DIY Network

1909 Queen Anne: Door-Glass Replacement From "Restoration Realities" episode DRTR-201

This 1909 Queen Anne in Portland, Oregon gets a new glass insert for its front door.

DIY's Restoration Realities visits Portland, Oregon and the 1909 home of Francene and Tim Grewe. In this second of two restoration projects, the homeowners replace scratched and cloudy plexiglass previously installed in the front door with a look that's more aesthetically pleasing and period correct--beveled art-glass.

The problem: The home's front door has a large window with plexiglass installed.

The solution: Remove plexiglass and replace it with beveled art-glass to better match the style and décor of the house.

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	Replacing a cheap plexiglass pane, the new glass is beveled and etched to match an interior design motif.

Project 2: Replacing the Door Glass

Materials:

replacement glass, beveled and/or etched design
(Note: Safety glass may be required. Check local code.)
latex back-bedding material (tube)
glazier points

Tools:

sawhorses
power miter saw or miter box with backsaw
air compressor and hoses
brad nail gun with brad nails
small or mini pry bars
chisels
carbide paint scraper
caulk gun
utility knife
screwdrivers
hammer
drop cloths

Estimated time for completion: 2 hours to remove the old glass and reinstall the new glass.

Steps:

• Remove door hinge-pins.

• Remove door from frame and lay it flat on saw horses (figure A), taking care to protect the surfaces of the .

• Use a utility knife to break the paint seal and begin separating the molding (figure B).

  Figure A

  Figure B

  
  

  Figure C

• Use a small, flat pry-bar to separate the wooden window stop-molding from the door frame (figure C). If possible, try to separate the molding from the frame without breaking the molding. (In our case, the molding was so deteriorated that it came off in pieces.) Remove the window stop molding and set aside.

• Remove any glazing point holding the plexiglass in place and remove any old glazing compound that would prevent the plexiglass from being removed.

• Gently remove the plexiglass, taking care not to damage the door frame as the plastic is removed.
  

  Figure D

• Clean off the door frame surface with a putty knife or scraping tool as needed. Take care not to gouge the wood surface.

• Remove any remaining glazier points.

• Clean off the door frame with light cleaning solution and let dry.

• Apply a bead of fresh glazing compound to the perimeter of the door frame (figure D). Oil- or acrylic-based compound will work. Acrylic is preferred as it leaves no residue on glass.
  

• Double check the measurements of the glass and opening, then carefully insert the new glass into the door-frame opening (figure E).

• Press the glass down to bed it into the glazing compound.

• Press in glazing points around the perimeter of the frame to secure the glass (figure F).

  Figure E

  Figure F

  
  

  	Figure G
  	Figure H

• Apply a thin bead of glazing compound to exposed side of the glass at the frame (figure G).

• Re-install wooden glass stops, or add new wooden stops as needed.

• Use a brad nail-gun to secure the wooden stops (figure H).

  Safety Tip: Using a hammer can be dangerous around glass. The nail gun is a better choice.

• Paint the wooden stops. Painting the wooden stops down to the glass ensures a paint seal between the glass and the wood. It's a good idea to prime new wooded stops prior to installation, when possible.

RESOURCES :

Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes
Author: George Nash
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561585351
Order this title from Amazon.com.

Renovating and Restyling Older Homes: The Professional's Guide to Maximum Value Remodeling
Author: Lawrence Dworin
Publisher: Craftsman Book Company
ISBN: 1572180293
Order this title from Amazon.com.

Selecting and Renovating an Old House: A Complete Guide
Author: United States Department of Agriculture
July 2000
Publisher: Dover Publications
ISBN: 0486409562
Order this title from Amazon.com.