Storm Door Glass Replacement

[bunnspecial]

Welp, I feel like an idiot for this one.

Was weedeating last night and the next thing I know, I look up and see glass all over the front porch and a rather nasty sight with what's left of the storm door.

This is a Larson door and is less than 2 years old. After I got the glass cleaned up(what a job, and I still need to get a rake out and work on the grass) I pulled the never used screen insert out of the rafters in the garage and put it in.

The obvious answer is to go to Larson and order a replacement glass-that's $225 shipped to my door(plus tax I'm sure) and based on removing the old glass frame and installing the screen, it's probably a 5 minute job.

With that said, a nearly identical door is ~$270 at Lowes. My wife thinks it's worth replacing the whole door, although I'm leaning toward just glass replacement. As I said, the current door is not even 2 year old, and popping a new glass in sounds many times easier than having to hang a new door.

Is there a middle of the road option here though? I'm wondering if it's worth asking a local glass shop about putting new glass in the frame. I should be able to take it to them, so hopefully could avoid their fees.

The only potential hang-up is that obviously this is similar to automotive safety glass with the way it broke/crumbled rather than just shattering. Given that this breaking is a very real possibility as I've shown here, I think it's worth replacing with the same type of glass.

Any general thoughts on this?

 

[Nukeman7]

Don't feel too bad about your mishap. I did something similar a few years ago, but it was the driver's door window on my neighbor's new Jeep Grand Cherokee! It took 3 weeks for my homeowners insurance to get his glass replaced even though I admitted fault on Day 1!

I am in agreement with you to replace the glass in the existing storm door as opposed to installing a new door. The new door might be of inferior quality to your Larson door and it will be difficult to hang perfectly. Also, I believe it is now illegal (i.e., against code) to install anything other than tempered glass in a residential door or window. Therefore, your local glass shop should be able to retrofit a proper tempered glass insert in the frame.

 

[dtownfb]

Order the glass from Larson. No need to replce the door if you're happy with the quality and installation. You can check with a local glass shop but I think you'll find the prices in line with the $225 from Larson.

Good luck.

 

[zzyzzx]

Is removing the glass holder part and taking it to a local hardware store or glass place to have a piece cut to size an option?

 

[bunnspecial]

Thanks everyone.

Local glass place quoted $190 to replace the glass(citing tempered glass, etc).

Lowes can order from Larson for $135(vs. $225 me ordering direct) so I think that's an easy decision. I'll get it from Larson sourced through Lowes.

 

[JohnnyG]

Nope. Get the new door. I've had double pane windows replaced and even the professionals find it a difficult job. In fact, the installed broke the new replacement glass on his first try!
Old, hard glue, shrunken vinyl retainers, several other things can cause problems.
Your wife is right,

 

[zzyzzx]

Thanks everyone.

Local glass place quoted $190 to replace the glass(citing tempered glass, etc).

Lowes can order from Larson for $135(vs. $225 me ordering direct) so I think that's an easy decision. I'll get it from Larson sourced through Lowes.

That's a good deal for tempered glass.

 

[JohnnyG]

That's a good deal for tempered glass.

That's true. If this is one of those easily removed glass panels, go with the Lowe's replacement..

 

[kschachn]

This is a Larson door and is less than 2 years old. After I got the glass cleaned up(what a job, and I still need to get a rake out and work on the grass) I pulled the never used screen insert out of the rafters in the garage and put it in.

You can try using a shop vac on the grass. That’s what I’ve done and it works pretty well.

 

[bunnspecial]

Nope. Get the new door. I've had double pane windows replaced and even the professionals find it a difficult job. In fact, the installed broke the new replacement glass on his first try!
Old, hard glue, shrunken vinyl retainers, several other things can cause problems.
Your wife is right

This door was meant to be convertible between glass and screen.

Both are fitted into a frame that rests inside the door and is retained by two plastic strips.

The replacement glass will come mounted in a frame ready for installation.

Once I'd cleaned up the glass yesterday, it took less than 5 minutes to pull the old frame out and to put the screen in place. When I get the replacement, it will take about the same amount of time as it was quite literally made to be replaced.

This is single pane tempered glass, BTW, not double pane.

 

[97prizm]

Welp, I feel like an idiot for this one.

Was weedeating last night and the next thing I know, I look up and see glass all over the front porch and a rather nasty sight with what's left of the storm door.

View attachment 246654

This is a Larson door and is less than 2 years old. After I got the glass cleaned up(what a job, and I still need to get a rake out and work on the grass) I pulled the never used screen insert out of the rafters in the garage and put it in.

The obvious answer is to go to Larson and order a replacement glass-that's $225 shipped to my door(plus tax I'm sure) and based on removing the old glass frame and installing the screen, it's probably a 5 minute job.

With that said, a nearly identical door is ~$270 at Lowes. My wife thinks it's worth replacing the whole door, although I'm leaning toward just glass replacement. As I said, the current door is not even 2 year old, and popping a new glass in sounds many times easier than having to hang a new door.

Is there a middle of the road option here though? I'm wondering if it's worth asking a local glass shop about putting new glass in the frame. I should be able to take it to them, so hopefully could avoid their fees.

The only potential hang-up is that obviously this is similar to automotive safety glass with the way it broke/crumbled rather than just shattering. Given that this breaking is a very real possibility as I've shown here, I think it's worth replacing with the same type of glass.

Any general thoughts on this?

Have you ever replaced just the glass before? I'm not familiar with your specific door but I thought that many were sealed and (impact resistant) and the glass isn't replaceable. I'd look at a dual pane sealed door. Many newer ones have uv treatment and do a better job of keeping heat and cold out.

 

[BHopkins]

Ordering the replacement glass/frame though Lowes sounds like the way to go. Please report back when the replacement comes in and you have it installed, you should report back here, to let us know if it works out.

 

[Fitter30]

Did the same thing with a Anderson full glass. Since the glass was getting heavy and a pain to change the screen out. Went with a Larson pull down top glass screen comes up as glass goes down. Three years and no problems. Now i tape a padded vinyl table cloth with painters tape when i weed eat.

 

[bunnspecial]

Have you ever replaced just the glass before? I'm not familiar with your specific door but I thought that many were sealed and (impact resistant) and the glass isn't replaceable. I'd look at a dual pane sealed door. Many newer ones have uv treatment and do a better job of keeping heat and cold out.

As I've said a few times, this one is designed to be glass/screen convertible.

Replacing the glass is literally as easy as swapping the original glass out for a screen-both are in frames that are held by retaining strips in the door. The retain strips pull out and the whole frame(whether glass or screen) can be lifted out and the new one set in its place then the retaining strips reinstalled.

Replacement should be a less than 5 minute job. That's how long it took me to put the screen in after I'd finished cleaning up glass last night.

 

[JohnnyG]

This door was meant to be convertible between glass and screen.

Both are fitted into a frame that rests inside the door and is retained by two plastic strips.

The replacement glass will come mounted in a frame ready for installation.

Once I'd cleaned up the glass yesterday, it took less than 5 minutes to pull the old frame out and to put the screen in place. When I get the replacement, it will take about the same amount of time as it was quite literally made to be replaced.

This is single pane tempered glass, BTW, not double pane.

Yeah, I finally realized that in my follow up post. Replacing the glass with the one from Lowe's is a no-brainer.