s nothing worse than finding that one or more of the panes of glass in your French doors is broken or cracked. It’s important to repair or replace broken French doors quickly, or at least to safely remove all traces of the broken glass, as these panes often aren’t tempered. Here we look at what you should do if the glass in your French doors is broken or cracked.
List of Contents
1. Assess the Damage
If only one pane of glass in your French doors is broken, the good news is that you don’t have to replace the entire door. You can just replace the damaged panes of glass. Look at how many panes of glass have been damaged and identify exactly which ones will need to be replaced.
2. Remove the Broken Glass
This step is potentially the most hazardous, so if you have any concerns about completing this yourself, call your local glass company for assistance. Using protective gloves and goggles, gently ease the broken pieces of glass out of the frame and place carefully into a paper bag for disposal. If the glass is cracked but not broken, secure the cracks with duct tape before removing. Always sweep and vacuum the area around the door after removing the glass to pick up any remnants.
3. Remove the Trim Pieces and Glazing Points
Pull out the trim pieces and glazing points around the edge of the window with a small pry bar or pliers if necessary. Take out any remaining pieces of glass and scrape around the frame to remove any old glazing compound.
4. Measure and Cut New Glass
Calculate the size required for your new piece of glass by measuring the opening and subtracting ⅛ in from the height and width. You should then cut a new piece of safety glass according to the measurements, as safety glass won’t shatter should your French door break again. If you don’t know how to safely cut glass, ask your local glass company for a custom glass piece to fit your door.
5. Fit The Glass
Spread a small drop of glazing compound around the perimeter of the frame, then push the glass pane into the frame. Push the glazing points into the frame to hold the glass in place, then replace the stops and tap the brad nails back in place. Use a nail punch to sink the heads of the brad nails in. Use wood filler to fill nail holes and any gaps in the frame. Finally, you can paint the frame to match the rest of the door.
Replacing a window pane in your French doors can be a job you can do if you’re a handy DIYer, but if you tend to need more help with jobs around the house, you might be better off calling your professional glass company for expert service. With fast efficient service, you can have a new safety glass pane professionally installed for your French doors in no time. For rapid glass service and professional results, call us now for French door repairs and more.