Replace Glass in French Door

Tools:

five-in-one painter’s tool
putty knife
glass cutter
straight edge
nippers
pen
hammer
nail punch
folding rule
utility knife
hacksaw
towels
gloves
safety glasses
sheet of glass
large piece of particleboard
latex caulk
wood putty
leftover paint
oil

1. Cut paint seams along the outside of the trim and at the joints where the trim pieces meet using a utility knife (figure A).

2. Pry up the trim pieces with a flexible putty knife (figure B). Lightly tap the back of the putty knife with a hammer if necessary.

3. If there are nails holding the trim in place, pry the trim up with a painter’s tool until you get enough room to work a hacksaw blade in the gap (figure C). Cut nails holding trim piece in half.

4. Pry from beneath and behind the trim to pop it out of the frame (figure D). Label the trim pieces as you remove them.

5. If a nail comes out with the trim piece, use nippers to pull it through the backside so as not to blemish the face of the trim (figure E).

6. Take an inside measurement of the setting for the pane with the folding rule (figure F). Subtract 1/4-inch from the width and height to leave room for adjustment. Make sure your trim pieces are wide enough to conceal the gaps.

7. Transfer dimensions onto a large piece of glass. Place the piece of glass on a large piece of particleboard.

8. Put on work gloves and safety glasses. Put a dot of oil on the carbide tip of the glasscutter and score the first line with the glasscutter (figure G). Use a straight edge with rubber backing to ensure it doesn't slip when you're cutting.

9. Slide the glass to the edge of the particleboard work surface so you have a fulcrum to snap the glass on.

10. Tap lightly along the side of the scored line and snap the glass (figure H).

11. Repeat the process for the cross cut.

12. Thoroughly clear away debris in the window frame and the glass setting.

13. Put a small bead of latex caulk into the setting to help hold the glass and place glass in setting (figure I).

14. Replace trim pieces. Blunt the ends of the nails to avoid splitting the wood. Be careful not to hit the glass with the hammer.

15. Set nail heads below surface with a nail punch.

16. Run a light bead of caulk along the outside of the trim seam.

17. Putty nail holes and spot paint to match.