Changing Front Door Glass

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Hi,

How easy is it to change the glass in my front door? (Pictured)

I currenty have lumpy opaque 80's type double glazed units fitted but want to change for smooth glass with an opaque film built in.

I guess I need to dig out the filler covering the screws on the frame and remove the frame, will the glass units come out after that?

Where can I buy new double glazed units to replace with?

Thank you!
 

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The door looks like a wooden one to me, so I am answering on that assumption. I have no experience of working with plastic doors.

DG units are made to order. Look around for a local glass merchant that supplies DG units, look at the patterns available and get an idea of price. Prise out the mouldings holding your old ones, hopefully without breaking the glass, and measure them, carefully, at least three times. If the glass is difficult to remove, you should be able to see clearly enough to measure accurately just by taking the moulding off.

If I were you I'd use modern glazing tape which is sticky on both sides and rubbery enough to take up slight imperfections, and will not rattle. It holds the glass very securely. In a front door I would consider laminate. It costs about double, but DG units are a lot cheaper than you think.

A very very sharp chisel will help you shave away the recess if it is tight. An old scrap chisel will do for removing old putty or sealant. The rebate might benefit from rubbing down and repainting to protect from damp.

There might be metal clips, brads, or plastic wedges holding the glass in place. Beware of these before you start prising.

Assume you will need new moulding.

If it was me I would have some moulding and some 18mm ply handy before I started prising, in case I break the glass and need to board up.

If the door needs rubbing down and painting, do it before fitting the new glass.

Get a stronger chain.
 
Looks like an old composite door.
The screw caps around the glazing cassettes on the inside should prize out full pieces which will reveal the screws. The internal cassette is screwed directly to the external one, Once the screws are out just be aware that both bits and the glass may fall out.
 
Thank you for both replys, very helpful.
I should of added that its a composite door on a new build house only just a year old.

So I should price up replacement cassettes of the style i'm after to get an idea. When it comes to replacing I need to remove the mouldings and any other tabs which should then free the glass.

Any other comments welcome, although I have a good idea of what I need to do now, thank you.
 
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Ok so my big question now is where do i buy replacement glass units? And at what kind of cost?
 
there is pretty sure to be at least one supplier in your town, or the next one. Glass repair and replacement is an everyday job. It might be a tin warehouse down a potholed road in an industrial estate. They will be in the yellow pages or equivalent. Might be called something like "Dartford Glass and Glazing"

Some windowcleaners dabble in this work so will know.

I don't know what yours will cost, but mine are less than £50 a window.
 
Glazing repair places would probably be a bit expensive but worth a try for price comparison. Once you have the sizes (including the thickness of the glass unit!) try some local double glazing companys for prices too.
Dont forget you will want toughened glass, Trade cost price direct from a factory will be about £35-40 each so expect to pay about £60 each.
 
I had in mind the places that supply the glass to the repairers. Would you say "glass merchant?"

I paid extra for laminated glass for my patio door, as it is more work for burglars, and am thinking of doing the same for the front door, which has small glass panels.
 
Probably an extra £15 each for laminate.
You can get it anywhere you like. I just find glazing repair specialists expensive, The guys local to me charge at least double what I would charge for the same job.
 

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