Removal and replacement of entry door sidelights
I recently bought/renovated a house that has an ugly front entry door unit. The frame is in fine shape, I just don’t like the style and want to update it to match the rest of the house. My question is can I just pop the sidelight units out and replace them? I want to remove the whole sidelight unit (glass and surrounding frame) not just the glass. I plan to have some insulated/tempered glass panels made and will construct the new sidelights myself to fit the opening.
The frame surrounding the sidelight glass appears to be fiberglass and held in place by a little quarter round molding (see pic). If I pull off the molding and cut the seal from the outside, will I be able to pull it out or is it attached some other way? Will removing the sidelights damage the rest of the unit?
When I inspect the unit, there doesn’t appear to be any way to remove the glass in case of breakage other than removing the whole sidelight unit. The profile around the glass seems to be just molded into the fiberglass frame. This leads me to believe you must be able to remove/replace the whole unit, but I’d love to have some opinions. I’ve never done this before and I’d appreciate some advice. Thanks!
P.S. If or when I put the new sidelight units into the opening, what sealant should I use?
Replies
Johnny
in most cases there are stops around the perimeter that allows removal of the entire sash. Same goes for the glass from the frame.
I have heard of patio and full lite doors that do not have stops allowing removal of the glass, though have had the pleasure never to have found this to be the case.
From your pictures I cannot tell what all will come apart. Sometimes caulking and paint can cover view of separations. First step I'd take, contact the manufactuer and the fab shop they use in your area. Most huge makers of doors ship the slabs to a distributor where they are hung/set to frames and those frames ganged together. They'll tell you the options
So, if you are able to remove stops, take apart whatever you find best. If you want to just replace the glass, just do that if you can. The whole sidelight, might be bigger project. They often screwed the sidelight jam to the door jamb. Where those screws are might be a mystery.
Why not just take one apart and see what you find?
Entry door sidelights
Johnny , If you are happy with the size of the glass area, just replace that part. The moulding holding the leaded glass in place appears to be painted over heavily and the separation hidden from view. I would start at an inconspicuous spot on the bottom and use a chisel or other tool you feel comfortable with and try to find the separation. Pry the stop off if it is a separate piece. It may be glued on with a silicon caulk or something like it. This might call for a sharp putty knife to get between the glass and the stop. After you finish going around, flip the door over and do the same. This may take some finess if you have promised the glass to a friend or want to keep it for a later day when leaded glass could be used in another project you have. Support the pane underneath so it doesen't fall out as you go around the second time. Clean-up the new opening and prep it for your new insulated sash. (If there are finish nails too, pull out the stop, and the nails will either come out, or be pulled through the wood, to be pulled out with an appropriate tool) If you need a larger opening, go as close as you can to the edge of the sash with a saws-all, if there are screws, you will find where they are. Remove the entire sash and clean up the new opening, making it flat again by removing the remaining wood and other materials. If you need to, cover the gap with a piece of finish wood, then install your new sash, holding it in with the same system using a silicon or acrylic adhesive caulk. This may be one of those projects that you change your plan as you go along.