How to Attach Side Lights in a Frame for an Exterior Door

A front door with attached sidelights is called a front door system. The frame and the sidelights of the door are attached as one piece. It may be necessary to replace the sidelights if one of the panes of glass becomes cracked or broken. This can usually be done in a few hours without replacing the entire door or the frame. The old sidelights are removed with a few simple tools and reattached to the existing frame.

Putty knife
Hammer
Needle-nose pliers
Caulk
Painters tape

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the old molding around the outside of the sidelight windows. Slide a putty knife carefully under the edge of the molding and gently tap it with a hammer. Repeat around the entire window to pull the old molding off.
- 2
  Locate the staples that are holding the glass in place. They will be every 6 to 12 inches into the frame in front of the glass. Pull these staples out gently using needle-nosed pliers. You may need to wiggle the staple back and forth to get it loose.
- 3
  Push the glass out of the frame from the inside of the home. You will need someone to catch the glass or someone to help push it out. Be very gentle so you do not break the glass.
- 4
  Insert the new glass into the frame. Attach the glass to the frame using new staples.
- 5
  Run a thin beading of caulk along the edge of the glass on the outside using a caulk gun.
- 6
  Press the wood molding back into place on top of the caulk. You may tape the molding into place using painters tape. Wait at least 24 hours before you remove the tape.

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Doors