Each "light" in a conventional single pane door window would just have a single piece of glass, so just pry off the moulding on one side, remove the glass sheet, get some gazier's putty to put around the new sheet, and replace the moulding. The replacement glass is easily cut by you or the hardware store to just what you need in about 5 minutes.What makes this so difficult to repair, vs a single pane panel of glass?
I think it's the 9 individual units. Not my house, though, and not easy to query the residents.But if it is double pane, then there are two ways it could be made:
- 9 Individual glass "glazing units", each with glass on each side with a hermetic seal, evacuated, filled with argon. You'd need to remove what is left of the old one and buy a replacement unit to go in the space.
Interesting suggestion, worth pursuing. Thanks.So, its a bit of a problem. Door glass gets broken a lot (elbow or package as door is opened, or by somebody trying to break in and reach the knob). It might be worth putting a thin piece of acrylic over the outside and inside after you make the glass repair to prevent at least an inadvertent re-break.
I have replaced a double pane of glass on a sliding window. It was not difficult at all. There was a plastic strip of molding, like a beauty strip, that held the window in. It was then siliconed in place.didn't see senator's post, but question remains on degree of difficulty.
Yep, that's how they are made. If you crack just one side or the seal goes bad, then the ambient air, with its moisture, will eventually get in and the pane will fog up and gradually grow milky/translucent.So double pane isn't two independent pieces of glass, it's one sealed compartment.
I haven't done it, but I don't think its hard to do the actual installation. The hassle is getting the right replacement part. A glass shop could probably do it, but would charge you for time/labor to come out, measure, do the ordering, etc. If you know the brand and model of the door (check for a label on the hinge edge of the door), perhaps it would be possible to order the part from the manufacturer. Or, look online for a retailer of "insulated glazing units" or "insulated glass units" and see if they can be ordered directly with the right measurements (remove the trim from one side and measure the actual glazing unit that is broken). If this route is used, it's possible that the replacement light might not look identical to the others (different coating on the glass, different color of the internal seals, etc), but it should be pretty close.Is this unit much more difficult to install, compared with a single glass pane?
Have you had good luck with replacing a door slab? Maybe I'm atypical, but every time I try this it results in hours of shimming, planing, and frustration. Then the handset and deadbolt holes will be off by 1/4," leading to more chisel work and hate. But, my house is 50 years old: It is built well, but a lot of things aren't square anymore.Or order a new door to fit and send the old one to recycling.
I don't understand the apparent gap above the frame. What is that about?Another question for the DIY'ers. Sorry in advance for an inadequate photo. This is a broken window pane on a door. It looks to me like a double pane glass. What makes this so difficult to repair, vs a single pane panel of glass?
Yep, that's how they are made. If you crack just one side or the seal goes bad, then the ambient air, with its moisture, will eventually get in and the pane will fog up and gradually grow milky/translucent.
I haven't done it, but I don't think its hard to do the actual installation. The hassle is getting the right replacement part. A glass shop could probably do it, but would charge you for time/labor to come out, measure, do the ordering, etc. If you know the brand and model of the door (check for a label on the hinge edge of the door), perhaps it would be possible to order the part from the manufacturer. Or, look online for a retailer of "insulated glazing units" or "insulated glass units" and see if they can be ordered directly with the right measurements (remove the trim from one side and measure the actual glazing unit that is broken). If this route is used, it's possible that the replacement light might not look identical to the others (different coating on the glass, different color of the internal seals, etc), but it should be pretty close.
Oh, the seals on all glazing units will eventually fail, or the dessicant that is built into many of them will get "used up". Shis should take decades for regular windows, but probably a lot less for a door (subject to breakage and banged about whenever the door shuts). So, if the cost for the replacement unit isn't much, consider buying more than one to have another on hand when the next one fails. I'd put it somewhere out of the way, then leave a small note to myself near the door ID label (where I'd look for the door info the next time this happens) showing the stock number of the replacement part and where I'd stored any extra ones I'd bought.
It will be costly for sure but I don't see any way to offset that.
The sealed glass unit can't be repaired in the field. It is not practical to re-seal it, and the water (and possibly dust,etc) that is visible to you is already in there and can't be removed. You'll need a replacement "insulated glazing unit" which is the two pieces of glass and the metal spacer and seals that you can see between them. The window itself (the frame, hardware, etc) doesn't get replaced, the new insulated glazing unit gets put back in your old window frame.Can a window installed repair what it there by resealing it or will they have to place the whole window as a single unit?