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Front entrance door glass problem

6 years ago

After many years of clear glass, the insulated panels on our double mahogany doors apparently have some seals that are leaking. I came to this conclusion after not being able to clean the glass thoroughly. I thought the glass would be clean... until the sun would rise. I kept noticing foggy edged circles inside the glass panes. I eventually realized the landscaper must be pushing dust inside the panes when he blew off our front porch after cutting the grass.

I have posted photos with and without the sun shining through.

Has anyone ever seen this happen? Can the glass be removed and cleaned between the insulated panes? If so, who do I call? I don't know the name of the door manufacturer.

I'd really love to replace the glass with beveled panes. The 10 year old door was supposed to be shipped with the beveled glass. Instead it arrived plain, and we were crunched for time, so they were installed without. :(

Clear looking

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Comments (5)

millworkman
6 years ago
You need new insulated glass units. A local glass shop could more than likely handle it for completely, including beveled glass if that is your desire.
bossyvossy
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
It could also be that the gas in between glass panes (used for heat insulation purposes) has/is leaking. Solutions are to replace door or live with the foggy look. I've never heard of a service that replaces the glass portion of door but being that it would take deconstruction and rebuilding door, it's probably as expensive as getting a new door.

FWIW, such leaks are a fact of life and not necessarily that you had a "cheap" door. But a bummer nonetheless, especially since it is front door.

if the glass insert is a single piece of glass, pls disregard the gas leak possibility. but getting a new glass insert will not be cheap but def. cheaper than new door.
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LOL! I get the willies knowing everyone can see in too. Okay, here's the thing. As much as I'd like to just change out the door and might very well end up doing it in the end, the "glass" in the doors is actually leaded crystal custom made by the original owner and they sparkle and look very beautiful. It would ruin the appearance of the doors by putting blinds or that sort of thing over them. Since posting last night, I checked out a drapery book and saw some very nice heavy drapes on rings that can easily be pulled to both sides. I don't have a lot of room on either side of the door so the sidelights would probably be partially covered even with the drapes open. If someone will give me a tip on how to insert a piccie into a message without having to switch to the gallery, I'll gladly scan it to show everyone. Thanks for your comments, I really appreciate it!
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Sorry, but I suspect the type of glass won't have much to do with how your dog(s) behave at the front door since they have a high sense of smell and hearing. And once the doorbell goes off it's like opening the gates for a race--sight has little to do with it. So that's for the canine issue... Yeah, I was going to say much the same thing. Our dog knows when our cars are approaching. When he hears my husband's truck, he runs to the door to "greet Daddy" -- but he is at the door before the truck pulls into the driveway ... sometimes Daddy fools me and walks around the house to enter through the back door, but he never fools the dog. I'm told he behaves the same way when I approach the house. Yet he doesn't lift a paw when other people drive down the street -- he knows the sound of OUR cars. But woe to the UPS man who dares to walk onto dog's porch to leave a package or the yard guys who enter dog's back yard; the dog does not approve of them, and he makes his displeasure known. The real upshot of this situation: I'm talking about a dog who has been blind since birth. He doesn't look out the windows at all, yet he knows and reacts to people arriving at the house. So my guess is that your dog is going to do what your dog is going to do. The type of glass you choose will not change his behavior.
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PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
6 years ago
Whatever gas was there is gone, but the glass will need to be replaced regardless whether that is accomplished via a new door or new glass. Depending on the age of the door, I would start by calling the door manufacturer and inquire as to the warranty on the glass.
nhb22
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Thank you for the responses. I'll start with a glass company. As mentioned, the doors are 10 years old and I don't know the manufacturer.

The good thing is that the fog does not show any other time than when the morning sun is on them. So visitors will most likely never notice. But I do and would like to get them fixed or even replaced.

DH is getting ready to have our 3 car garage resurfaced (which I think is an unnecessary expense), so I think I will ask to have the doors replaced. ;) :)

Definitely not a "cheap" door. The double doors are 8' high x 3' wide each of solid mahogany. 2 inches in thickness.
bossyvossy
6 years ago
To be clear, the focus of my statement was to point out that leaks can happen on ANY door over time, regardless of the cost and quality of material. Many people get frustrated and confused, thinking their solid doors are a piece of cr@p b/c of the cloudiness thing, when that's simply not the case. True, there might be a manufacture mistake, but in the case of a 10 YO old door, nature simply took its toll. A solid maple, 2" thick door is highly desirable and never to be considered "cheap". Not what I meant.

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