Are these frame and panel doors, built from solid wood?

My initial instinct is that is may be doable, but is likely to be more trouble than it's worth. Certainly it would be more complex than just cutting holes with a jigsaw. I also doubt it would be worth having double-pane glass made up, since you're thinking of this as a stopgap measure.

You would probably spend several hundred dollars adding glass if, in fact, it's doable. I would probably save up for awhile and just have the big box install the fiberglass.

The doors aren't framed. They are a slab type exterior door with veneer. If I go on the pricing from having my wood frame windows done, it would probably be around $150-200 per door for the glass. Money isn't the issue. I have the money for replacement now. Our biggest problem is getting someone who will do the work correctly and honestly. Finding skilled workers are a real problem where I live. I've lost count in how much I've had to spend to repair screw-ups.

Why couldn't I have married a carpenter rather than an accountant?

Gloria

As a remodeler, it seems to me that finding someone to add the glass would be more difficult than finding someone to replace the door. I could do either one, but adding glass to a veneered door is more difficult than it sounds. The act of cutting the hole exposes the core material to weather even after the glass, trim, and caulking have been installed.

However, adding the glass is doable. You might contact a glass company or two to see if they have anyone who does that kind of thing.

"slab type exterior door with veneer"

I'm not certain what sort of core material would've been used in an exterior slab door, but I doubt that it has much structural integrity or that exposing it to the elements would be a good idea. My guess is that, to make it work, you'd need the glass to be boxed into a simple frame which could be inserted into a roughly cut opening in the door, much like a regular window unit is installed in a wall -- the perimiter finished with molding on both sides. Anything is possible, but that doesn't make it a good idea. I would take a deep breath, wait a few weeks for the memory of the last guys you worked with to fade a bit, buckle down and find someone to install the fiberglass doors you plan to get anyhow.

Forget butchering the door. Buy the door you want and install it now and enjoy it.

If you don't mind vinyl trim around the glass, in theory this is can be done relatively easily. That said it depends on your door and as mentioned its integrity with the new window.

I've noticed at my local (Toronto, Ontario) Home Depot window insert assemblies made by Masonite - these are shown on their website under 'specialty glass'. The in-store documentation shows installation in existing doors with no windows.

I have equivalent window assemblies in two wood core/steel faced doors at home - they consist of a sealed double pane assembly with trim attached to one side. The other (inside) trim is loose and when in position is screwed into the window/trim assembly securing everything in place. When removing one window to paint the door, I also noted the uniot had been caulked behind the trim which forms a flange against the outside of the door.

Here is a link that might be useful: Masonite

Can you fnd some door-selling company (not HD) who will install their own work? Pella, or somebody? Though, maybe not.

I'm a big proponent of saving money, but this sounds like a lot of work with a fair amount of cost that might not end up with a good result. I, too, would worry about exposure of the core to the elements, and the potential for screwing up the structural integrity of the door by removing much of the veneer skin that gives it strength. And whether you went with single or double pane glass, it would have to be at least tempered and perhaps even laminated to meet code. I also think it would be not very secure if you're concerned about break-ins (one well-placed kick should get that pesky window out of the way). I vote for the do-it-right now option.

Yes, prefab "vision kits" with wood frames and tempered glass are made for use in 1 3/4" solid core doors. I have put in a few. As I recall from the millwork catalog, they were made in many shapes and sizes. The last time I installed some was about 12 years ago. They also are known as lite kits.
Casey

I had that done ... for my front door. The door is in front of the stairs and the stairs were always dark.

When I had my family room redone I asked my contractor if he could do that, he said sure. It's a solid, oversized door that I now have a double pane window in.

As someone else mentioned above, it does have white vinyl trim, but I don't care since I like the light so much. I bought a large stained glass piece to provide a little privacy, and colored light.

Here's another option to consider. Rather than going to the trouble of cutting and fitting a new door to an existing openeing (it can be a real hassle), I will often take the existing door to the door shop (not big box), and they will trim the replacement door, cut for the hinges, and drill for the hardware, to an exact match. Then, all you have to do is screw on the hinges, install the hardware, and slap the new one in place. Easy-Peasy.

Just something to think about.

I took the same step of having three solid doors replaced with half-glass doors to improve light. In one case I had pebbled glass because I didn't feel like looking into my garage but it still brightened things up plenty. I bought Precision doors through a local dealer and his install crew put them in and did a great job. Also the glass was low-e and the doors are very well insulated and fit snugly so I do not feel that I am having extra energy loss through the glass - this is likely to be an issue with add-after glass. The dealer guaranteed in the contract service for X years, but short of the door delaminating, once it is installed properly and goes through 4 seasons without problems, you're set.

Thanks for all of the advice and suggestions. I found a link to the framing for inside of the door and I'll be checking out some of the other options.

Anyone with a skilled crew of craftsmen could come up here and make a killing. Most of our housing was built after 1970, so my 1965 house is considered "old, seriously old." The younger guys working just have very little experience with anything except new construction and the problem solving skills needed for remodel work just aren't there yet.

I had a great guy and we had done numerous projects together. Between our last addition and this house, he started drinking again and his crew took off. Luckily, I've always been the GC on the paperwork so I could bring in other people to get the house livable. Now, we're just in the last stretch of small stuff.

Gloria

Here is a link that might be useful: lite frames

Skilled crews of craftsmen are in short supply in Southern California and drinking is apparently an occupational hazard, so they aren't going to be traveling to Alaska any time soon. Its tough to get them when you want them here also. Our door and window store said that their installation crew would give us an estimate on installing--after two months and no word--My husband ended up installing all of our doors and windows and said it was one of the tougher jobs he had to do. Partly because its hard enough if they send along all the hardware and sometimes they leave out a key piece, and the directions can be baffling on bay windows.
All of our exterior doors were replaced with doors with either french window or decorative glass--what an improvement. we also added a glass block window to a dark area.

I feel fortunate that we got the large bay done in the kitchen, several windows popped into blank walls as well as the front door area done before everything fell apart. I could just do the Alaskan thing and cut a hole and cover it with visqueen and duct tape. No one would notice for a couple of years.

You could send your dh up marge. It would probably only take him a couple of days to finish up my stuff and we'd make sure he got to go skiing while he was here. Nice ski resort which goes from sea level to five thousand feet within the city limits.

Gloria

You can get a door for less than $600. Really. I got a double-door half-light for $1200 from HD with caning, beveled glass, and complete with frame. My plain full-glass steel ext. door was all of $325, incl. tax.

Yes this can be done. There are several options to adding a doorlite. Search Doorlite kits, doorlite frames. Most kits will come with a metal frame / metal trim. Creastview doors is a great place to start if you're looking for wood trim. You can also have a local glas company cut / make a double pane insert. It is as 'simple' as cutting a hole in the door, adding the glass, and trimming it out. The difficulting is finding the proper trim/moulding that holds the glass in place while covering up the exposed edge of the new hole. You must also consider door contruction. Although old slab doors are not that attractive, they're sturdy and well built. Even so, I wouldn't cut closer than 8" from the edge. I recently bought a '52 mid century ranch that had a solid 42" slab door. I cut three 12x18 holes in the door, fitted them with 1/2 dual pane tempered window inserts made at a local glass shop, and trimmed them out with trim that I retro fit to fit the spacing.