Did you need to replace a glass pane in an interior French door? A broken or cracked glass pane in your door can be fixed without buying a new door! Instead of buying a new door, replacing the broken pane is much easier and less expensive. Replacing a glass pane in an interior French door just takes a few simple tools, elbow grease and basic knowledge.
What You Will Need to Replace Glass Pane
- Five-in-one painter’s tool
- A putty knife
- Glass cutter
- Straight edge
- Nippers
- Pen
- Hammer
- Nail punch
- Folding ruler
- Utility knife
- Hacksaw
- Towels
- Gloves
- Safety glasses
- Sheet of glass
- Large piece of particleboard
- Latex caulk
- Wood putty
- Paint
- Oil
Repairing a Glass Frame in an Interior French Door
Before you start trying to replace the glass pane in your door, you need to first take out the broken or shattered pane. Cut paint seams along the outside of the trim and at joints using a utility knife. Pry the trim with a putty knife and lightly tap at the back of the putty knife with a hammer if you’re having a hard time removing the trim. In some doors, there are nails holding the trim in place, pry the trim up as much as you can until you get enough room to use a hacksaw to cut the nails holding the trim. When you pry out the trim, pop it out from the frame and be sure to label the pieces as you go.
Replacing A Glass Pane in Interior French Door
Once the trim is out, take an inside measurement of the pane and subtract a ¼-inch from the width and height. Transfer your dimensions onto a large piece of glass and place the glass on a piece of large particle board. Put on gloves and safety glasses and dab a dot of oil on the tip of the glass cutter. Score the first line with the glass cutter by using a straight edge. Move the glass to the edge of the board to be able to snap the glass. Tap gently on the side of the scored line and snap your glass. Repeat this process for the rest of the cuts. After you’ve cut your piece of glass for your pane, put a small amount of latex caulk into the setting to keep the glass in place. Replace your trim pieces and be sure to be careful not to hit the glass with the hammer when you’re putting the pieces back in place. Once the trim is replaced, run a light bead of caulk along the outside of the trim seam. Finally, putty any visible nail holes and paint to match the rest of the door.
Interior French Door Replacement Parts
Some French doors have a double-pane glass insert. If this is the case, do not repair it yourself. Some double-pane glass inserts are filled with gas in between and must be handled by a professional. At DIY Door Store, we have everything you need to replace anything you have wrong with your door! We can help you find exactly what you’re looking for at an affordable price! We have parts from Therma-Tru, Fox, Masonite, and Trapp Doors! For more information about how to replace a glass pane in an interior French door or our wide selection of door parts, call us at (888) 998 - 3667.