my sliding glass door just shattered!

17 years ago

What on earth caused this?

Nice day here, maybe 70 degrees. I was helping my daughter with her homework about three feet away from the door when I heard a very loud pop and the glass just started crackling outward (it's still doing it!)

We have workmen installing gutters but they are on the other side of the house and weren't even near the house when this happened.

Any one have this happen?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

rjoh878646
17 years ago
Had a sliding door shatter when my dad ran into it years ago at my brother's apt. The glass probably shattered from heat stress or had a small knick in it and the sun stressed it and it shattered. How old was it?
mary_228
Original Author
17 years ago
It was 15 years old.

The workmen cleaned it up for me. Looking at $600+ to replace the tempered glass and muntins (sp?). The glass company said that sometimes glass spontaneously shatters right in their workrooms!
Related Discussions
Glass shower door shatter without reason?
Q
Comments (7)
We did a ton of research, asked a lot of question to the manufacturer and asked for expert opinion in the field. The general notion is that tempered glass could shatter with the slightest tap on the edges. This seems to be the case with the shower installion by our GC. From going through all the facts,it appears that he was trying to insert the panel into the bottom rail, did not align it correctly, and it landed on the edge of the rail. Enough to shatter it. I was told that even slightly twisting the panel (as two men hold the panel on different edges, trying to guide it onto the rail)can cause it to shatter. For all those who are looking for an answer to a similar situation, hope this helps.
...See More
Thermador double ovens inside glass on door shattered
Q
Comments (14)
Just happened to my bottom oven. I run the self-clean on both the top and bottom (not at the same time) once or twice a year. I cleaned the top one yesterday, no problem. I'm very surprised that this happened. A few people have posted that glass can just spontaneously shatter and there is nothing they can do about it. I don't buy that. It's possible to tie an elephant by its to tale to a dandelion and hang it over a cliff too, but no one actually believes that. I'm now 15 minutes into what I'm told is "more than a 45 minute wait" with Thermador.
...See More
GE oven door glass shattered!
Q
Comments (41)
I am surprised by the level of blasé attitude some writers offer in this thread. An oven door shattering is terrifying and should not happen. If the manufacturer knows this to be a common defect, then they need to address this through materials processing. Glass is a very well understood material which we've been perfecting for 2000 years. As a glass blower I know that there are times when materials are not stable because of processing or impurities in the glass, or what the glass is designed to do, but an oven door should be designed to withstand the high heats which we know it will encounter. It is not the same thing as taking a handblown wine glass and having it shatter in the dishwasher. We know the wine glass will shatter because it isn't made of glass that is able to withstand that kind of contraction and expansion. It is outrageous that GE would even suggest charging someone and treat this as a minimal inconvenience. My oven door shattered 8 days after installing a brand new GE Cafe double oven. This is unacceptable, full stop. The glass dust which is now throughout the oven cannot simply be vacuumed away with any level of assurance that would ever make me think I could cook in the oven without glass dust circulating. Glass dust as small as .05µm is dangerous. That's like suggesting I should vacuum off the glass bench and be able to make a sandwich on it. This is absolutely outrageous.
...See More
Bosch oven door glass shattered during self clean
Q
Comments (29)
Last weekend my 3-year old top of the line Bosch 800 series combination convection wall oven (model HBL8751UCC) introduced us to a secret Bosch recipe for preparing meat. About 15 minutes into cooking two trays of steak, the inner sheet of glass in the oven shattered into a thousand small pieces, showering the meat with delicious chunks of broken glass! After discussing the issue with my Bosch representative all I got was an apology and a 20% discount on buying a replacement piece of glass (no discount at all for the labor). Looking at the internet, it became clear that Bosch has been using the secret glass recipe in their ovens for about 10 years now, and it's apparently such a big hit with consumers that the company has decided not to make any changes to their recipe. Ahhh, there have been other issues with this oven, like the ever dimming display on the microwave control panel (now barely visible) and the weird way that closing the microwave door would sometimes turn the lower oven on (a ghost in the machine?). A word to the wise--if you're thinking of buying a Bosch oven, you might want to consider some other brands--unless you like the taste of glass in your favorite recipes.
...See More
rjoh878646
17 years ago
might be covered by homeowners insurance after the deductible. Tempered glass will shatter like that. Just like a car windshield.
jasper_60103
17 years ago
Found a thread on the windows forum that you may be interested in...

