uPVC front, back and patio doors are built to last, but the glass in them can fail like any other double glazing. The good news is that the glass can usually be replaced on its own, leaving the door, frame and locks exactly as they are.
How the glass is held in
In most uPVC doors, the glass sits in the door on small plastic packers and is held in place by strips called glazing beads, which clip into the frame around the edge of the pane. To take the glass out, the beads are removed, the old unit is lifted out and the new one goes in its place.
What happens, step by step
- We measure the glass, along with its thickness and the type of glass and any decorative finish.
- We make a new unit to those measurements in our workshop. Glass in doors needs to be safety glass, so it is made with toughened or laminated glass as appropriate.
- We fit it. The beads are removed, the old unit comes out, and the new one is set on packers so it sits square and the door keeps working properly. Then the beads go back in.
For a standard door panel, the fitting itself is usually a quick job.
Things worth asking about
- Security. On some doors the beads are on the outside. If so, ask about security clips or glazing tape that make the glass much harder to remove from outside.
- Privacy. Front door glass is often patterned or obscured. You can keep the same look, or choose a different finish.
- Energy efficiency. Energy efficient glass comes as standard on our replacement units, which can make a draughty-feeling hallway more comfortable.
Is it the glass or the door?
Not every door problem is about the glass. If the door is dropping, sticking or hard to lock, the hinges or locking mechanism may need adjusting or replacing. Mist between the panes, cracks and chips are glass problems, and new glass will sort them out.
See our door glass replacement page for more, or get in touch for a free quote with no deposit.
