How To Add A Decorative Glass Window To A Fiberglass Door

How To Add a Decorative Glass Window To a Door

Back when we built a recessed wainscoting wall, I mentioned how I thought we needed a new front door. Guess we have at least a little talent in the DIY world. Instead of buying a new door, we ordered a decorative glass window to transform it.

I have to say, the thought of ordering a new door, knocking out the old frame and installing a new door and frame was more work than we wanted to do together. So that is another reason we decided to fix up the old door. Plus the cost of cutting out the door and adding decorative glass was a lot less.

I am happy with the result. My intention was to add more natural light to the area. Adding the decorative glass window and painting the door white tied the entry together nicely.

The natural light that streams through the entry now is wonderful. It took us awhile to get used to coming down the stairs and being hit with light like the front door was wide open.

Here’s a look at our plain 6-panel fiberglass door.

We picked out a Tuscan style decorative glass window that was a special order:

Mastercraft 22″ x 36″ Decorative Glass for Exterior Door TU-106.

Cost: $327.25 at Menards. They often have 11% discount days so our cost was $291.25.

It is actually a replacement window for doors that already have a window. However, this glass window kit comes with all the directions and list of tools you need to install the window.

Since we had never done this before I was a little nervous. If something went wrong, then what? Nevermind that, we hauled off and just did it.

Measured, marked and taped off the area to be cut.

Before cutting the door we scribed a line for a nice clean cut.

Fiberglass will splinter, so adding masking tape is a smart precautionary measure.

Next step we did was drilled holes in opposite corners to start the cut with a jigsaw. It’s very important to use a dust mask when doing jobs like this, especially fiberglass.

Here is the door all cut and ready for a decorative glass window.

We recommend installing the door before inserting a glass window. It was at this point that we precisely followed the directions for installation of a window replacement that came with the special order decorative glass window.

It was actually easier to install than we thought.

Removed the door hardware and taped off the window area to paint the door white.

A nice close up of the Tuscan style decorative glass insert. It is hard to take a photo of the door and window because of all the light.

New door hardware dressed up our entrance beautifully and is a quick and easy home improvement to do yourself. There are so many choices for door hardware it is hard to decide. I second guessed myself and thought perhaps I should have picked the color black, but the silver color and style looks elegant. I could not be happier.

Never in my dreams did I think the door would turn out as beautiful as it did. We love how easy it was to transform it into something brand new. It feels good to finish this project.