Here is a link that might be useful: Sliding Glass Door - Shattered
brickeyee
17 years ago
Car windshields are not tempered glass, they are safety glass.
Two layers of glass with a plastic layer between them (originally developed and patented by Ford and sold under the ÂAutoliteÂ brand). It is designed to both resist breakage and contain occupants in a crash.
Side and rear windows are tempered glass, designed to break into 'crumbs' and not be a danger.

Tempered glass shatters when a scratch is deep enough to penetrate into the un-tempered core of the pane. It cannot be cut after tempering, and must be handled carefully. The edges are a very vulnerable spot. Even a small scratch there can shatter the pane.

Small scratches can propagate with thermal cycling through the temper layer to the core.

Tempered glass is both harder and more flexible than straight glass, but once the limits are exceeded the entire panel is destroyed almost instantly as the residual stresses from the tempering process are relieved.

There have also been issues with older double panes being overstressed as the argon fill gas leaked out faster than air could enter. The panes bow into the middle until they are overstressed and shatter.
The Fed up
8 years ago
Ambient temperature was 70°, doesn't account for thermal stress, and/or any type of smoke finish, factory tint, or (gasp!) aftermarket tint applied by the homeowner. All multiply thermal stress exponentially - tempered glass or not.

Related Stories

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Patio Details: Sliding Fabric Panels Filter the Light Just Right

By Annie Thornton

Stepping up to the harsh sun and heat of the desert Southwest, this intimate patio is an exotic escape right outside

Full Story

DOORS The Art of the Window: 12 Ways to Cover Glass Doors

By Jess McBride

Learn how to use drapes, shutters, screens, shades and more to decorate French doors, sliding doors and Dutch doors

Full Story

HOUSEKEEPING DIY Fix: How to Repair a Broken Glass Door Pane

By Meg Padgett

Don't let broken glass shatter your self-esteem. You can fix it more easily and more inexpensively than you might realize

Full Story

DOORS Opening Acts: Folding, Sliding and Pivoting Doors

By Scheer & Co. Interior Design

Transform your space with glass doors that open dramatically to the breezes and the views

Full Story

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: A Manhattan Loft Slides Into Flexibility

By Houzz

Sliding doors and "smart glass" windows help turn a constricting apartment into an expansive, open loft

Full Story

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

It’s more than just a patio door — it’s an architectural design element. Here’s help for finding the right one for your home and lifestyle

Full Story

214

HOUSEKEEPING How to Clean a Glass Shower Door

By Bonnie McCarthy

See which tools and methods will keep those glass shower walls and doors sparkling clean

Full Story

646

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Sliding Walls Bring the Outside In

By John Hill

Disappearing walls erase the line between you and the view

Full Story

REMODELING GUIDES Sliding Doors: Transition in High Style

By Shawn Gauthier

Clever Sliding Doors Save Space, Hide Clutter and Amp Up Your Design

Full Story

DOORS Barn Doors Slide Into Style

By Living Small: City & Small Space Consulting

You don't have to live in a farmhouse to use a barn door in your home. Here's how to make these space savers work in any room

Full Story

my sliding glass door just shattered!

Comments (6)

rjoh878646

mary_228
Original Author

Related Discussions

rjoh878646

jasper_60103

brickeyee

The Fed up

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

my sliding glass door just shattered!

Comments (6)

rjoh878646

mary_228Original Author

Related Discussions

rjoh878646

jasper_60103

brickeyee

The Fed up

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

mary_228
Original Author