Leaded glass entry door - glass broke, can it be fixed? Or does it need total replacement?

Question

Someone tried to break into our home and broke the glass on our leaded glass entry door. This is a mahogany door with a large oval glass window. The entire door with frame was over 2 grand and I don't want to replace it if I don't have to. Do you know if just the glass part can be replaced, who do I ask (door repair? glass shop?) and how much it would cost? Thanks!

Answer 1

You do not need to replace the whole door.
You CAN replace just the glass -- however, that may be custom glass, since the door was so expensive. If that's the case, you will need to contact a glass repair shop, or manufacturer, to find a replacement.

Typically, the glass in a door is installed from one side, by either gluing, or screwing the framework holding the pane, in place, then, trim is added to the other side. With leaded glass, you may actually have removable trim on both sides of the door. The leaded pane would normally have an 'outer binding'...literally, a 'lead' frame. This may or may not be glued in place.

I would suggest that you contact a glass repair shop, and have them send a technician out to measure your glass, and give you recommendations for replacements. For insurance purposes (yes, a break-in is covered in most home owner's policies) you might even want to get multiple quotes, or estimates. Your insurance representative may even know of someone who can do this work for you.

Good Luck

Answer 2

I am very nearsighted. Here is my suggestion: wear BOTH for different visual needs. The -11 / -12 glasses of your other daughter would be great for seeing the board, walking down the street, most sports, and anything that requires good distance vision. But they would be bad for reading, computer and other close work. The -6 from 2 years ago would be better for that. I think the optical shop should put a rush order so the glasses don't take 2 weeks or more to arrive. One other thing. If her prescription is more than a few months old, she should have another exam rather than get the old prescription copied. At 14, she recently went through puberty and if she is like me and other kids I know, her nearsightedness is probably increasing pretty fast. Why get her R -9.50 and L -10.00 if her eyes are now R -10.00 L -10.50? See what I mean?

Answer 3

I'm so sorry you had that heartbreaking incident.
Here's an additional thought:
call someone who does stained glass, they often work with smaller pieces of glass, and might be able to use some interesting designs of clear glass for your repair. I have had stained glass cupboard doors made and they were beautifully set into the 1906 cupboards in my house. Everyone who saw the doors thought they were original to the house. Who knows, you could even wind up with a more beautiful front door than what you already had!

Answer 4

Ask the people that you bought the door from. The glass will have to be replaced. I hope you guys have insurance and that will help some. They should be able to just replace the glass. good luck

Answer 5

The glass can be replaced, but, no one is coming to your house and doing it while you wait. You might as well replace the door.