How to Replace the Fancy Glass in Doors

Put on a pair of heavy work gloves and safety goggles to protect yourself from glass slivers during the removal process. Pull the glass from the door, working with each broken piece individually. If the glass isn’t broken, pull out the piece as a whole after removing the glazing compound and glazer’s points surrounding the glass.

Cut the glazing compound on the interior of the glass frame into 3-inch pieces using the sharp point of a putty knife. Pry each piece from the frame with the knife, revealing the glazer’s points beneath. The points look like triangles and hold the glass pane against the rear of the frame. Remove each glazer’s point from the glass frame with a pair of needle-nosed pliers. Pull out any remaining broken pieces or the glass as a whole.

Measure the height, width and depth of the frame where the old glass sat. The depth measurement should be from the rear ledge of the frame the glass sits against to the level where the glazer’s points were embedded into the wood. Use the measurements to purchase your piece of replacement glass.

Brush the inside of your window frame, both the rear ledge and the sides, with linseed oil if the frame is wooden. The oil will prevent the wood from leeching away the glazing compound’s moisture, turning it brittle. Wait about 30 minutes for the oil to dry.

Press a bead of glazing compound into the frame about 1/16 inch thick. Place the glass into the frame onto the compound. The compound should squeeze out slightly along the glass edges, sealing it into place.

Press new glazer’s points around the frame, spaced 4 inches apart, driving the points into the frame completely with a glazing tool. Cover the points on the top side of the glass with another bead of the glazing compound, then spread the compound along the edge of the frame to create a beveled slope from frame to glass surface. Allow the glazing compound to dry overnight.